Grade 10 Students Explore Their Passions Through the Personal Project

While test scores and transcripts are one part of education, the International Baccalaureate (IB) program places equal emphasis on how students learn, grow, and apply their knowledge. One of the clearest examples of this approach is the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Personal Project.

At ISI, students follow a comprehensive IB continuum from their earliest years through graduation. This means that every student engages in an inquiry-driven, skills-focused approach to learning that encourages independence, reflection, and real-world application. The Personal Project, completed in Grade 10, brings these priorities to life in a meaningful and highly personal way.

What is the MYP Personal Project?

The Personal Project is a long-term, student-driven project that invites Grade 10 learners to dig into something they are genuinely interested in exploring. Over several months, students design, create, and reflect on a project that showcases not only what they know but also who they are as learners.
Projects are intentionally open-ended. Students might create a piece of original art, build a functional app, conduct scientific research, write a novella, or develop a community initiative. What matters most is that the work reflects the student’s interests, values, and growth, and that they take ownership of the entire process.

At its core, the Personal Project is about self-discovery. Students identify a goal, connect it to a global context, and challenge themselves to learn something new along the way.

What Students Learn Along the Way

The Personal Project is a building block, designed to help students build skills that serve them well in their final years at ISI in the Diploma Programme (DP) and beyond:

• Self-Management: Students learn to set goals, plan realistically, meet deadlines, and track their progress - all essential skills for academic success and independence.
• Research Skills: Investigating topics of personal interest helps students learn how to find, evaluate, and apply information independently.
• Communication: From regular check-ins with a staff supervisor to the final exhibition, students practice articulating their ideas clearly and confidently. Working with a supervisor also introduces them to structures like office hours, mirroring expectations they’ll encounter in college.
• Critical Thinking: Problem-solving is woven throughout the project as students adapt plans, overcome obstacles, and reflect on outcomes.
• Global Awareness: Many projects are rooted in global contexts, encouraging students to think beyond themselves and consider their role in an interconnected world.

Why It Matters

The IB Personal Project reflects the heart of the IB philosophy: developing learners who are thoughtful, capable, and engaged with the world around them. By the end of the process, students don’t just walk away with a finished product. They gain confidence in their ability to set goals, manage complex work, and pursue ideas that matter to them.

As a culminating experience of the MYP, the Personal Project serves as a meaningful bridge between MYP learning and the challenges of the DP, college, and beyond. It’s one more way ISI students are prepared not just to succeed, but to confidently lead, create, and make a difference.