Plan an IB exam essay before the first paragraph

Read for the decision the question requires

Begin by identifying the central issue, the scope and the instruction. Note any period, text, case or concept that limits the response. Rephrase the task in one sentence without changing its meaning. If you cannot do that, resolve the wording before committing to an argument.

A question about the importance of one factor is not automatically asking you to list every factor you know. You may need to compare its explanatory value with alternatives and decide how far the evidence supports the claim. The shape of your plan should follow that task.

Write a provisional answer

Draft a short answer that you could defend with the evidence available. It can be qualified. A plan such as “the factor matters in these circumstances but does not explain this other part” gives the essay a direction. A plan that simply says “there are many factors” leaves the reader waiting for the argument.

Treat the answer as provisional until you have checked the supporting points. If your best evidence does not support it, adjust the answer rather than forcing the evidence into the position you first chose.

Build a small evidence grid

For each main point, note the claim, the evidence and the link to the question. Add a limitation or alternative where it changes the judgment. Use short phrases so the plan remains quick to consult. The grid is a working aid, not an IB-mandated essay format.

For example, a point might include a policy change as evidence, an explanation of its effect and a note that a different condition limits that explanation. In literary analysis, the evidence might be a specific authorial choice rather than a remembered general theme.

Choose the order deliberately

Arrange the points so the reader can follow the reasoning. You could develop the main explanation, test it against an alternative and then refine the answer. Another question may work better with thematic or chronological ordering. Choose the sequence that serves the argument instead of applying the same structure to every subject.

Check that each paragraph has a different contribution. If two points use different examples to make exactly the same claim, decide whether they should be combined. Use the saved space to develop a necessary comparison or explanation.

Leave room to review relevance

Use the plan to start writing, then briefly check that each completed paragraph still answers the question. A remembered fact can pull the essay away from its purpose. When time is limited, develop the most relevant evidence clearly rather than adding an unsupported point at the end.

Finish with a judgment that follows from the discussion. Do not introduce a major new example only in the conclusion. When reviewing practice essays, compare the original plan with the actual response to see where the argument became clearer or drifted.

• A one-sentence task summary.
• A provisional answer.
• Evidence and reasoning for each main point.
• An ending that follows from the argument.