Navigating DP1: Tips for Managing Your First Year Workload

Start by "scouting" your subjects – understand the full syllabus, topics, and exam structure. Prioritise completing CAS early, and continuously brainstorm ideas for your Extended Essay (EE) and Internal Assessments (IAs) based on your interests. This proactive approach helps you stay ahead and reduces stress later on.

Scouting involves looking at your textbook and syllabus to map out all topics and sub-topics. This gives you a big-picture view, helps you understand where current learning fits in, and allows you to identify strengths and weaknesses (e.g., by color-coding topics) so you can focus your revision effectively and efficiently.

You should start brainstorming ideas as early as possible in DP1. Keep a running document of topics or concepts that genuinely interest you from your classes. This proactive approach saves significant time later and ensures you choose subjects you're passionate about, which is key for success in these major components.

Lanterna's expert tutors, many of whom are high-achieving IB graduates themselves, can provide personalised guidance. They help you understand subject content, develop effective study strategies, plan your IA/EE timelines, and prioritise tasks, making the first year of the IB much more manageable and less stressful. Our tutors have an average of 10+ years of teaching experience and often have examiner experience.

The Lanterna IB consultation is a free, no-pressure 20-30 minute session with an IB Student Success Expert. It's designed to help students and parents gain clarity on their IB situation, discuss challenges, and receive a personalised plan for what to focus on next, without any obligation to book tutoring.

Yes, the Lanterna IB consultation is genuinely free. There's no catch and absolutely no obligation to purchase tutoring. Our goal is to provide valuable insights and a clear action plan to help you navigate the IB, demonstrating the expertise and supportive approach Lanterna offers to thousands of students globally.

Lanterna’s Student Success Experts are highly experienced professionals with deep knowledge of the IB Diploma Programme. They can help you identify your specific challenges in DP1, whether it's time management, subject-specific difficulties, or planning for IAs/EEs, and guide you towards effective solutions and resources, offering a simple, personalised plan.

Absolutely. Lanterna has over 600 expert IB tutors covering all subjects at both SL and HL. Our tutors are highly experienced in guiding students through every component of the IB Diploma, including developing CAS projects, refining EE research questions, and structuring IAs to meet top-mark criteria, all while upholding academic honesty.

After your consultation, you'll walk away with a clear, personalised plan and actionable next steps to tackle your IB challenges. You'll have a better understanding of your priorities and what to stop wasting time on. If you choose, you can then explore how Lanterna's tailored tutoring support could further assist you, but there's no pressure to do so.