It is That Time of Year Again...

April 24th, 2026

It is that time of year again.

On Monday, IB exams begin for students around the world, starting with the Language A exam on April 27th.

So just a quick message this week.

To the students, congratulations for getting to this point! This has been a long road, and you are here.

In these final days, keep things simple. Do your review, stay organized, and make sure you are taking care of yourself along the way.

And when the moment comes, walk into the exam room calm and clear, trusting the work you have already done.

To the teachers, you know how this feels.

There is always a mix of pride, anticipation, and a bit of nervous energy.

But at this point, your role shifts. You step back and watch your students take it from here, knowing that you have prepared them as best you could.

There is something special about that moment when the exams begin. The students open the paper, and for the first time, they see what is in front of them.

And from there, it is theirs.  That's some sweet justice and I love it.

Now, for those of you preparing for IB Economics, your exam begins on May 12th with Paper 2, followed by Paper 1 and Paper 3 on May 13th.

So as you head into these final days, here are a few resources that might help you stay focused and organized.

IB Economics Exam Preparation

Paper 1

Everything you need to feel ready: fact sheet, strategies, a final checklist, the Mark Scheme, and a short video walking you through exactly what to expect.  Here's the link.

Paper 2

Clear guidance on how to approach the data response, along with strategies, checklist support, Mark Scheme insight, and a video explanation. Here's the link.

Paper 3 (HL)

Full support for the quantitative paper, including key approaches, checklist, Mark Scheme breakdown, and a video to guide your preparation. Here's the link.

The Language, The Language, The Language

Know all of the economic vocabulary is critically important.  So here's are links to a comprehensive glossary of IB Economics terms with clear, accurate definitions that you can trust as you review, broken down by areas of the syllabus.


Also, here's a link to a Quizlet that a student of mine created a few years ago.  Click here for full access.

And To Help You, Here's Free Course...

As you head into this final stretch, I have opened up my Introduction to IB Economics Course for Free.

If you are looking for a clear, structured overview of the course, you can jump in and use it as part of your final review.

And if you are looking for a complete support system for your IB Economics exam prep, the full courses on Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Market Power, and The Global Economy are all available. 

These courses have proven invaluable to over 25,000 students around the world have used these courses to prepare over the years. 

In Closing...

To the students, trust your preparation.

To the teachers, congratulations on guiding another group through this process.

Wishing you all calm, clarity, and confidence in the days ahead.

And don't be shy about reaching out if you need anything.

See you next week.



Upcoming Workshops and Opportunities... 

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.  An Early Bird Discount is available--use coupon code EARLYBIRDSAVE100 at checkout. 






Brad Cartwright

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