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.
