Balancing Internal Assessments with exams and multiple IB subjects is one of the hardest challenges students face in the IB Diploma. Many students feel as though they are constantly switching between deadlines, revision, and coursework without making meaningful progress in any area. The key problem is not workload alone—it is how that workload is structured.
One reason balancing IAs feels impossible is that students treat them as background tasks. IAs are often worked on only when there is spare time, which rarely exists during the IB. This leads to rushed sessions and fragmented progress. IAs require sustained focus, and without scheduled time, they quickly become overwhelming.
Another issue is competing priorities. Exams feel urgent because they have fixed dates, while IAs feel flexible because deadlines are spread out. As a result, IA work is repeatedly postponed until it becomes urgent too. This creates periods where multiple IAs collide with exam preparation, dramatically increasing stress.
Students also underestimate how mentally demanding IA work is compared to revision. Studying for exams often involves reviewing familiar material, while IAs require original thinking and decision-making. Switching between these modes without planning leads to fatigue and reduced efficiency.
A more effective approach is intentional time-blocking. Instead of trying to work on everything every day, allocate specific blocks for IA work and exam revision. Even short, focused IA sessions are more effective than long, unfocused ones squeezed between other tasks.
It is also important to align IA work with exam content where possible. Many IAs overlap conceptually with syllabus topics. Working on an IA can reinforce understanding rather than compete with revision if approached strategically. This reduces the feeling that IAs and exams are entirely separate burdens.
Another key strategy is accepting uneven progress. There will be weeks where IA work slows down due to exam pressure, and weeks where IA work takes priority. Expecting perfect balance every week increases frustration. Flexibility within a structured plan is far more sustainable.
Finally, students need to let go of the idea that everything must feel finished at all times. Progress on IAs is often invisible day to day. Trusting the process and sticking to a system is what prevents last-minute overload.
The RevisionDojo Coursework Guide helps students integrate IA planning with exam schedules, showing how to prioritise effectively across subjects. When students use a clear system rather than reacting to deadlines, balancing IAs becomes manageable.
👉 https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-guide
