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So ibpredict.org got a redesign. Good for them – they've been rocking the same UI since roughly the Obama administration, and the IB community deserves tools that don't look like they were built in a basement in 2009. Better late than never.

What's funny is the new look has a certain… familiarity to it. The card styling, the layout, the overall vibe – it's giving calculateIB energy. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so thanks, I guess? Here's a quick before and after so you can judge for yourself:


Progress! They've gone from design standards of 2009 to design standards of… 2015. At this rate, they'll catch up by 2031.

But looks aside, the bigger question is: what are you actually getting? A prettier coat of paint is nice – but where's the substance? calculateIB launched a tutors marketplace where students can find and connect with IB tutors directly. Real community value. Real investment in helping students. ibpredict.org redesigned their UI and called it a day.

When you use calculateIB, you get a genuinely pleasant experience – fast, clean, and built by someone who actually went through the IB. When you use theirs… well, let's just say the new look is an improvement over what was making eyes bleed before.

Nice to see the competition catching up. Just know we're not standing still either.

Launching the tutors marketplace was a big leap for calculateIB, and the first month already shows it's working. Tutors who filled out the feedback form told me they received real student inquiries – some even closed trial lessons or confirmed packages. Hearing that they're getting bookings this early is huge validation that the listing tool is delivering for both sides.

Students also said they loved having every tutor in one spot with transparent rates, and several mentioned they found a match they're already working with. That's exactly what I hoped for: a simple, honest way to connect IB learners and great tutors without the usual back-and-forth hassle.

And yes, calculateIB is still the first calculator online with the full May 2025 grade boundaries. Keeping those up to date is a priority so you always have the latest data when you're planning your scores or messaging a tutor.

Thank you for trusting this project – it's just getting started, but the success from the launch shows what's possible when the IB community builds things for itself.

Hey! If you're starting the IB soon and wondering when to get serious about your IAs and EE, here's what I'd say based on my own experience. For IAs, your teachers usually have their own timelines that fit the way they teach their course, so definitely ask them first – they'll guide you through it. Start thinking about your topic as early as you can though. Just getting ideas down helps later when deadlines start stacking up.

As for drafts, there's no perfect number. I think teachers are only allowed to give feedback a limited number of times (like once or twice), so make sure you give them your best possible version when you do submit. That way, the feedback actually helps and isn't wasted.

For managing everything, especially if you're not great at time management (I wasn't), it helps to get organized in a way that works for you. I used a planner app to track deadlines and plan out when I'd work on stuff – early mornings, late nights, whatever worked best. Try breaking things into smaller steps and be realistic about how long things actually take. It takes time to get good at this, but trust me, once you do, it'll help in every part of life, not just IB.

Oh, and check out my FAQ on time management for more tips. You got this!

During my IB journey, I constantly used online calculators to estimate my grades. Most of them were either outdated, hard to use, or didn't reflect the latest grade boundaries. Some even made me feel more stressed.

I wanted to create a tool that felt clean, simple, encouraging – something I wish I had as a student. This is why I built calculateIB. It's designed to be helpful, beautiful, and made with care for students like you.