April is Here...

Five Strategies for Review

April 3rd, 2026

If you’re new here, welcome! 

Each Friday, I share one idea connected to IB Economics, the IB Core, Theory of Knowledge, or whatever else happens to be on my mind about education. Sometimes it is practical and classroom focused. Other times it leans a bit more into the human side of teaching.

My goal is simple. Something useful. Something you can take with you into your classroom.

And most of all, I am glad you are here.

So here we go for this week.

With the IB Economics exam now just a over a month away, I thought it would be helpful to share some strategies and resources.  

Mainly, all teachers are thinking this about review:

  • How should it be structured?
  • What should we focus on?
  • How do we make the most of the time we have left?


Over the years, one idea has shaped how I approach all of this.

Yes, everything in the two year course matters.But it does not all matter equally for success on the exam.

That realization changed everything for me.

It brought clarity.It simplified decisions.And it made review feel far more manageable for both teachers and students.

So before getting into specific strategies, here are a few guiding thoughts to keep in mind during this stretch:

  • What parts of the syllabus are most likely to show up?
  • What skills do the papers actually reward?
  • Not all content carries the same weight.
  • The exam itself should guide review decisions.


And then, just as importantly, take a breath.

It is not possible to reteach two full years of content in a few weeks. That is not the goal.

The goal is to focus, to prioritize, and to prepare students in a way that gives them confidence walking into the exam.

Here are five strategies that have served me well.

Strategy #1: Focus on the Five Essential Skills

Everything comes back to the five essential skills.

These are not new. These are what have been built since the beginning of year one.

  • The Language
  • The Calculations
  • The Diagrams
  • The Analysis
  • The Evaluation


These are not just helpful. They are what the exam is designed to reward.

If students are strong in these five areas, they are prepared.

The language allows them to think and write like economists.The calculations are necessary when they are necessary.The diagrams act as anchors for memory and explanation.The analysis and evaluation are key skills for their writing..

If these are solid, students will not freeze in the exam.

Strategy #2: Keep It Simple

Early in my teaching, I tried to differentiate review sessions based on how I thought each student would perform.

It did not work.

Now I do the opposite.

I simplify.

For everyone.

The focus is on mastery of three things:

The LanguageThe CalculationsThe Diagrams

That is it.

If every student can confidently use economic language, complete the required calculations, and draw and explain the diagrams, everything else begins to fall into place.

Analysis becomes clearer.Evaluation becomes more natural.

No matter what questions appear, these three elements are always there.

And when those are strong, the rest follows.

Strategy #3: Be Strategic

This is where that earlier idea really matters.

All content is important.But it is not all equally important.

So what does that mean in practice?

First, students must master the language, calculations, and diagrams across the entire syllabus. No shortcuts here.

Then, they can go deep in two of these three areas.

Microeconomics and Market PowerMacroeconomicsThe Global Economy

Students do not need to go equally deep in all three.

Because of how the exam is structured, especially in Paper 1 and Paper 2, this approach works. It allows students to develop stronger real world examples, deeper analysis, and more confident evaluation in selected areas.

And finally, everything depends on writing structure.

When students know how to organize their thinking for analysis and evaluation, they are far more effective in the exam.

Strategy #4: Build Confidence

This is one of the most important parts of review.

Start at the beginning.

There is a reason the course is taught in a sequence. Students build understanding over time, and that structure is still there.

So use it.

Start with Microeconomics.

Focus first on diagrams. Just the diagrams. Draw them. Practice them. Make them automatic.

Then layer in the language needed to explain those diagrams.

From there, move into application.

Then move to Market Power. Repeat.

Then Macroeconomics. Repeat.

Then The Global Economy. Repeat.

Step by step, students begin to see the patterns.

And as they do, confidence builds.

And when confidence builds, performance follows.

These students are capable of more than they think.

Make sure they hear that. Often.

Strategy #5: Trust Your Teacher Gut

There is something that develops over time as teachers.

Call it instinct. Call it experience. Call it your teacher gut. Call it whatever.

It is that sense that tells you what your students need in a given moment.

Trust it.

If something feels too complicated, simplify it.If something feels unnecessary, let it go.If something feels important, lean into it.

No one knows your students better than you do.

Trust that.

Additional Resources...

As you head into these final weeks, keep this in mind:

  • Focus on the Five Essential Skills
  • Keep it simple
  • Be strategic
  • Build confidence
  • Trust your teacher gut


These ideas have shaped how I approach review, and they have brought a lot more clarity and calm to this part of the course.

Additionally, you may find these resources helpful to the process.

Here's a link to a Video, Fact Sheet, The Mark Scheme and a full break down of each of the three external exams, Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3.

And one last thing.

Over the past two years, you have given your students something meaningful. You have helped them understand the world a little better.

Now it is their turn to show what they can do.  Enjoy the process!

A special note, Sofia and I are taking a trip to Italy next week, so we'll see you in two weeks with Part 4 of our 8 part series on how to effectively integrate Theory of Knowledge in to our IB classrooms. 

See you then.



Opportunities to Empower IB Teachers and Students... 

If your school would like a tailored training on the updated Extended Essay guidelines, we’d love to help—onsite at your campus or live online—just send me an email at [email protected] and we’ll work together to make it happen. 

Theory of Knowledge New Teacher Workshop - July 23rd & 24th, 2026 - Designed for teachers new to Theory of Knowledge, this two-day training co-taught by Brad Cartwright and Sofía Elizalde offers a clear, practical roadmap for teaching TOK with confidence. Together, we will explore the core components of the IB Diploma Programme, the purpose and structure of the TOK course, key assessment criteria, the TOK Exhibition, the TOK Essay, and classroom strategies that support thoughtful discussion, meaningful reflection, and strong student writing. 

IB Economics New Teacher Training - July 25th & 26th, 2026 - Designed specifically for teachers new to IB Economics, this two-day teacher training program will give you a practical roadmap to begin your IB Economics teaching career feeling confident, prepared, and calm.




Brad Cartwright

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