The IB DP2 Roadmap: A Parent's Guide to the Final Year

Welcome to DP2, the final and most intensive year of the IB Diploma Programme. This is the year when two years of learning come together, and while the challenge is significant, so are the rewards. As a parent, your role shifts from directing to supporting, helping your child navigate academic demands, manage coursework deadlines, university applications, exam preparation, and the final exams.

This guide is designed to be your roadmap. It outlines the year in clear phases, highlights moments of increased pressure, and provides practical advice to help your child thrive academically and emotionally, contributing to their success and well-being.

Understanding the DP2 Landscape: What's on Their Plate?

Before we look at the timeline, let’s briefly revisit the key elements your child is managing. DP2 marks the culmination of two years of sustained effort.

Six Subjects: Finalizing content and preparing for exams in three Higher Level (HL) and three Standard Level (SL) subjects.
Internal Assessments (IAs): Major projects for each subject that count for 20-30% of the final grade. Most of these are completed and submitted in DP2.
The DP Core:
- Extended Essay (EE): A 4,000-word independent research paper. This is a university-level task that requires immense self-discipline.
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK): A 1,600-word essay and an exhibition that challenge students to think about the nature of knowledge.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Finalizing projects and reflections to meet this mandatory experiential learning requirement.
University Applications: A parallel track of writing personal statements, gathering recommendation letters, and meeting application deadlines.

The Lanterna Tip: The biggest challenge in DP2 isn't just the difficulty of the work, but the sheer volume and the need to switch between different types of thinking—from scientific analysis for a Chemistry IA to reflective writing for a TOK essay.

Navigating DP2 Roadmap and Timeline: Key Milestones & Effective Parent Support

The academic year is a marathon filled with overlapping deadlines. This overview will help you anticipate the key phases and offer timely support when it is most needed.

Term 1 (Sep - Dec): The IA & EE Completion Phase

What's Happening: This term is largely shaped by the completion phase of Internal Assessments and the Extended Essay. Drafts are due, feedback is incorporated, and final versions are submitted. At the same time, the university application process reaches a critical stage in several regions, including UCAS in the UK and Early Action or Early Decision applications in the US.

Your Role: The Project Manager

Make Deadlines Clear: Work with your child to visually plan all IA, EE, and application deadlines on a shared calendar. Dividing the 4,000-word Extended Essay into smaller milestones—like finishing research or drafting specific sections by specific dates—can significantly reduce stress, making the workload feel more manageable.
Be a Sounding Board: You don’t need to be an expert on their EE topic. Simply listening as they talk through their ideas can help them sharpen their thinking. Asking questions such as, “What’s the key argument you’re making here?” or "What's the main point you're trying prove?"can be very effective, not only for the writing, but anticipating the Viva Voce.
Establish a “No-Fly Zone”: With academic demands and university applications piling up, stress can be overwhelming. Set aside specific times—such as family dinners—as “university-free” moments to give your child’s mind a chance to rest.

Term 2 (Jan - Mar): The Mock Exam Gauntlet

What's Happening: During this phase, the emphasis shifts away from coursework and toward preparing for exams. Mock exams, usually scheduled in January or February, act as an important trial run for the finals, giving students a realistic sense of exam pressure and conditions, and frequently shaping their predicted grades. This period also usually includes the final deadlines for the TOK essay and CAS portfolio.

Your Role: The Coach

Frame Mocks Constructively: Mock exams are a diagnostic tool, by nomeans the final outcome. Their purpose is to identify gaps early, while there is still time to address them before May. Appreciate the effort your child has put in and use the outcomes to build a focused revision plan, targeting the weak areas.
Analyze, Don't Criticize: When results arrive, support your child in understanding why marks were lost. Was it content knowledge, time management, or misunderstanding the question? This reflection and analysis matter far more than the score itself.
Watch for burnout: Energy levels often dip after mocks. Make sure your child is sleeping well, eating properly, and taking genuine breaks to recharge ahead of the final stretch. Always bear in mind that proper rest is critical for optimal focus and performance.

Term 3 (Apr - May): The Final Countdown

What's Happening: This is it. All coursework is submitted, and the singular focus is on revision for the final IB exams, which for the May 2026 session run from approximately April 24th to May 20th, 2026. This is a period of intense, sustained academic effort.

Your Role: The Wellness Officer

Manage the Environment: Your key role is to maintain a calm, organized, and low-distraction home atmosphere. This includes managing noise levels, protecting dedicated study time, and reducing unnecessary chores or household tensions so your child can focus without added stress.
Fuel the Brain: Sleep, nutrition, and hydration are essential—not optional. Sleep deprivation is one of the biggest barriers to strong exam performance. Encourage consistent and regular sleep routines, provide balanced meals and healthy snacks, and make sure water is always within reach to support concentration and stamina.
Provide Perspective: Help your child keep exams in context. Remind them that grades and exam scores do not define their value or future potential. Encourage effort and perseverance while reinforcing that this is one milestone in a much longer and greater journey. Acknowledge the pressure they feel and validate their emotions—it helps them feel seen, supported, and grounded.

A student studying at a desk with books and a laptop, looking focused.

The Parent's DP2 Action Plan: From Surviving to Thriving

Beyond the timeline, your support can be categorized into four key areas. Focus on these to make the biggest impact.

Support Pillar	What It Looks Like in Practice
1. Foster Open Communication	Create a safe, non-judgmental space where your child feels comfortable talking about stress and pressure. Try asking, “How are you coping with the workload?” rather than focusing solely on outcomes like test scores. Normalizing conversations about anxiety helps them feel supported rather than evaluated.
2. Structure the Environment	Ensure a calm, organized study environment and help your child develop a realistic revision plan and schedule that includes regular breaks. Using a shared digital or physical calendar to track deadlines and key dates can significantly reduce their cognitive and mental burden and improve time management.
3. Champion Well-being	This may be your most important contribution. Safeguard their sleep routine, encourage regular physical movement—even short walks can restore focus—and provide nourishing and healthy meals to sustain energy and concentration during demanding periods. Avoid unhealthy snacks and caffeine.
4. Encourage Independence	This can be one of the most challenging aspects as a parent. Resist the urge to take over. Instead, empower your child to manage their own responsibilities. Your role is to provide scaffolding—structure, resources, and emotional reassurance and support—so they can build confidence, resilience, and readiness for university life.

DP2 is a shared journey and team effort. By understanding the demands of the year and offering steady, thoughtful support, you help your child reach the finish line successfully, not only with an IB Diploma, but with their confidence, independence, and well-being intact.

Ana Dominguez
Hi! I am Ana Dominguez, an experienced international educator with over 30 years in the field of education and 14 years of dedicated involvement with the IB. My professional journey has taken me across diverse educational contexts in Spain, India, China, Qatar, and Costa Rica, enriching my perspective and practice as a teacher and school leader in a range of roles, including Principal, Vice Principal, DP and CAS Coordinator, Extended Essay Supervisor, and DP classroom teacher in international schools.

I am also an IBDP Examiner for Spanish B Higher Level, which allows me to remain closely aligned with assessment standards and best practices. My teaching experience spans Literature in both English and Spanish, Spanish and English B at High and Standard Levels, and Spanish ab initio. In addition, I have successfully tutored students for SSST Spanish Literature for the past seven years, consistently supporting strong academic outcomes.

As an educator, I believe in a dynamic, practical, and student-centered approach to learning. I focus on breaking down complex concepts into clear, accessible steps, ensuring students build confidence alongside competence. I take great pride in seeing my students achieve high scores while developing a genuine appreciation for language and literature.

DP2 is the most demanding period of the IB. Students face a perfect storm of deadlines: finalising Internal Assessments (IAs) and the Extended Essay (EE), completing TOK and CAS, preparing for high-stakes final exams, and managing university applications. The sheer volume of work leads to significant stress and makes time management the single most critical skill.

The best support is often practical and emotional. Help create a calm study environment, encourage a healthy balance with sleep and breaks, and foster open communication about their worries. For academic support, an external expert like a Lanterna tutor can provide structure and guidance without altering the parent-child dynamic. This allows you to be the supportive parent, not the academic supervisor.

Mock exams are a valuable diagnostic tool, not a final judgment. The key is to use the results strategically. Our tutors, who are all high-scoring IB graduates, specialise in analysing mock exam performance to pinpoint exact weaknesses in content knowledge and exam technique. They then create a targeted revision plan to turn those weaknesses into strengths before the final exams.

Absolutely not. While starting earlier is ideal, our tutors can provide crucial support in the final stages. They can help students refine their analysis, structure their arguments to meet the IB criteria, and ensure their work is polished and clear—all while strictly adhering to the IB's academic honesty policies. A few targeted sessions can make a significant difference to the final grade.

It's a free, 20-30 minute online meeting for parents and students with one of our Student Success Experts. We discuss your child's specific situation in the IB—their subjects, challenges, and goals. The aim is to provide immediate clarity and co-create a tangible plan with priorities and next steps to improve grades and reduce stress.

Yes, it is 100% free. There is no catch and absolutely no obligation to purchase tutoring. We are confident in our ability to provide value, and our primary goal during the consultation is to help you and your child navigate the IB more effectively. Many families find the strategic plan we build to be incredibly helpful, whether they choose to work with us further or not.

Our Student Success Experts are IB specialists who are deeply familiar with the programme's demands. Many are high-achieving IB alumni themselves. Their role is not to sell, but to listen, diagnose challenges, and provide expert guidance on creating a personalised roadmap for success. They are your first point of contact for strategic advice on tackling the IB.

Our online, one-on-one tutoring is tailored to the final exam push. Tutors focus on high-impact revision, mastering exam techniques, and working through past papers to build confidence. We cover a vast range of IB subjects at both Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL), ensuring your child gets expert support precisely where they need it most.

You will leave the meeting with a clear plan of action. If you feel that one-on-one tutoring is the right next step, your Student Success Expert will use their insights from the call to handpick the perfect tutor for your child's learning style and academic needs. If you decide not to proceed with tutoring, you are free to implement the expert advice and strategies on your own.