Skills needed for MYP
What Is the MYP?
The MYP (Middle Years programme) is part of the International Baccalaureate. The MYP is aimed at students between the ages of 12-16, and is intended to prepare students for their two-year IB diploma programme. Comprising eight subject groups, the MYP holds a strong focus on interdisciplinary learning and real-world knowledge. It can be a challenging curriculum and is typically a five-year programme. However, the MYP can be abbreviated into a shorter two, three or four-year format. The MYP prides itself on its flexible curriculum and assessment styles, allowing for a broad application that suits a variety of students and global schools. Aimed at developing active and internationally minded learners, the MYP curriculum prioritises critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and research skills.
How Is the MYP Structured?
The MYP curriculum includes eight subject groups:
Language acquisition
Language and literature
Individuals and societies
Sciences
Mathematics
Arts
Physical and health education
Design
The MYP offers both internal (school-based) and optional external assessments. For internal assessments, MYP teachers will devise both formative tasks and summative assessments to evaluate student progress. Each MYP subject has four assessment criteria that teachers will use to grade students and monitor their growth. These criteria differ slightly based on their subject group but can be broadly recognised as:
Criterion A - Thinking and Knowledge Skills
Criterion B - Organising Skills
Criterion C - Application and Communication skills
Criterion D - Evaluating Skills
Teachers will evaluate a student’s work by using a 1-8 scale based on each assessment criteria. Schools can also register for optional external assessment and, in the final year of the programme, each MYP student must develop an independent project, which the IB externally validates.
Essential Study Skills for the MYP
With eight subjects and a variety of assessment strategies, effective time management is a critical skill for MYP students. Those involved in the MYP are recommended to develop a routine of scheduled study sessions to help strike a balance between academic, personal, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, learning to prioritise tasks and keep track of deadlines will also prepare students for the intensity of the IB Diploma and its increased workload.
A core component of the MYP curriculum and philosophy is a holistic learning approach. This means that students are required to contextualise their skills and make cross-disciplinary connections. This can be achieved by developing strong research skills, active reading, and critical thinking. Learning to evaluate information and engage with challenging materials will enable MYP learners to broaden their understanding and make connections to prior knowledge.
Tips and Strategies for Students Preparing for MYP Summatives
MYP summatives are created and marked by classroom teachers and can be conducted in a variety of formats, from projects and presentations to tests and essays. Summative assessments occur at the end of a unit or term and are marked based on the MYP’s 8-point assessment criteria. As a result, MYP students must be familiar with each subject’s assessment criteria to understand how their work will be evaluated. Once students are aware of what is expected of them, they should prepare for upcoming assessments through effective planning. This involves allowing sufficient time for research and drafting, as well as collecting the necessary resources ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute stress. Adequate preparation will allow MYP students to break down large summative tasks into less daunting, manageable steps. Drafting and revising will also allow those taking the MYP to receive feedback from their teachers and improve the clarity of their work through edits and revisions.
Common MYP Pitfalls and Mistakes
A common pitfall for MYP students is not dedicating enough time to their personal project. In their final year of the MYP, students are expected to complete a project over an extended period that explores an area of personal interest. The project consists of three stages—a process, a product, and a reflective report. The report is assessed by their supervisor and externally moderated by the IB. However, a lack of planning and poor time management often result in a rushed project and low-quality work. MYP students can also perform poorly by failing to understand the project’s assessment criteria and missing subject-specific requirements. This typically comes in the form of a limited reflection that fails to discuss the impact of the project, particularly on the student and their development.
How to Handle Competing Deadlines in the MYP
Organisation skills are imperative for achieving good results in the IB programme. Throughout the MYP, students will undoubtedly be faced with competing priorities and multiple deadlines. One way to manage this is for students to compile and prioritise their workflow. This can involve making a list of tasks and organising them based on their priority and due date. This can help students to visualise their workload and allocate their time accordingly. When working, students should create a focused environment by minimising any distractions such as phone calls or notifications. MYP learners should also utilise effective study methods that best suit their learning style. This can involve working in short, focused bursts, and taking regular breaks. Overall, developing strong organisation and time management skills will help students to manage multiple deadlines and minimise stress over competing tasks.
How a BartyED MYP Tutor Can Help Develop Your Study Skills
BartyED’s experienced MYP tutors emphasise a holistic teaching approach, tailored to a student’s unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. After an initial meeting and individual assessment, tutors will devise a personalised lesson plan to ensure targeting practice and comprehensive preparation. Our tutors aim to help students build organisational skills and develop effective study techniques. For example, teaching students how to manage their time, prioritise tasks, and balance multiple subjects. Additionally, BartyED’s MYP tutors inform students of different study techniques such as active recall, blurting, and mind mapping, to help them discover new approaches to revision. Finally, our tutors provide regular feedback and monitor a student’s progress over time, helping them to identify areas of improvement and achieve the best possible results in their MYP assessments.
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the expertise of a BartyED MYP tutor, get in touch today by phone (+852 2882 1017) or email (enquiries@bartyed.com).
Frequently Asked Questions
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The MYP, or Middle Year Programme, is a curriculum for students aged between 12 and 16 that is made up of 8 subject groups and prioritises critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and research skills.
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The MYP prepares students for the two-year IBDP that rounds out their secondary school education.
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The MYP offers internal assessments and optional external assessments that can take the form of exams. Not every school will opt for these external assessments, however.
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It is recommended that MYP students develop a comprehensive work schedule to stay on top of revision, assignments, and develop as learners. One of the best ways to improve is under the guidance of an experienced MYP tutor.