Martina Cintolesi Vida | Celebrating Our 2024 IB Results

Martina: Hi, my name is Martina, and I’m 18. I took my IB exams this past May in Barcelona (Spain), where I currently live and where I’ve studied my DP programme via King’s InterHigh.

I have lived in France, Spain and Switzerland and speak 4 languages fluently, hoping to learn Italian and German soon. Academically, I love languages and literature and enjoy studying classics like Emily Dickinson’s poems, Virginia Woolf's essays and the Brontë sisters' novels.

Outside of school, I am a dancer, and have been dancing for 15 years now. I go to dance every day after school to disconnect and take a break from being at home all day. Dancing is my time to socialize face to face and I enjoy it very much.

Martina: I joined King’s InterHigh in 2022 to do my DP. I have always had a hard time in regular percentile school, as my learning methods were different from what I was being asked of in school.

Additionally, since the pandemic I started having a hard time going to school and being in public spaces and social situations.

King’s InterHigh allowed me to continue my studies and gave me the independence to structure my learning in a way that worked for me.

Martina: My experience at King’s InterHigh has been great so far. I have met so many new people from all around the world that has allowed me to gain many new perspectives and has opened my mind in a new way. Additionally, the staff is very supportive throughout the year and helps with whatever you need.

Martina: This is a hard question; however, I would have to say English literature and French. I love languages, exploring new cultures and analyzing classic texts.

Martina: In May 2024 I sat English, French and History as HL subjects and Math, Biology and Spanish Literature (Self-Taught) as SL subjects.

Martina: During the pre-exam period I had a lot of support from my teacher. They would provide many helpful resources to study and make the process a little less tedious.

Additionally, they were available to answer questions and help during the day, even when we were on study-leave and were not attending classes anymore. This was a huge help and I felt very supported.

Being an online student can be a little isolating sometimes, however I also had the support of my family and friends that were there when I needed a break from studying.

Martina: I think many of my teachers helped me. Mainly Mrs. Kirby reminding us to drink water, and Mrs. Hurst always telling us we are amazing and that we would ace our exams. Overall, my teachers helped me be less nervous and feel extremely prepared for May.

Isabelle: My main coping mechanism was taking regular breaks and getting out of the house at least once during the day. I went to dance every day for at least 1h. This helped me tremendously to stay concentrated during my study sessions and not be burned out by the time exams came around.

Martina: Take breaks! That's so important. If you don’t take breaks you will be burned out by the time exams come around and you will not perform as well as you can. Get out of the house, go for a walk, even if it’s just for 5 minutes, it will make all the difference.

Martina: In September I will be attending the UAB (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) to study English and French language and literature studies.