IB Grade 11 Study Plan: A Month-by-Month Roadmap

16th September, 2026 | Abhishek Malani | 09 Min Read
Introduction
If you’re just starting out your IB DP journey, it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed by everything you have to do. From coursework to Extended Essay and CAS planning — there’s so much to do, and it probably seems like you barely have any time at all. Don’t worry, we at Quest For Success are here to help.
In this detailed guide, we have put together a monthly study plan for DP 1 students, complete with our top tips for preparation, to ensure that you can stay on track to achieve high scores in your IB assessments!
Note: This is a sample DP1 study roadmap rather than an official IB timeline. Exact deadlines for the EE, TOK, IAs and other assessments vary by school, subject and examination session. Always use your school’s assessment calendar and internal deadlines as the primary reference.
IB Grade 11 student following a monthly study plan

Table of Contents

Months 1 & 2

The beginning of your DP 1 is a crucial time for you. Use your back-to-school momentum to lay the foundations for your IB preparation, so that you can avoid stress and chaos later during the year. Familiarise yourself with your subject choices, their syllabi, and their assessment rubrics.
If you use any organisational tools to enhance your studying, now is the time to implement them. Set up your study routines and progress trackers, and make a habit of following them consistently.
During these early months, familiarise yourself with your school’s CAS requirements, begin planning your CAS experiences or project, and keep up with the reflection process required by your school.
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Months 3 & 4

Ensure your self-studying stays on par with — or ahead of — your progress in school. Build concise revision resources for each subject, but combine note-making with active recall, problem-solving, essay practice and other subject-specific assessment tasks. Conduct weekly reviews to understand the concepts thoroughly.
Use this time to understand the TOK assessment requirements and begin thinking about the exhibition and TOK essay, according to your school’s timeline.

Month 5

As you approach the end of your first term of DP 1, review the feedback you have received on your school assignments, and, if needed, discuss it with your teachers to get a better understanding of your progress and areas of improvement.
Refine your EE Research Question, and finalise your CAS goals.
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Month 6

Start familiarising yourself with the internal assessment requirements for your subjects, and begin planning or brainstorming where appropriate according to your school’s timeline. Begin your research for the Extended Essay.
While you are working on the EE, TOK, and CAS projects, ensure that you conduct detailed revision of your HL and SL subjects in parallel. To develop a better understanding of your subject’s assessment structure, use topic-specific past-paper or exam-style questions when you have covered the relevant content.

Month 7

Study consistently, and work towards honing subject-specific skills. Discuss your TOK, EE, CAS, and IA progress with your teachers and mentors, and use their guidance to refine your work.

Months 8 & 9

As you approach the last few weeks of DP 1, your school assessments will draw closer and closer. Be smart and systematic about your revision, and utilise the detailed notes and study guides you have been developing all year. Review the feedback on your recent assignments, and plan your revision accordingly.

Month 10

Reflect on your performance during your school assessments. What were your strengths and weaknesses? Was there any particular concept you struggled to understand? What are the areas you’d like to improve in?
Use these insights to create goals for the summer, and develop targets for DP 2.

Our Top Tips

  • Start early. Whether it’s studying for your subjects, or working towards your long-term projects, an early start gives you an advantage over other students, and also reduces your future workload. This can help reduce the amount of unfinished work carried into DP2, giving you more time to balance final assessments, university applications and other commitments.
  • Build consistent revision habits. Use short review sessions throughout the week and conduct a more comprehensive review at the end of each week. This helps you identify gaps before they become larger problems.
  • Prioritise strategically across HL and SL. Your HL subjects generally cover a greater body of knowledge and skills, so your weekly schedule may need to give them more preparation time. However, don’t neglect SL subjects simply because they carry the same number of final points.
  • Once you have covered enough of a topic, use relevant past-paper or exam-style questions to practise applying what you have learned. As you progress through DP1, gradually increase the amount of timed practice. Learn the command terms that examiners often use, and understand how to answer appropriately for different types of questions.
  • Many IB DP students also recommend spending your breaks productively. Use the break before DP1 to familiarise yourself with your subjects, organise your materials and build good study habits, rather than trying to complete large amounts of the syllabus in advance.
  • Make good use of the feedback you receive on school assignments. It is an excellent indicator of the progress you have made, and the areas which you need to work on more. If you need any help, reach out to your teachers, family, and friends for support and guidance.
  • Make time in your schedule for rest, relaxation, and actual fun. Yes, studying constantly is extremely important, but so is making sure that you don’t overwork yourself to the point of burnout. A healthy, well-rested mind is critical for good academic progress.

How can Quest For Success help?

Quest For Success offers expert-led online IB coaching sessions, tailored to each student’s specific needs. Our highly qualified mentors work with students to develop detailed study plans for the entirety of the IB Diploma Programme, targeting problem areas and difficult topics, to ensure that the students develop a complete understanding of the concepts they learn, and can achieve high scores in their assessments. If you are starting out your IB DP journey and need some extra support, then reach out to Quest For Success to book your free demo class today!

Summary

DP 1 can be a challenging time for students, but with a clear, achievable monthly plan, you can set yourself up for success. Start early on all your preparation, including your work on long-term projects, to avoid the stress and chaos of overlapping deadlines. Aim for a consistent study routine rather than trying to study for long hours every day. Short, focused review sessions, weekly consolidation and regular practice can help you retain concepts without relying on last-minute cramming. Reflect on the feedback you receive, and use your insights to set clear goals and targets for DP 2.
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FAQs

Getting a headstart on your prep is always a good option. Start studying and planning your work as early as possible. If you can, try to do some self-study in the break before DP 1.
Start building concise revision resources from the beginning of the year. Keep them organised and combine them with active recall, practice questions and other subject-specific revision methods.
Aim for a consistent study routine rather than trying to study for long hours every day. Use short review sessions throughout the week and conduct a more comprehensive review at the end of each week, while adjusting your routine around your school workload and assessment deadlines.
Start your planning and preparation as early as possible. Make steady progress on your EE, TOK, CAS and subject-specific assessment components throughout DP1, following your school’s timelines and internal deadlines.. Include time for rest and relaxation in your study routine to avoid stressing and overworking yourself.
Create a regular study schedule that balances daily subject reviews with dedicated time for long-term components like the EE, TOK, and CAS. Break larger assignments into smaller, weekly tasks, and use study planners or digital trackers to stay organized and meet internal deadlines comfortably.
Reach out to Quest For Success to book your free demo class today, and learn more about our specialist-taught IB coaching classes.
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