One of the most common reasons IB students feel stressed about their Internal Assessment is poor planning. Many students start with good intentions but quickly fall behind, leaving them rushing near the deadline. This often happens not because students are lazy or disorganised, but because they don’t know how to plan an IA properly.
Planning an IA requires a different approach from revising for exams.
Why Most IA Planning Fails
Students often plan their IA the same way they plan homework:
- “I’ll work on it when I have time”
- “I’ll finish the introduction this week”
- “I’ll do more research later”
This type of planning is vague and task-based rather than progress-based. It focuses on activity rather than outcome, which makes it easy to fall behind without realising.
IAs Need Stage-Based Planning
Strong IA planning is based on stages, not deadlines alone. Each stage has a clear purpose and outcome.
Effective stages include:
- Defining a clear focus or research question
- Gathering only relevant evidence
- Analysing findings, not just collecting them
- Developing evaluation progressively
- Refining structure and clarity
Without clear stages, students jump between tasks and lose momentum.
Start With the End in Mind
One of the most effective planning strategies is working backwards from the final submission.
Students should ask:
- What does a finished IA need to show?
- What skills are being assessed?
- What must be in place before the final draft?
This helps prioritise analysis and evaluation early rather than leaving them too late.
Avoid Overplanning the Wrong Things
Many students spend too long planning:
- Background sections
- Research quantity
- Formatting
and not enough time planning:
- Focus
- Analysis
- Evaluation
Good planning is about decisions, not decoration.
Build in Time for Thinking, Not Just Writing
One major planning mistake is assuming progress only happens when writing words. In reality, thinking time is essential.
Students should plan time for:
- Refining focus
- Interpreting results
- Deciding what matters most
Rushing straight into writing often leads to rewrites later.
Use Feedback as a Planning Tool
Feedback should shape your plan, not interrupt it. After receiving feedback, students should:
- Identify what stage they are actually stuck in
- Adjust the plan accordingly
- Avoid restarting the entire IA
This keeps progress steady and controlled.
Why Planning Early Reduces Stress Later
Students who plan their IA properly:
- Avoid last-minute panic
- Use time more efficiently
- Feel more confident about their progress
Planning does not make the IA longer — it makes it smoother.
A Clear System Makes Planning Easier
Most students struggle with planning because they don’t have a clear framework for what comes next. A structured coursework system helps students:
- Understand each IA stage
- Know what to prioritise
- Stay on track without constant stress
If you’re working on any IB IA or the Extended Essay, following a clear coursework framework can help you plan effectively and avoid falling behind.
You can find a step-by-step guide to planning and completing IB coursework here:
👉 https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-guide
Final Thoughts
Planning an IB IA is not about filling your calendar with tasks — it’s about understanding the process and moving through it deliberately. When students plan by stages, focus on outcomes, and build in time for real thinking, staying on track becomes far easier. Good planning turns the IA from a source of stress into a manageable project.
