You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C. S. Lewis

OK guys! This week I want you psyched up because we’re going to talk about a certain way to boost your IB points this term and before exams!

Why should I bother with Goals?

OK- so why would you waste time making goals when you could just get started with the work? Nonsense. If you get started without a goal, then ten minutes later you’ll switch over to an easier subject, twenty minutes later you’ll FB messaging your friends when you should be working, and in half an hour you’ll be sitting in bed eating cheetos and playing Fallout. Well I would anyway.

If you don’t make goals you’re like a spray can of paint – you spray everywhere, get nothing done and just make a mess. If you set goals you’re like a fire hose – blasting through coursework, revision and especially those pesky, hippy protesters.

But why SMART goals?

Everybody has Wishy Washy Wishes. Did you know 92% of New Year’s Resolutions fail? You know why? Because 92% of people don’t have the laser focus to go from Wishy Washy Wishes to cold, hard gold goals. Now I’m going to show you how you can get into the 8% of Goal Masters!

(Listen Goal Masters, sometimes it’s OK to give yourself little nicknames like that because they make you feel real good inside. M’kay?)

So Just Tell Me What a Smart Goal is Already!

Good question, you must be an IB student!

A SMART goal is a goal that is not Wishy Washy because it is very specific and instructive. You know exactly what you are trying to do and how long you have.

Here’s what your goal should be:

1. S – SPECIFIC. Bad example: “I want to do well at math.”

   Wishy Washy nonsense Goal Masters.

   You want to be very specific.

   Good examples: ‘I want to know all the of the equations for basic trigonometry by heart’ OR ‘I want to be able to draw a graph that shows how calculus and graphs are related’.

2. M – MEASURABLE. If you cannot measure it, how do you know you’re succeeding?

   Correct! – you do not!

   So, pick something measurable: ‘I want to have memorised five poems from the reading list’

3. A – ACHIEVABLE. Don’t reach for the moon unless you want to be an astronaut.

   OF COURSE YOU SHOULD push yourself, but if you decide, from this moment on, that you will only ever get 100% in everything, then you will fail.

   Instead, aim to achieve a little better every day.

   GOAL IDEA: In the next physics mini-test, I will score 20% better than this test (good idea goal master!)

4. R – RELEVANT. Here’s how to fail the IB: spend all your time ‘learning’ things you don’t need. Does that sound like what a proud, noble Goal Master would do? No? Then try this…

   Make sure everything you learn directly contributes to either your final exam grade (check the syllabus) or your coursework (check the mark scheme).

5. T – TIME. You’re a freakin’ IB rockstar. Your time is valuable. So set a start and end date for your goal, otherwise you’ll never achieve it.

Here’s an example SMART goal to finish you off:

I’m going to read a Lanterna Blog article on goals (specific), finish the whole thing (measurable) if it’s less than a thousand words (achievable). This is going to help me be more efficient (relevant) and I will finish it…NOW!! (timeframe).