If you want your Philosophy internal assessment finished before winter break, begin during the first half of September and aim to submit a polished version by the end of November. That gives you approximately 12 weeks to choose a stimulus, define the philosophical issue, research, draft, receive feedback, and revise without relying on December.
This IB Philosophy IA timeline is a planning recommendation, not an official IB deadline. Schools set their own internal submission dates, so confirm your teacher's checkpoints before adopting it.
What the Philosophy IA requires
Under the current IB Philosophy course, first assessed in 2025, SL and HL students complete a 2,000-word philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus. The official IB Philosophy subject brief allocates 20 hours to the task. The IA contributes 25% of the final grade at SL and 20% at HL.
A non-philosophical stimulus could be a film scene, painting, poem, advertisement, speech, photograph, song, or news article. Your task is not primarily to interpret the work or summarize its content. You must identify a genuine philosophical issue, analyse relevant concepts and arguments, consider competing positions, and reach a justified conclusion.
The IB's Philosophy curriculum update confirms that the student chooses the stimulus. Your teacher remains the authority on suitability, school deadlines, checkpoints, and current assessment criteria.
The recommended September-to-November schedule
A reliable fall IA schedule separates decision-making, research, drafting, and revision. Attempting all four simultaneously often produces a broad issue, unnecessary research, and rushed evaluation.
| Period | Main task | Required output |
|---|---|---|
| September 1-7 | Confirm requirements and examine possibilities | Calendar, criteria checklist, 3 possible stimuli |
| September 8-14 | Test and select the stimulus | Approved stimulus and focused issue |
| September 15-21 | Research relevant philosophy | Source list and argument notes |
| September 22-30 | Design the argument | Paragraph outline and provisional thesis |
| October 1-12 | Draft the main analysis | 900-1,200 usable words |
| October 13-20 | Add objections and evaluation | Complete analytical core |
| October 21-31 | Assemble the first draft | Complete draft with citations |
| November 1-9 | Obtain permitted feedback | Prioritized revision list |
| November 10-21 | Revise philosophical quality | Strong second draft |
| November 22-30 | Proofread and submit | Final authenticated version |
September 1-14: choose a defensible stimulus
During the first week, obtain your school's final deadline and any proposal or draft dates. Read the criteria supplied by your teacher, then inspect several IB Philosophy IA examples to understand the scale of a focused analysis. Use exemplars to recognize structure and depth, never to supply language or arguments.
By September 10, identify three possible stimuli. For each, write the philosophical issue it raises, two relevant positions, and one reason the issue can be debated rather than merely described. Select the option that creates the clearest argument, not the most impressive-looking source.
Test whether you can complete this sentence precisely: “This stimulus raises the philosophical issue of whether...” If your answer contains several unrelated questions, narrow the scope. Seek teacher approval by September 14.
September 15-30: research and build the argument
Begin with course concepts and philosophers that directly illuminate the issue, then consult reliable primary or scholarly sources. Record complete citation details immediately and distinguish an author's claim from your interpretation.
By September 21, create an argument map containing:
- your provisional answer to the issue
- the strongest reason supporting it
- a contrasting philosophical position
- the strongest objection to your argument
- your reply or qualification
- points where the stimulus will be analysed
Turn this map into a paragraph-level outline during the final September week. Each paragraph should have a claim, philosophical reasoning, application to the stimulus, and an evaluative purpose. RevisionDojo's guide to planning an IA without falling behind can help convert large stages into measurable outputs.
October 1-20: write analysis before polishing
October should produce the substance of the essay. Schedule three weekly sessions, preferably two 60-minute analytical sessions and one 30-45 minute source-management session. Use the shorter session for citations, quotations, notes, and terminology.
Draft your strongest analytical section first if the introduction slows you down. Explain each position accurately, uncover its assumptions, test its implications, and show how it affects the issue raised by the stimulus. Return regularly to the stimulus without retelling it.
By October 12, aim for approximately 900-1,200 usable words. During October 13-20, add the strongest counterargument and evaluate it seriously. An objection that is easily dismissed does not demonstrate meaningful critical engagement.
October 21-31: complete the first draft
Assemble a complete draft within the 2,000-word limit. Your opening should identify the stimulus and philosophical issue, justify their connection, and establish the argument's direction. The conclusion should answer the issue consistently with your analysis rather than introduce new ideas.
Check every quotation, paraphrase, and factual claim for an appropriate reference. The RevisionDojo Philosophy IA rubric tool can provide a provisional diagnostic, but verify suggestions against your teacher's materials. AI feedback is not an official mark and cannot replace your judgment.
How to use November for feedback and revision
Submit the complete first draft at the earliest checkpoint your teacher permits. Teacher feedback is guidance, not permission for someone else to rewrite your work. Ask focused questions such as, “Where does my analysis become descriptive?” or “Is my conclusion supported by the argument?”
Convert every comment into a task related to focus, knowledge, analysis, evaluation, clarity, or referencing. The RevisionDojo guide to using IA feedback explains how to prioritize comments while preserving authorship.
Revise in this order:
- Philosophical focus: remove material that does not answer the central issue.
- Argument and analysis: make assumptions, inferences, and implications explicit.
- Evaluation: compare competing arguments and justify your judgment.
- Stimulus integration: connect abstract discussion to specific stimulus features.
- Clarity and references: tighten expression and standardize citations.
Stop adding research around November 21 unless revision reveals a factual gap. Reserve November 22-30 for word-count control, citation checks, stimulus documentation, formatting, and a final read aloud. The IA time-management guide offers a useful model for protecting this buffer.
Common timeline mistakes
Waiting for the perfect stimulus can consume September. A manageable stimulus with a precise issue is more useful than a complicated one vaguely connected to several philosophical branches.
Researching without an argument map produces notes but no position. Each source should help explain, challenge, or evaluate a claim in the analysis.
Writing the full draft in November removes the feedback buffer. Sentence-level editing cannot quickly repair a structural problem.
Treating December as spare time is risky because TOK, the EE, other IAs, examinations, and school events may converge. Set your personal deadline at least one week before you need to stop.
A sustainable weekly routine
The official allocation of 20 hours can be distributed across 12 weeks instead of compressed into several days. Two focused sessions and one short administrative session each week should be sufficient if each has a defined output.
Write tasks such as “evaluate the objection in paragraphs 5-6” instead of “work on IA.” Keep a brief progress log recording what you completed and what begins next. Jojo AI can help explain concepts or unpack feedback, but the submitted reasoning and prose must remain your own.
Conclusion
To complete the Philosophy IA before winter break, start in early September, confirm the stimulus and issue by mid-September, finish planning by September 30, and produce the full draft by October 31. Use November for permitted feedback, substantial revision, and final checks, targeting submission by November 30 or earlier.
RevisionDojo can support this schedule through Philosophy exemplars, Jojo AI, and criterion-based IA Feedback. Use these tools to identify weaknesses while relying on your teacher for official requirements and keeping the final work authentically yours.