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Did you know that the whole drafting process teaches you more about writing than the final version ever will? Also, writing several drafts of your IB essays improves them. Each time you rewrite, you get a chance to refine your ideas and connect them in a new way.
From my experience, the moment a student begins treating drafts as part of thinking rather than as extra work, their paper improves a lot. So, in this post, I will explain why multiple drafts make for better IB essays.
What Is a Draft in IB Writing?
A draft in IB writing is basically your “work in progress” version of an essay. It’s not meant to be perfect, polished, or final. Instead, it’s the version where you figure out what you actually want to say. By the way, IB students often think a draft must look neat or formal, but that completely misses the point. A draft is simply a stage where your ideas start taking form.
The first draft usually looks messy, and honestly, that’s normal. You’re getting your thoughts out, testing your argument, and seeing whether your examples make sense. Sometimes you realise your research question needs adjusting. Other times, you notice that your explanation isn’t as strong as you thought. These moments are exactly why drafts are so helpful.
As you keep rewriting, each draft becomes clearer. According to the general rules of IB, essays that receive high grades have three things in common: they show a logical flow, a focused analysis, and arguments that are well-supported. Those qualities rarely appear on the first try.
From my experience, a draft is a safe space. You can delete whole paragraphs, rewrite a claim, switch examples, or change your structure without pressure. Here, you can try out different ideas until your argument feels strong. Even for students who feel confident in their writing, drafts help refine tone, adjust explanations, and fix small errors long before the final submission.
So in simple terms, a draft is the version that helps you think.
How Many Drafts of the IB Essay Should You Write?
How many drafts you should write depends on the type of IB task and how sure you are in your work. Clear thinking, polished organization, and well-chosen evidence that IB requires are not often found on the first or second try. There isn’t an official IB rule, but experience shows that there is a useful trend.
However, for most IB assignments, students usually need at least three drafts, but some tasks need more:
- The first draft is all about getting your ideas down, even if they’re still a bit messy.
- Second draft: fixing structure, making arguments stronger, and improving examples.
- The third draft is when you make the language better, fix the transitions, add citations, and make it clearer.
Now, different IB components naturally require varying levels of rewriting. For example, a TOK essay almost always improves dramatically by the second or third draft. You must revise your examples, adjust claims, and clarify the comparison of perspectives.
Writing just two drafts is rarely sufficient for the Extended Essay. In my experience, the EE normally needs three or four versions because the assignment is so long and hard. After several rounds of rewriting, your research question may change, your analysis may expand, and your conclusion may become clearer.
Internal Assessments are in the middle. Biology and Physics IA are examples of subjects that need exact answers, which is why students often have to redo the analysis part multiple times. Language A, on the other hand, depends a lot on style and meaning, so writing lines until they feel balanced is a good idea.
As you can see, drafting is a tool that can be used in many different ways. Write until your essay shows what you really want to say, your case is persuasive, and your format is neat.
How to Write Better IB Essays with Multiple Drafts?
If you want to write better IB essays, you’ve got to work through your ideas until they make sense. In my experience, writing multiple drafts is the secret to success that many miss. So, let’s talk about how to use rewriting to your advantage, not as a chore.
You Need a Simple, Flexible Plan
A simple outline gives your writing direction and saves time later. In my opinion, this step matters because it prevents confusion once you begin drafting.
Consider these simple outlines for different IB tasks:
- A TOK essay outline may focus on claims, counterclaims, and examples.
- An EE outline may divide your argument into main sections of analysis.
- An outline for your Internal Assessment may clarify your introduction, method, analysis, and evaluation.
In addition, I’ve seen that students who start with even a basic plan move faster through their drafts because they already know the purpose of each paragraph.
Write First Draft Without Stressing About Perfection
The first draft is meant to write down your thoughts. At this point in the IB process, clear reasoning and thought are more important than well-written lines, according to the general rules of IB.
The goal is to make your point, pick examples, and check to see if your structure is logical. Some of it can feel rough or not done yet, and that’s okay. Later, you can fix them.
Pay Attention to Logic and Structure in Second Draft
This is the point at which your essay begins to establish a cohesive structure. Check whether your argument flows logically and if your explanations back up your statements.
In this stage, pay attention to several important points:
- Does the sequence of ideas make sense?
- Are the examples strong and relevant?
- Do paragraphs link to the research question or title?
- Are any parts repetitive or vague?
- Is the line of reasoning easy to follow?
For example, TOK essays require clear reasoning between examples and interpretations. At the same time, sections of the Extended Essay must connect back to the research question, regardless of the subject. And the IA analysis must follow the method clearly.
Improve Evidence and Reasoning in Later Drafts
Once the argument is clearer, focus on depth. This means improving explanations, refining examples, adding missing analysis, or replacing evidence that doesn’t fully support your point.
Note that at this stage, the writing becomes more analytical and less descriptive.
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Focus on Flow and Readability
Once you’ve established your thoughts, it’s time to polish your writing. This portion is more important than students realize. Even a well-structured essay might seem weighty if the words drag or the transitions fall flat. In my experience, this is the point at which the writing begins to sound like something you’d want to read.
Here’s an easy trick: read your essay aloud. Seriously. The moment you hear your own sentences, you’ll notice which ones feel clunky or confusing. Some will sound too long, while others might repeat the same idea without adding anything useful. When that happens, trim, rewrite, or simplify.
Use Feedback Intentionally
Feedback is strong, but only if you see it as help. Instead of just changing a few words, a comment like “reasoning unclear” should cause a complete rewriting of that part. For example, if your EE supervisor says to improve your research question, it generally means that the organization of your question needs to be tightened as well. Make changes to it.
The same goes for Internal Assessments. Don’t add a sentence to fix weak reasoning if someone points it out. Rewrite the explanation so that the logic is clear.
In general, use feedback with intention. That’s how your next draft becomes noticeably stronger.
Know When to Stop Writing Drafts
Drafting can go on forever. Really. There’s always something you could change if you stare long enough. But there’s a point where the essay becomes stable—your argument is consistent, the examples support it well, and the entire piece feels balanced. When you reach that point, stop.
From my experience, the final draft is the one that says exactly what you want, clearly and confidently. Once additional edits start changing your tone instead of improving clarity, you’ve crossed into unnecessary rewriting.
So, the rule is simple: when the essay sounds right, stop touching it.
How Our Team of Expert IB Writers Can Help You?
It’s easy to feel unsure about what needs to be improved or if your case is strong enough when you’re going through multiple drafts. In my opinion, having someone who really knows IB standards can help you avoid wasting time, reduce stress, and stop doubting your decisions. That’s when the IBStudentHelp.com team comes in. We only work with IB students, so we know exactly what the people who grade the exams want and how to make your writing fit those needs.
Our writers are here to help you with any part of your essay to make things easy. It’s okay if you come to us with an unfinished draft, a rough plan, or even a version that you don’t like. IBStudent Help will make your work better while still keeping your unique style. Here’s how we help:
- Strengthen your arguments, examples, and overall structure.
- Improve clarity, tone, and flow across all sections.
- Provide detailed recommendations to strengthen each draft.
We will make sure that your essay is well-structured, accurate, and meets all of the requirements set forth by the IB. Rewriting becomes far more doable with the right path to take, and you’ll be able to submit your final draft with confidence.
Nick Radlinsky
Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.
Nick's article, featured in Routledge's "Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.
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Did you know that the whole drafting process teaches you more about writing than the final version ever will? Also, writing several drafts of your IB essays improves them. Each time you rewrite, you get a chance to refine your ideas and connect them in a new way.
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