Marking+criteria

=How will your IA be assessed?= Your IA will be marked by your teacher, then it will be cross-marked by other teachers in the same school or region. After that, a sample of the IAs from each school will be sent off to the IB where they will be marked and the grades will moderated. Your teacher will mark your IA exactly to the criteria given by the IB, so that is why it is **vital that you know the criteria** back to front. You need to know what you are going to be assessed on.

Criterion A: Plan of the investigation
Markband 0 There is no plan of the investigation, or it is inappropriate. 1 The research question, method and scope of the investigation are not clearly stated. 2 The research question is clearly stated. The method and scope of the investigation are outlined and related to the research question. 3 The research question is clearly stated. The method and scope of the investigation are fully developed and closely focused on the research question.

Key points from the subject report:
 * The research question must be a clearly defined task which enables the candidate to carry out a rigorous historical investigation leading to an informal judgment. Writing the question format in question format will greatly assist in the historical enquiry.
 * The research question should be included within the body of Section A. No credit can be obtained for a research question which only appears on the cover sheet or title page.
 * The scope of the investigation should identify the aspects, areas or themes that will be explored in the investigation.
 * Methods should identify the nature of the sources and why they have been selected.

The topic is stated as a clear research question. The scope (both thematic as well as chronological) and methods are explained and focused relevantly on the research question.


 * A focused research question has been stated which specifies the topic of investigation
 * The scope for the study has been stated.
 * A methodology has been set out.
 * Two relevant sources for the research have been identified.

Criterion B: Summary of evidence
Markband 0 There is no relevant factual material. 1-2 There is some relevant factual material but it has not been referenced. 3-4 There is relevant factual material that shows evidence of research, organization and referencing. 5-6 The factual material is all relevant to the investigation and it has been well researched, organized and correctly referenced.

Key points from the subject report:
 * This section must be relevant, well researched and comprehensive.
 * It was noticed that despite the new guidelines, candidates were willing to include in this section analysis and interpretations that should have been placed on D.
 * Referencing must conform to a standard acceptable system.
 * Sample comments from a subject report: There is little doubt that the candidate has drawn factual material from appropriate sources. It shows evidence of research, organization and referencing. However, the candidate could have used a wider variety of resources for this section. Some of the references do not follow the selected referencing method appropriately (e.g. footnote 3; some inconsistencies with the use of "Ibid" and "Op. cit.")
 * The distinction between the levels rests on whether the investigation has been adequately or well researched, and the standard of the referencing.

Criterion C: Evaluation of sources
Markband 0 There is no description or evaluation of the sources. 1 The sources are described but there is no reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation. 2-3 There is some evaluation of the sources but reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation may be limited. 4-5 There is evaluation of the sources and explicit reference to their origin, purpose, value and limitation.

Key points from the subject report:
 * ome candidates did not include the complete details of the source being evaluated or included reference to the author or conditions of the source.
 * Complete bibliographical details of the source may be included as a footnotes or endnotes.
 * The provenance of authors is of great importance.
 * Sample comments from a subject report: It is quickly clear that the evaluation presented in the sample addresses the origins, purpose, value and limitations of the two sources selected for this section. The four elements in this criterion are addressed in the evaluation of both sources. However, some assertions need to be more specific. For example, the reference to the "British point of view" or "the way the Argentinians tell [events]" need to be clarified and linked more explicitly to the value and limitations of the source. The provenance of the sources could have benefited with some more details about the authors.

Criterion D: Analysis
Markband 0 There is no analysis. 1-2 There is some attempt at analysing the evidence presented in section B. 3-4 There is analysis of the evidence presented in section B and references are included. There may be some awareness of the significance to the investigation of the sources evaluated in section C. Where appropriate, different interpretations are considered. 5-6 There is critical analysis of the evidence presented in section B, accurate referencing, and an awareness of the significance to the investigation of the sources evaluated in section C. Where appropriate, different interpretations are analysed.

Key points from the subject report:
 * A large number of candidates complied with the new specific requirements to include in this section an analysis of the selected sources in C.
 * One of the problems with the section was the lack of references.
 * If no references are included only a maximum of 2 marks can be awarded.
 * No new evidence should be introduced in section D.
 * The analysis here did not simply repeat the evidence from B, attempted to probe beyond the facts and made use of references. It showed an awareness of the significance of one of the sources used in C but did not analyse the contributions of the second one. It could have been more critical by, for example, discussing different interpretations.

**Criterion E: Conclusion**

Markband 0 There is no conclusion, or the conclusion is not relevant. 1 The conclusion is stated but is not entirely consistent with the evidence presented. 2 The conclusion is clearly stated and consistent with the evidence presented.

Key points from the subject report
 * There were no significant problems in this area but candidates should be reminded that no new information should be included in this section.
 * The conclusion was clearly stated and consistent with the evidence provided.

Criterion F: Sources and word limit
Markband 0 A list of sources is not included or the investigation is not within the word limit. 1 A list of sources is included but these are limited or one standard method is not used consistently or the word count is not clearly and accurately stated on the title page. 2 A list of sources using one standard method is included and the investigation is within the word limit. 3 An appropriate list of sources, using one standard method, is included. The investigation is within the word limit.

Key points from the subject report
 * According to the criteria if the word count is not clearly and accurately stated on the title page a maximum of 1 mark should be awarded. Many candidates did not observe this requirement last examination session and, therefore, lost marks here. With regard to "appropriate sources" sources should be relevant and comprehensive.
 * This candidate provided a list of resources, which was not as comprehensive as it could have been, and the investigation was within the word limit.

General comment on a sample: There are some omissions and questionable assertions, but the candidate has on the whole demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the topic and command of the skills involved in the preparation and production of the Internal Assessment. "The highest descriptors do not imply faultless performance but should be achievable by a student. Teachers should not hesitate to use the extremes if they are appropriate descriptions of the work being assessed." On the basis of this the award of a grade 7 reflects positive achievement, good analytical acumen and research by an IB student who has to balance significant demands on his/her time.

Read more sample comments here: Guidance for students, including sample IAs and moderator comments: []