You've got a two-month break between DP1 and DP2, everyone says to finish your IAs and EE, and you're wondering what else is actually worth doing — study DP2 content in advance, or re-study DP1? Here's the highest-ROI way to spend it.
Finishing your EE and IAs is the best use of the break
This is almost certainly the single highest-return thing you can do. Future you, buried in DP2 deadlines, will be enormously grateful for every section you got done over summer.
Don't try to speed-run DP2 content
Spending the whole break trying to learn next year's syllabus in advance usually isn't worth it. You're better off strengthening weak DP1 areas and building good systems for DP2 than racing ahead into content you'll be taught properly anyway.
A summer list that actually helps
- 1Finish as much of your EE and IAs as possible
- 2Organise your notes properly
- 3Identify your weak subjects and topics
- 4Build a revision system you'll actually stick to
- 5Read examiner reports and markschemes for your subjects
Also start treating research as a skill. The EE is one of the best chances you'll get to learn how to research properly, and the sooner you're comfortable finding and evaluating sources, the easier the whole of DP2 becomes.
And genuinely enjoy your summer. Plenty of students burn themselves out before DP2 even starts — rest is part of the plan, not a betrayal of it.
Key Takeaways
- Finishing EE and IAs is the highest-ROI summer task
- Don't speed-run DP2 content — strengthen weak DP1 areas instead
- Organise notes, spot weak topics, and build a revision system you'll keep
- Read examiner reports and markschemes to learn what's rewarded
- Rest properly — burnout before DP2 helps no one
Free workspace
Get a head start on the EE over summer — 5 free modules, workbooks, and a real 32/34 example.