SOOOOO I know im terribly late because I haven't had a minute to check my fb, BUT ... haha. I'm alive now!
and I know IB get's really overwhelming, I had my own little mini-breakdown. But if you can manage to just buckle down and do it all it REALLY pays off in your final score and opens up loads more places to you
my only comment on if you'd like to do art abroad is try to add some contemporary kind of work into yoour portfolio, because most places are looking less and less at traditional fine art (representational stuff) and more at the contemporary art scene (i.e. installation, conceptual art etc).
it'd be a good idea (if you have time!) to do a couple contemporary pieces this summer to add into yoour portfolio, maybe some sculpture or video work if you have the stuff available. If you need any help understanding it or some artists to look at don't hesitate to message me on facebook! don't want you to come to the same shocking realization that I did when I first started applying to art unis! haha
and dont worry, the 2nd year of IB is only hard the first semester, and then that's only hard if you don't keep up with the deadlines. you might not have a life till christmas, but it'll TOTALLY pay off.
and then you get to go to university and find out how easy everything is and have a fantastic time!
<3 hahaha