Prepare for the Transition into DP1
Build a small preparation plan around academic skills, subject foundations and questions for your new school.
Start with your actual starting point
Moving into the DP from the MYP, GCSEs, another curriculum, or another school creates different preparation needs. List your chosen courses, the instructions your new school has provided, and the skills you already use confidently. Then identify uncertainties such as academic writing, algebra, laboratory conventions, or study in a different language. Do not assume a particular previous programme automatically prepares or disadvantages every student. Your useful baseline is evidence from your own work and the expectations of the courses you will study next.
Choose two foundations to strengthen
Ask teachers for the knowledge and skills that are especially useful at the start of your chosen subjects. Select two priorities rather than attempting to teach yourself the entire diploma before lessons begin. A mathematics priority might be manipulating expressions accurately; a language priority might be explaining how a short passage creates meaning. Use a brief diagnostic task, review its errors, and practise the specific difficulty. Preparation should make early teaching easier to use, not create a large pile of notes you have never tested.
Practise an academic evidence trail
Take a short article or accessible subject source and write a paragraph making one supported claim. Record where the evidence came from, distinguish a quotation from your paraphrase, and explain how it supports the claim. Save the source details beside the paragraph. This small task practises research, communication, and integrity without becoming an early assessed submission. If you use digital assistance, check information against the source and follow the school's rules. Keep your own reasoning visible so you can discuss how the paragraph developed.
Set up access and questions
Locate the school's learning platform, contact details, reading instructions, and any resources you are expected to bring. Ask about unfamiliar conventions before buying materials or creating elaborate folders. Write questions that someone can answer: which subject guide applies, how to request help, or what initial preparation is recommended. A transition plan also needs time away from study and space for existing commitments. Aim for a few sustainable sessions and practical organization rather than treating every remaining holiday day as a diploma deadline.
Worked example: moving from MYP to DP
Imagine a student leaving the MYP feels comfortable with projects but uncertain about analytical writing and the mathematics foundation for DP1. They ask their new teachers for representative starting tasks. A short paragraph reveals evidence that is not explained, while an algebra task reveals sign errors. The student practises those two issues and brings the attempts to the first lessons. Their MYP experience provides useful habits, but the plan does not assume that a personal project has already taught every EE or subject-assessment requirement.
End preparation with a handover note
Write one page showing what you practised, the errors you can now explain, and the questions still open. Bring it to the start of DP1 and use teacher feedback to update your priorities. Some initial concerns will disappear once a course is explained; others will need regular support. Preparation succeeds when it gives you a clearer starting point and a way to ask for help. Leave detailed deadline systems and long-term revision plans for the verified timetable and feedback you receive after the programme begins.
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Official references
This is an original practical guide from IBvia. The examples are illustrative; your subject guide, assessment year and school instructions determine the requirements.
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