The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is renowned for its comprehensive curriculum, rigorous academic standards, and commitment to nurturing well-rounded, global-minded students. The curriculum of IBDP provides students with various opportunities to improve academically as well as holistically. Central to this programme is the Internal Assessment (IA), which often confuses students due to its complexity and importance. This comprehensive guide will help you demystify the intricacies surrounding the IB Internal Assessment and will further help you navigate through this challenging aspect with ease and finesse.
Understanding the IB Internal Assessment
Before diving into the specifics of IB Internal Assessment, it is important to grasp its fundamental purpose.
- What is the IB Internal Assessment?
Internal Assessment is a core component of the IB programme, allowing students to develop and showcase their creative, analytical, research, and presentation skills within the context of their framework. It allows students to demonstrate their understanding and application of subject-specific content and skills.
How is IB internal assessment different from IB external exams?
- Weightage: IB external exams carry 80% weightage, and IB internal assessments carry 20% weightage.
- Grading: IB internal assessments are graded by IB teachers specific to the subjects, and IB external exams are graded by IB examiners appointed by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
- Standardised: IB external exams will have a standard pattern across various IB schools and boards, but internal assessments are unique and left to the discretion of every subject teacher.
- Types of Internal Assessments
In the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, there are several types of internal assessments, depending on the subject. Here are some common types:
- Written Assignments: In subjects like language and literature, students may be required to complete written assignments, which could include essays, commentaries, or reflective statements.
- Laboratory Reports: In the sciences, students are required to write analytical reports detailing the experiment’s observations and analyses. The experiments are mostly collaborative in nature, which instills a sense of sportsmanship in students.
- Investigation Reports: In subjects like mathematics or geography, students might be asked to conduct data-based research or surveys on various topics and to submit investigation reports surrounding that research.
- Oral Presentations: Presentations form a very important aspect of IB internal assessment. Many subjects require students to give oral presentations. This could involve delivering speeches, discussing research findings, or participating in debates.
- Portfolios: In certain subjects like visual and fine arts, students form portfolios of their work, where their interests lie, and are presented with written reflections on their specific artistic proposition and the process that is embedded in their art.
- Language Oral Activities: For Language Acquisition courses, students perform various oral activities, such as prompts, interviews, role-plays, or recorded conversations.
- Extended Essays: In the Diploma Programme, students are required to complete an extended essay, which is a 4,000-word research project on a topic of their choice.
- Mathematics Exploration: In mathematics, students work on a Mathematics Exploration project, where they delve into a mathematical topic or problem in depth and present that via written or oral discourses.
- CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) Reflections: For the CAS component of the programme, students reflect on their experiences and activities related to creativity, physical activity, and community service.
It’s important to note that the specific types of internal assessments and their requirements can vary depending on the subject and the level of the IB programme (e.g., standard level or higher level).
- Selecting a Topic
- Choosing wisely
- To be able to enjoy the IA process, students should select topics that genuinely interest them.
- But it should be kept in mind that we can’t write about our favourite films and books. The topic should align with the criteria of the assessment.
- Refining the Research Question
- It is important to formulate the right research question so that clarity is not compromised.
- It should be specific and relevant and not give rise to any kind of ambiguity. It should be suitable for investigation within the scope of the IA.
- Research and Data Collection
Research forms an essential part of the IA process, and it can get really tedious and hectic when the right approach is not followed.
- Gathering Sources
- Students should explore a variety of primary and secondary sources, including academic journals, scholarly articles, books, etc. It is important to collect data from authentic sources on which to base your further research.
- Proper referencing and citations are important from the beginning.
- Data collection (if applicable)
- For subjects like sciences or mathematics, collecting and analysing data is crucial.
- Ensure that data is collected systematically and ethically with a clear methodology.
- Structuring the Internal Assessment
- Introduction
- The first and foremost step is to introduce the research question and the context and objectives attached to this question.
- Methodology
- The next step is to describe the methods, primary or secondary, to gather data or information.
- It is imperative to explain how the particular method is relevant to your research question.
- Discussion
- Next, students will analyse the data or information to draw critical and meaningful results or conclusions. It is important to relate your findings to the research question.
- Conclusion
- The next step is to summarise the key findings and their implications and present them in your own words.
- Writing Style and Presentation
While presenting your study, whether in writing or orally, there are certain things that should be kept in mind:
- Academic Language (avoid slang and overly colloquial language)
It is important to use formal and academic language in the IA. Slangs and other informal dialects should be avoided in order to adhere to the assessment’s criteria.
- Clarity and Cohesion
While presenting, the ideas should be coherent enough to convey the clarity of your research topic. It should be organised by arranging them into headings and sub-headings.
- Citation and Referencing
It is very important to give credit where credit is due. Plagiarism is a serious offence and should be avoided. So proper citations and references should be there in your IA projects.
Other points that should be kept in mind are:
- It is important to edit and proofread your IAs multiple times before final submission. The errors in the work reflect a lack of commitment and effort.
- You should get peer feedback before your final submission. This will help in identifying the blind spots and making room for improvement.
- Make sure to strictly adhere to the submission guidelines. Students should be aware of deadlines and formats. Late submissions are penalised.
The IB Internal Assessment is a challenging but fulfilling endeavour. When you go through the IA process, it doesn’t reward you in terms of just scores but with learning that will be indispensable for your future prospects.
“Reading makes a full man; conference makes a ready man; and writing makes an exact man.”
