Task Management

ABC Method (Prioritisation):

The ABC method of prioritisation is a simple yet effective technique used to categorise tasks based on their importance.

Categorise the tasks:

• A Tasks: High priority. These tasks are urgent and important. They must be done first and often have significant consequences if not completed.

• B Tasks: Medium priority. These tasks are important but not urgent. They should be done after A tasks and may contribute to long-term goals.

• C Tasks: Low priority. These tasks are neither urgent nor important. They can be done last.

Prioritise: Focus on completing A tasks first, followed by B tasks, and finally C tasks.

Pro-Tip: Consider setting deadlines for A and B tasks to enhance accountability.

Pareto Principle (Prioritisation):

The Pareto principle, often referred to as the 80/20 rule, highlights an important insight: roughly 80% of results stem from just 20% of the efforts. This concept is particularly relevant for students, especially those who tend to be perfectionists. Here are a few strategies to help students harness this principle effectively:

Focus on Marking Criteria

Understand Expectations: Encourage students to clearly understand the marking criteria before diving into their work. This helps them prioritize what matters most.

Target Key Elements: Identify the 20% of the criteria that will yield 80% of the marks.

Avoiding Research Overload

Set Clear Limits: Recommend setting a strict time limit for research to prevent getting lost in endless information.

Curate Sources: Teach students to focus on a few high-quality sources rather than trying to cover everything.

Embrace Imperfection

Draft First, Refine Later: Emphasize the importance of producing a rough draft. The idea is to get words on paper without the pressure of perfection.

Iterative Improvement: Encourage students to view their work as a process. They can refine and improve their drafts over time.

Not-To-Do-List:

A not-to-do list can include a variety of items. Here are some common examples:

• Don’t procrastinate and put off tasks until the last minute.

• Don’t multitask. Focus on one task at a time instead of juggling multiple activities.

• Don’t use social media when you’re trying to work. Restrict time spent on social media platforms during study time.

• Refrain from engaging in self-doubt or criticism or other negative self-talk.

• Say no to tasks or activities that don’t align with your priorities; get the essay finished!

• Avoid checking emails constantly; set specific times for this task—not when you’re working on the essay.

• Let go of the need for everything to be perfect before moving forward.

• Skip tasks that don’t significantly contribute to your goals; leave these until the end.

• Stop comparing your progress to that of others.

Task Batching

Task batching means grouping similar tasks together and completing them in one focused session. This reduces the mental effort of constantly switching between different types of work and makes each stage of your Extended Essay feel smoother and more efficient.

Why it helps

• Reduces cognitive load

• Helps you stay focused on one type of thinking at a time

• Makes progress feel more structured and predictable

• Prevents unnecessary switching between tasks

• Speeds up repetitive or routine actions

How to do it

Group similar tasks/same type of thinking

• reading articles

• making notes

• outlining sections

• editing paragraphs

• formatting references

• checking citations

Set a clear focus for the batch

Examples:

• “I will read and summarise two sources.”

• “I will outline the entire results section.”

• “I will edit all topic sentences.”

• “I will fix every in-text citation.”

Keep batches short

Most batches work best in sessions of twenty to forty minutes. Long enough to make progress, short enough to stay focused.

Avoid mixing task types

Do not switch between reading, writing and editing in the same session. Each one uses a different mental process, and mixing them slows you down.

Examples of effective batches

• Research batch: skim, read, and take notes on two articles

• Notes batch: summarise everything you have read this week

• Writing batch: draft one subsection from start to finish

• Editing batch: improve clarity, transitions, or topic sentences

• Referencing batch: check all citations and update the reference list

• Admin batch: upload files, label documents, organise the RRS

Quick tips

• Batch similar tasks before moving on to the next stage

• Stay with one type of thinking until the session ends

• Combine batching with time blocking for best results

• Stop mixing reading, writing and editing in the same session

Progress Tracking

Progress tracking helps you see how far you have come and what still needs attention. It is especially useful for long projects like the Extended Essay, where progress can feel slow or unclear. A simple tracking system keeps you motivated and ensures nothing is forgotten.

Why it helps

• Gives a clear sense of progress

• Helps you spot gaps early

• Makes large projects feel manageable

• Keeps you motivated through small wins

• Reduces the chance of missing important steps

How to do it

Use a simple checklist

List the major components of your EE and tick them off as you complete them. This could include:

1. 1. 1. initial research and proposal

      2. final research question

      3. background reading

      4. outline

      5. methodology

      6. drafting

      7. revisions

      8. final checks

      9. RPF reflection

Create a progress table

Divide your project into stages, for example research, writing, editing and referencing. Mark each stage as “not started”, “in progress” or “complete”.

Colour-code your progress

A simple traffic light system can help:

green: completed

amber: in progress

red: not started

This gives you a quick visual snapshot of where you are.

Update regularly

Review your tracker once a week. Make small adjustments rather than waiting until you feel lost.

Examples of what to track

• number of sources read

• which sections have been drafted

• which sections need revision

• citations checked

• RPF entries completed

• deadlines met

You can keep this in a notebook, in Google Docs, in Notion, or anywhere that feels comfortable.

Quick tips

• Keep tracking simple so you will actually use it

• Celebrate small wins

• Use your tracker to decide your next task

• Share it with your supervisor if you want accountability