What is personal project?
The Personal Project is a significant self-directed assessment task in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme typically undertaken by students aged 14–15, Designed to enhance their MYP experience.
it encourages students to explore a passion and address a real-world problems, or pursue a creative interest of their choice.
Over several months, students independently plan, research, and execute the project mean while applying skills developed across their MYP subjects such as critical thinking, creativity, and communication.
The process emphasizes self-management, problem-solving, and resilience, as students navigate challenges, refine their ideas, and iterate on their work.
A key focus is reflection students document their journey, analyzing growth, setbacks, and insights gained.
The project culminates in a final product and a presentation, showcasing their ability to connect classroom learning to practical, meaningful outcomes.
By fostering autonomy and curiosity, the Personal Project prepares students for the IB Diploma Programme (DP) while empowering them to take ownership of their education and develop lifelong skills.
What are the steps to creating a Personal Project in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme?
Learning the Basics
First, check what your school requires (they might have small rules).
Spend 20-25 hours on it (spread over 1–2 terms).
Create a final product (like a model, drawing, story, or app).
Keep a process journal (write down your steps, ideas, and what you learn).
Pick a Topic You Love
Choose something you’re curious about or enjoy.
Keep it interesting (you’ll work harder if you care).
Make sure its doable (not too big—can you finish it in the time?).
Link It to IB Subjects
Your project needs to connect to at least one IB subject.
For example:
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A bird feeder you build connects to Design or Sciences.
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A survey about classmates’ hobbies connects to Individuals and Societies.
Set Clear Goals
Ask: What do I want to achieve? Be specific.
The main goal.
Steps to reach the aim.
Plan Your Work
Make a simple action plan:
Break tasks into weeks/days.
Materials: List what you need.
Problems: Think of what might go wrong.
Show your plan to your supervisor (a teacher) for feedback.
Make Your Final Product
Finish what you started! It should be:
Original (your own idea).
Match your goals (did you solve the problem or reach your aim?).
Present Your Project
Share it with others (teachers, classmates, or family) Explain:
What you aimed to do.
How you did it (your journal).
What have you made.
Be ready to answer questions, “Why did you choose this topic?” or “What was hardest?”
Start building, researching, or creating! Write in your journal every day:
What you did.
What you learned (even if experiments failed!).
Ideas, sketches, or photos.
Think about how you worked, not just what you made.
What skills did I gain?
What challenges did I face, and how did I fix them?
What did I learn about myself?
Write this in your journal..
Reflect on Your Journey
Work and Document
Hand It In
Give your teacher all parts: the final product, your journal, and any presentation notes. They’ll check if you met the IB goals (learning, effort, reflection).
