One of the biggest sources of stress for IB students is uncertainty about marking. Many students ask the same questions throughout the IA process: What do examiners want? Why do some IAs score higher than others? Without clear answers, students often guess — and guessing usually leads to lost marks.
The reality is that IB examiners are very consistent in what they reward. The challenge is that these expectations are often misunderstood.
Examiners Look for Clear Focus First
Before examiners analyse your content in detail, they check whether your IA has a clear and sustained focus. This includes:
- A well-defined research question or aim
- A clear sense of purpose throughout the work
- Consistent relevance in each section
If the focus is unclear or drifts, examiners struggle to reward higher marks — even if parts of the work are strong.
Understanding Beats Information
Examiners are not impressed by how much you know. They are interested in how well you understand and use that knowledge.
High-scoring IAs:
- Explain why something happens, not just what happens
- Connect evidence directly to the research question
- Show insight rather than repetition
Descriptive writing, no matter how accurate, limits marks.
Analysis Is Central to Every Criterion
Across all IB subjects, analysis is one of the most heavily rewarded skills.
Examiners look for:
- Cause-and-effect reasoning
- Interpretation of results or evidence
- Logical connections between ideas
If large sections of your IA describe content without analysing it, marks are capped.
Evaluation Separates Top IAs From Average Ones
Evaluation is often the weakest area in student work — and one of the strongest differentiators in marking.
Examiners reward evaluation that:
- Acknowledges limitations
- Weighs strengths and weaknesses
- Justifies conclusions clearly
Simply stating an opinion or summarising findings is not evaluation.
Structure Makes Marks Visible
Even strong thinking can be missed if the structure is unclear. Examiners read many IAs under time pressure, so clarity matters.
They value:
- Logical organisation
- Clear paragraph focus
- Obvious progression of ideas
A well-structured IA makes it easy for examiners to see where marks should be awarded.
Consistency Matters More Than Perfection
Examiners are not looking for flawless work. They are looking for consistency.
A strong IA:
- Maintains focus throughout
- Applies skills at a similar level across sections
- Avoids sudden drops in quality
One excellent paragraph cannot compensate for weak overall execution.
Why Students Often Miss These Expectations
Students miss examiner expectations because:
- Criteria language feels abstract
- Feedback is hard to interpret
- The IA process feels unfamiliar
Without a clear framework, it’s easy to prioritise the wrong things.
Aligning Your IA With Examiner Expectations
The key to success is aligning your work with what examiners actually reward:
- Focus
- Analysis
- Evaluation
- Structure
This alignment does not happen by accident — it requires a clear process.
If you’re working on any IB IA or the Extended Essay, following a structured coursework framework helps you understand examiner expectations and apply them consistently.
You can find a step-by-step guide to approaching IB coursework with clarity here.
Final Thoughts
IB examiners are not mysterious or unpredictable. They reward clear focus, strong analysis, reasoned evaluation, and logical structure across all subjects. When students stop guessing and start aligning their work with these expectations, IA grades become far more predictable — and far less stressful.
