The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is often described as a marathon, but for many families, it feels more like a mix of mad dashes and chaotic sprints. As students balance Internal Assessments (IAs), the Extended Essay (EE), and rigorous IBDP courses, parents often wonder how they can best provide support without stifling their child.

We recently sat down with Shruti Trivedi, a mother of two remarkably successful IB graduates, Sharanya and Suvarn—both of whom achieved perfect 45-point scores—to discuss her journey as a DP parent. She began by noting that both children changed schools and countries multiple times, moving from the IGCSE curriculum in China to the IB programme in Switzerland and later applying to US and UK universities – which added to the challenge of adapting to different cultures and  educational systems. The transition to the IBDP, she states, was easier for her younger child Suvarn, who started MYP (Middle Years Programme) and progressed to IBDP, unlike his older sister who went from IGCSE to IBDP. Her daughter is now studying law at UCL, while her son is pursuing physics and math at EPFL in Switzerland.

Here is how she navigated the challenges of the IB and her advice for parents entering this demanding two-year cycle.

1. Pace the Process: It’s a Five-Day Match, Not a Sprint

One of the most vital lessons learned was the importance of long-term planning. The IBDP is a rigorous process where students must “hit the ground running”.

“My big advice or learning would be: pace it well so you are able to manage the stress,” she explains. She likens the IB to a “five-day match” rather than a quick 20/20 cricket game. With a number of deadlines and submissions, such as the Extended Essay and TOK Essay, TOK Exhibition, the Internal Assessments over the course of the two years, and the actual IB exams – the IBDP workload needs careful planning and proactive management. On the flip side, Shruti does note that it is actually a “forgiving system” because it offers multiple papers and assignments to make up for a poor performance in one area.

2. Use the Calendar to Work Backwards:

A major source of stress isn’t just the IBDP courses themselves, but the simultaneous pressure of IB submissions, coursework deadlines and university applications. In the second year (Grade 12), deadlines for IAs, college essays, and entrance tests often collide.

Parents should sit with their child at the beginning of the program to “understand when and what are the deadlines for each of the assignments”. They can go a step further by understanding the school’s structure for first and second drafts to manage the workload even  more effectively.

3. Frontload the University Application Work

As stated in the previous point, university applications often collide with IB submissions in the second year (Grade 12). Shruti emphasizes the need to “start early” on application essays so that students can get a headstart on the refining and editing process. Parents and students may not realise that the first or second drafts of the application essays are rarely the final version. Delaying these drafts leads to a greater likelihood that students will be writing the final application essays at the same time as the final IB submissions, adding to a stressful, deadline jam.

“The biggest learning was the added pressure that college applications add to the IB stress,” observed Shruti. To mitigate this, she recommends completing as much application work as possible in advance—especially for the US—to leave “time and space to concentrate on the IB curriculum”. This includes getting SATs and ACTs “all done” before the heavy IB workload peaks.

4. Seek Specialized IB tutoring Early

Even high-achieving students may need targeted support. Shruti’s daughter, despite her drive for a perfect score, recognized early that she needed IB tutoring to secure a 7 in math.

Finding the right fit is crucial. Her son utilized IBDP online tutoring through CourseLeap for the entire duration of his IB math course. “CourseLeap’s biggest advantage is that it tries to understand what the student requirements are and then offers tailored solutions,” she shares. Having a mentor who can pace the material according to the student’s needs makes a significant difference in confidence.

5. Prioritize Mental Health and Social Outlets

The “IB stress” is real, and the parent’s role is often just “being there” to ensure that the academic demands don’t lead to a “pressure cooker situation”. When things felt overwhelming, her mantra to her daughter was simple: “Do what you can and remember that this too shall pass”.

Shruti encourages parents to help their children maintain a social life. “It’s important to have a social outlet,” she says, noting that her son was very active in his social life on weekends while still maintaining his academic rigor.

6. Listen to the Student’s Passion

When it comes to the Extended Essay (EE) or subject choices, it can be tempting for parents to push for “practical” subjects. However, this mother of two found that “what they do from the heart eventually” bears wonderful results. Her son, a “math and science kid,” chose to do his EE in history because he loved it—and he walked away with an A. In other words, as Shruti concluded, “it makes sense to listen to your children.”

7. Every Child is Different

Based on her experience with her two children, Shruti is quick to note that they differed greatly in the way they approached the IBDP and in the kind of support they needed. Her elder daughter was highly self-driven and “had her eye on the ball from day one,” working backwards with a well-planned schedule, though occasionally feeling overwhelmed by the rigor needed to stay on top of deadlines. She also recognized early on that she needed targeted IB tutoring to ensure a high score in math, which is how she came to be associated with CourseLeap.

In contrast, Suvarn took a more relaxed approach—building momentum closer to exams, maintaining a healthy social balance, while opting for the consistent, structured support of CourseLeap IB Math tutoring for the full two years. Their choices also reflected their individuality; for instance, despite being inclined toward math and science, Suvarn pursued his Extended Essay in history out of genuine interest and excelled. For Shruti, these differences reinforced the importance of recognising each child’s unique motivations, learning style, and emotional needs.

Final Thoughts for Parents

For Shruti, parental support was never about “pushing” for perfection, but about being a steady, reassuring presence through the IBDP journey. She found that the most meaningful support came from helping her children keep a “long-term perspective,” encouraging them to choose subjects they were passionate about, and reminding them that balance matters—having a “social outlet” was essential to avoid a “pressure cooker situation.” She also valued the role of external support, through CourseLeap, which helped her children stay on track while also feeling seen and supported throughout the process.

If you are starting the IB journey this year, sit down with your child and a calendar. Understand the deadlines for each assignment so you can work backwards together. Most importantly, Shruti says, show them you’re interested and let them feel that you’re with them all along the way. “It just makes them feel seen – that somebody is just reading and is part of the process,” she reflects. She certainly did that for her children and today they are thriving in top colleges in the UK and Switzerland.

Are you looking for expert IBDP online tutoring to help your child navigate their courses? Contact CourseLeap today to find tailored support for specific subjects such as IB Math Tutoring as well as IAs, Extended Essay, TOK, Exam Prep. If you would like your child to get a head start in the IB during the summer holidays, learn about our flagship Pre-IB courses that prepare students for a confident entry into Grade 11.