MYP Individuals & Societies Criteria Explained

Criterion B: Investigating

What it assesses:

• Ability to formulate questions
• Research and inquiry skills
• Selection and evaluation of sources

What high-level responses look like

• Clearly focused research questions
• Relevant, well-chosen sources
• Awareness of reliability and bias

Common mistake:
Describing research without evaluating its usefulness or limitations.

This criterion rewards how students investigate — not how long the bibliography is.

Criterion C: Communicating

What it assesses:

• Structure and organisation of responses
• Clarity of ideas
• Use of subject-specific language

What high-level responses look like

• Logical paragraph structure
• Clear topic sentences
• Consistent focus on the question

Common mistake:
Long responses with weak organisation or unclear arguments.

Clear thinking always beats lengthy writing.

Criterion D: Thinking Critically

What it assesses:

• Analysis and interpretation
• Evaluation of perspectives
• Judgement and reasoning

What high-level responses look like

• Explanation of cause and consequence
• Comparison of viewpoints
• Clear, supported judgements

Common mistake:
Describing events without analysing their significance or impact.

This is often the criterion that separates a 5 from a 7.

Why Students Get Stuck at the Same Level

Most students:

• Over-focus on Criterion A
• Under-develop analysis and evaluation
• Write descriptively instead of critically

As a result, grades plateau — even when effort increases.

Once students revise by criterion, improvement accelerates.

How to Use the Criteria While Revising

Effective I&S revision includes:

• Practising questions linked to one criterion
• Planning responses with criteria in mind
• Reviewing feedback and identifying patterns
• Rewriting paragraphs to improve one skill at a time

This is where structured, question-based revision helps most. Platforms like RevisionDojo support MYP Individuals & Societies by offering criteria-aligned questions, helping students practise analysis and argumentation, and turning vague feedback into clear next steps.

Questions Students and Parents Often Ask

Do all I&S tasks assess all four criteria?

No. Most tasks focus on one or two criteria. Trying to address all four usually weakens responses.

Which criterion is most important?

None individually. High grades require balance, but Criterion D often limits top scores if underdeveloped.

Can students improve without learning more content?

Yes. Many students already know enough — they just need to use knowledge more analytically.

How should students revise for I&S tests?

By practising essay-style questions, planning answers carefully, and revising by criterion rather than topic.

The Key Insight That Improves I&S Results

Students score higher in MYP Individuals & Societies when they stop asking:

What information should I include?

and start asking:

Which criterion is this question assessing — and how do I show it clearly?

Once that shift happens, I&S becomes far more structured, far more logical, and far less frustrating.

The IB MYP often feels harder than expected. Learn why students struggle early, what’s really being assessed, and how families can help.