The IB PYP Inquiry Learning Progressions released in April 2025 represent a major update to the Primary Years Programme framework, with a particular focus on the new Inquiry Learning Progressions document. The new progressions strengthen learner agency, inquiry-based learning, transdisciplinary connections, and personalized learning pathways while providing educators with clearer developmental guidance for inquiry skills across the PYP.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀?
Inquiry learning progressions are structured, skills-based frameworks that describe how inquiry skills develop and become more sophisticated over time. They are designed for learners aged 5 to 16 and serve as a guide for both educators and students to:
- Make visible and explicit the skills of effective inquirers
- Support understanding of learner growth in inquiry skills
- Provide a model balancing surface and deep cognitive processing
- Guide feedback, monitoring, and documentation of learning
- Focus on growth rather than deficits
- Support learner agency and personalized learning journeys
- Emphasize inquiry as a continuous learning process
These progressions are not tied to specific grade levels or ages. Instead, they recognize that learners develop at different rates and may be at various points on the progression simultaneously.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞:-
𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 𝐔𝐎𝐈– Sharing the Planet
𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚: Natural resources govern sustainability, equity, and interdependence across societies and ecosystems.
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲:
- The unequal distribution of natural resources
- The impact of human actions on sustainability
- Solutions for equitable sharing of resources
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Students begin by asking simple factual questions like “Why do some countries have more fresh water?” (surface thinking). As they grow along the progression, they explore causal and evaluative questions such as “How do our choices as consumers affect the availability of resources for others?” This shift supports deeper inquiry, metacognition, and global thinking, reflecting the continuum of skill development.
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗬𝗣
Inquiry-based learning is the cornerstone of the PYP, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. The inquiry learning progressions:
- Bridge curriculum, assessment, and pedagogy, supporting intentional planning for inquiry
- Offer a shared language for inquiry conversations among educators and learners
- Help track and celebrate learner growth and set future learning goals
- Encourage student agency, allowing learners to take ownership of their learning journey.
Research shows that inquiry-based learning can significantly boost student outcomes, including critical thinking, problem-solving, and knowledge retention, making it a vital component of the PYP.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝘃𝘀. 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞
Grade 4 UOI – How We Express Ourselves
Central Idea: People express beliefs and values through the arts and media.
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲:
- Ways people express ideas creatively
- Cultural influences on expression
- Interpretation and response to artistic expression
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Some learners may start by identifying different forms of art, while others evaluate how bias is portrayed in media. Teachers use the progression to support differentiated learning pathways. Some learners inquire into the symbolism in protest art, while others present a personal visual response connected to a cultural value, developing their ability to reflect and take action.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲:
- 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬: All PYP subjects now follow a consistent structure, making transdisciplinary learning more coherent and accessible for both teachers and students.
- 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭 𝐈𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬: Inquiry skills are now clearly defined, with progression points and indicators that describe what inquiry looks like at various stages of development.
- 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫: The new guides focus on investigation skills-such as questioning, research, collaboration, and reflection-that are transferable across disciplines, supporting deeper and more connected learning.
- 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬: Progression points are not tied to grade levels, allowing learners to move through the progressions at their own pace and according to their individual needs.
- 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: The progressions are designed to empower students to take charge of their learning, reflecting the PYP’s commitment to student-centered education.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟏: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟓 – 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬
Transdisciplinary Theme: How We Express Ourselves
Central Idea: People use multiple forms of expression to share perspectives and provoke change.
Lines of Inquiry:
- Forms and styles of artistic and digital expression
- The role of expression in communicating beliefs and values
- The influence of expression on public opinion and action
Transdisciplinary Connections:
- Language: writing persuasive speeches
- Arts: multimedia presentations and installations
- ICT: digital storytelling and podcasting
Inquiry Skills Focus (from 2025 Progressions):
- Investigating – Formulating and refining questions to guide exploration
- Communicating – Using a range of strategies to present learning and ideas effectively
- Reflecting –Analysing how media can impact different audiences
Link to Update: This unit demonstrates the unified structure across subjects, where students build a conceptual understanding through consistent skill development (inquiry, reflection, communication) across literacy, arts, and ICT, highlighting coherence in transdisciplinary learning.
𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝟐: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟒 – 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐞𝐫 & 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬
Transdisciplinary Theme: Sharing the Planet
Central Idea: Resource access contributes to the structure, sustainability, and collective well-being of communities.
Lines of Inquiry:
- Distribution and consumption of natural resources
- Equity and access to basic needs
- Personal and collective responsibilities toward sustainability
Transdisciplinary Connections:
- Math: interpreting data about resource distribution
- Science: renewable vs. non-renewable resources
- Social Studies: human impact on the environment
Inquiry Skills Focus (from 2025 Progressions):
- Researching – Locating and interpreting diverse sources of information
- Collaborating – Engaging in group inquiry to develop solutions
- Transferring– Applying ideas from one subject or situation to another
Link to Update: This unit exemplifies learning transfer across multiple disciplines and allows learners to progress through flexible, personalized inquiry pathways, as students explore topics at different depths and contribute in diverse ways based on readiness and interest, emphasizing agency and personalized learning journeys.
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?
- 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: The unified structure and explicit skills make it easier for teachers to plan, monitor, and support inquiry learning across all subjects.
- 𝐃𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: By focusing on developmental pathways and transferable skills, the updated progressions foster deeper understanding and the ability to apply learning in new contexts.
- 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: The flexible, non-age-based approach recognizes that every learner’s journey is unique, supporting differentiated instruction and personalized learning goals.
- 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬: Teachers have clearer tools for curriculum design and assessment, while students gain more agency and ownership over their learning.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?
- 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: The new documents are easier to navigate and understand, making them more user-friendly for educators.
- 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵: The progressions highlight what learners can do and how they can move forward, rather than focusing on gaps or deficits.
- 𝗘𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The shared language and structure support stronger collaboration among teachers, students, and the wider learning community.
- 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲-𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀: By emphasizing inquiry, investigation, and reflection, the new progressions prepare students for a rapidly changing world, nurturing adaptable, critical, and creative thinkers.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
The April 2025 update to the IB PYP Inquiry Learning Progressions marks a significant step forward in inquiry-based education. By providing clear, developmental pathways for inquiry skills, the new framework empowers educators to design meaningful, personalized learning experiences and supports students in becoming confident, capable, and curious lifelong learners.
For schools and educators, now is the time to explore these new documents, reflect on current practices, and embrace the opportunities that the updated inquiry learning progressions bring to the PYP community.
For a deeper dive, educators are encouraged to access the full Inquiry Learning Progressions document via the IB Programme Resource Centre or their MyIB Dashboard.
