How to Improve ATL Skills for Better MYP Grades

In the MYP, ATL skills aren’t a separate subject, yet they shape almost every grade a student receives. These skills include thinking, research, communication, self-management and social skills. They decide how well a student performs in projects, exams, labs, essays and group tasks. Many students think ATL is “soft skills,” but in reality, these are the exact habits teachers evaluate when they mark criteria A to D. This is something students often realise only after joining structured IB MYP classes, where the connection between ATL habits and grading becomes much clearer.

The surprising part is that ATL affects grades across all subjects, even Maths and Science. A student who knows formulas but cannot break down a problem, plan work or manage time will keep losing marks. This is why students with strong content knowledge sometimes score lower than expected.

Reasons Why Students Struggle With ATL Skills in MYP

• Lack of Structured Practice
  Most schools introduce ATL skills but do not provide consistent one-on-one practice. Students understand the concept but fail to apply it while writing lab reports, completing investigations or planning long-term assessments.
  
  
• Weak Research and Note-Making Habits
  A lot of students rely on copying from the internet which leads to shallow understanding. Poor research habits directly affect Criteria A and B in subjects like Individuals & Societies, Sciences and English.
  
  
• Rushing Tasks Without Planning
  ATL expects students to break down tasks, set timelines and submit refined work. Many students work last-minute, which lowers the quality of their responses and ultimately the rubric level they achieve Proven Ways to Strengthen ATL Skills
  
  
• Build Consistent Research Literacy
• Students should learn how to locate sources, filter reliable information and write in their own words. Practising this weekly even in small tasks helps students improve long-term assessment scores.
  
  
• Follow a Clear Work-Planning Routine
  Breaking tasks into steps is one of the simplest ways to boost grades. Students who make a task list and outline before writing end up with clearer arguments, stronger evidence & fewer mistakes.
  
  
• Practice Reflection Regularly
  Many students skip reflections, but teachers use them to check thinking skills. Writing small reflections after tests or assignments helps students show understanding and growth.
• Seek Active Feedback
  Students who ask teachers specific questions like “How can I strengthen my explanation in Criterion C?” progress much faster than those who wait for generic feedback.
  
  

How the Right Guidance Makes a Difference

• Why External Guidance Helps
  ATL development requires personalised mentoring, not one-time instruction. Tutors who understand the MYP framework help students plan tasks correctly, structure responses better and avoid common mistakes that reduce rubric levels.
• Why Online Support Works Well for MYP Students
  Many students studying in the UAE prefer flexible online support where they get focused attention without travel time. This is why parents often look for online tuition in JLT and beyond, as it fits busy schedules and still offers subject-specific and ATL-specific guidance.
• What Students Often Realise Too Late
  Most students only understand the importance of ATL when they start scoring lower in MYP Year 3 or 4. Early guidance helps them build strong habits before assessments get tougher.
  
  

Choosing the Right Support for Stronger ATL Skills

To see steady improvement in MYP grades, students need strong ATL habits that guide how they plan work, research, manage time and organise ideas. Most students try to improve these skills alone but often don’t know what teachers actually look for in each criterion. Consistent guidance makes a big difference here.

At NowClasses, we offer online tuition in JLT and throughout the UAE along with offline sessions at our education centre in JLT, so students can choose what fits their routine. Our IB MYP classes focus on subject clarity as well as weekly practice of ATL-driven skills like structured writing, task planning and research literacy. And this support isn’t limited to IB, we help students across different curriculums and subjects build habits that strengthen overall academic performance.

With the right structure and feedback, students become more confident, more organised and noticeably stronger in their assessments.

FAQs

1. How long does it take to improve ATL skills?
   Most students start noticing improvement within 6-8 weeks after joining the best tuition centers in Dubai like NowClasses as they practise research, planning and reflection consistently.
2. Do ATL skills affect exam grades too?
   Yes. Strong ATL skills help students answer questions clearly, manage time better and avoid common mistakes during exams.
3. Can online tutoring help with ATL skill-building?Yes, because it offers personalised guidance and structured practice that students often don’t get in large school classrooms.