How do I break down an essay question to make sure I approach in the best way?

The very first thing to do is to read the question twice. Highlight the key words. IB History essay questions can be very short and very broad, or the question can be immensely detailed; either way, it's important to ensure before you start planning and writing that you understand fully what it is the question is asking of you. Let's look a sample question: How successful was Lenin in solving the problems he faced 1917-1924? There are three important details to pull out of this question. The first is the time frame: 1917 to 1924. It's very important to stay within the time frame set out by the question. In this case, the question would encompass not only Lenin's coup of Russian government with the Bolshevik Party but also how he consolidated his power over the newly established Soviet state. Secondly, the focus of the question is on the 'problems he faced'. The question is not asking for a straightforward play-by-play of Lenin's rise to power, but wants the student to specifically highlight certain problems and also why they were a problem. The structure of the essay will then be based around dealing with these problems in individual paragraphs so that the essay is clear and straightforward to read. Finally, the question also calls for an evaluation: how successful was Lenin? For each problem you highlight and explain it is also imperative that you evaluate it. Think about the causes of the problem, how Lenin handled it, and its immediate and long-term results. The question is asking for you to give your judgement on its success after each problem has been explained.Thinking carefully about the way in which the question is phrased or set out will make it a lot easier to structure your essay now that you have the key requirements of what the question is asking clear in your mind. Once you have broken down the question, you can then begin to plan.