Internal Assessment Criteria

The new assessment model uses five criteria to assess the final report of the individual investigation with the following raw marks
and weightings assigned:
Personal
Engagement
2 (8%)

Exploration

Analysis

Evaluation

Communication

Total

6 (25%)

6 (25%)

6 (25%)

4 (17%)

24 (100%)

Personal Engagement (PE)

PE is assessed throughout the whole report and students must show the personal involvement from the introduction right up and
until the conclusion and evaluation. Students must show clear reasoning for choosing the sources for their background work, the
design of the method, the choice of materials used and the analysis of the data obtained. The students must also draw relevant
conclusions from their interpretation to show clear independent thinking.

Students must show evidence of personal involvement, significant independent thinking, initiative, creativity, interest
or curiosity in the whole report.

Students must give valid reasons for choosing the research question (RQ) or the topic under investigation that shows a
deep level of personal involvement.

Mark
2

Criteria and description of level needed to attain the mark.

Topic or research question RQ must be an original idea.

Express in detail motivation and reasons for choosing topic or RQ.

Reasoning for choosing the following must also be explained in detail:

o

Choice of materials used

Choice of sources used for background and introduction

Choice of method used to obtain data

Methods used in analysis of data.

Interpretation and manipulation of data shows initiative.

The conclusion and evaluation must show how the work can help other scientists.

Show evidence of your personal involvement by writing at every stage what has been done e.g. 15 articles were read on the
RQ or 5 different experiments were considered before the final experiment was decided upon.

Exploration
Exploration is assessed throughout the whole report and is mainly concerned with how the topic or research question (RQ) is clear,
focused and the scientific context of the work is established. It also assesses the concepts and techniques of the IB diploma
syllabus and awareness of safety, environmental and the ethical considerations of the investigation.
Marks

Criteria and description of level needed to attain the mark.

5-6

The topic of the investigation is identified and a relevant and fully focused RQ is clearly described.
o

The topic or RQ is clear, specific and has relevant scientific context to the IB diploma; the topic is included in
the syllabus.

The topic to be addressed must link strongly to the RQ and investigation.

The independent variable must be quantitative, so that we have numerical and easily measured data to
analyze.

The background information provided for the investigation is entirely appropriate and relevant, and enhances
the understanding of the context of the investigation.
o

The background information includes the social, historical and scientific impact of the topic or RQ.

The information must include various references to show extensive reading around the specific RQ and topic
and is not vague or general.

If possible, convert a formula into the linear form.

According to the linearized formula, suggest the data graph to be plotted and make predictions about its trend,
slope and intercept.

The methodology of the investigation is highly appropriate to address the RQ because it takes into
consideration all, or nearly all, of the significant factors that may influence the relevance, reliability and
sufficiency of the collected data.
o

The strengths and weaknesses of the methodology must be stated and explained.

List the instruments used with their range and resolution.

Appreciate the limitations of the simulation, if used.

Show a labelled diagram of the apparatus.

Explain the important (and creative) parts of your apparatus that help to approximate the theoretical model,
control and manipulate variables, reduce errors and increase the data range.

State and justify the procedure with the following points made clear:

How the controlled variables are kept constant.

How manipulation of the independent variable occurs.

How each variable will be measured and with which instruments.

How the main sources of error will be accounted for and reduced.

Data range and distribution (with justification or limitations outlined), including the number of data
sets to be obtained for the results.

For each data set, how many times it will be repeated to obtain an average.

Write the methodology with as much detail as possible so that, a stranger will be able to read the method and
be able to produce very similar results and outcomes.

The report shows evidence of full awareness of the significant safety, ethical or environmental issues that are
relevant to the methodology of the investigation if applicable.
o

The report must include statements on how to make the experiment safe to people and the environment.

Analysis
Analysis is assessed to see how the students report provides evidence that the student has: selected, recorded, processed and
interpreted the data in ways that are relevant to the research question (RQ) and can support a conclusion that is accurate.
Mark

Criteria and description of level needed to attain the mark.

5-6

The report includes sufficient relevant quantitative raw data that could support a detailed and valid conclusion to the
RQ.
o

If using a data logger, the raw data should be given in tabular form in addition to any graph produced directly by the
data logger.

If using a data logger also only show a sample of the data; a summary table of the average data is acceptable as
long as it is mentioned as a sample.

Include raw data, their average, and calculated quantities.

Appropriate and sufficient data processing is carried out with the accuracy required to enable a conclusion to the
RQ to be drawn that is fully consistent with the experimental data.
o

Select, record and process appropriate data and show understanding of the limitations of the data obtained.

Make sure that there is complete and correct processing of the raw data, meaning all graphs, calculations and
tables are complete.

Show one example of processing data under every data table i.e. how calculated values and their uncertainties are
obtained.

Make sure that there is enough data, that once processed will enable a conclusion to be drawn from the
investigation with a good degree of accuracy.

Plot the graph for the direct relation between the independent and dependent variable first.

Plot a graph showing the average dependent variable data and state the relationship such as: linearly proportional,
inversely proportional or exponentially proportional.

Presents uncertainties in the raw data table for all measured quantities.

Give justification or explanations for the value of uncertainty.

The report shows evidence of full and appropriate consideration of the impact of measurement uncertainty on the
analysis.
o

Error bars on graphs, well-constructed lines of best fit, maximum or minimum slopes, equation of a line are shown.

Plot error bars along both horizontal and vertical axes. (Explain it if there is no error bar or the error bar is too small
to be shown.)

Average Uncertainty is processed in an appropriate way (justification of process given).

Consistent significant figures and decimal places are used.

Statistical calculations to find confidence in data results.

Comparison of raw data to secondary sources is done to evaluate similarity.

The processed data is correctly interpreted so that a completely valid and detailed conclusion to the RQ can be
deduced.
o

This is the process of making sense of the data that will lead to a conclusion.

Explanation of trends, comparisons, correlations and the correct interpretation of statistical calculations have been
carried out.

Evaluation
Evaluation is assessed to see how the students report provides evidence of the conclusion of the investigation and the results with
regard to the research question (RQ) and the accepted scientific context.
Marks

Criteria and description of level needed to attain the mark.

5-6

A detailed conclusion is described and justified which is entirely relevant to the RQ and fully supported by the
data presented.
o

A statement of the extent that the data answers the RQ should be presented.

If a hypothesis has been proposed then a conclusion should be made explaining whether the data supports or
does not support the hypothesis.

Show that conclusions are visually presented and summarized in the report.

Show that the data supports the conclusion and the RQ has been answered.

Be aware of potential errors throughout the investigation and are commented upon within the conclusion.

A conclusion is correctly described and justified through relevant comparison to the accepted scientific context.
o

The scientific context of the topic has been made to show or prove that the findings are reliable.

Comparisons to the referenced background material have been made.

If the conclusion is inconsistent with the prediction of your background research, suggest possible causes.

Strengths and weaknesses of the investigation, such as limitations of the data and sources of error, are
discussed and provide evidence of a clear understanding of the methodological issues involved in establishing
the conclusion.
o

Obvious possible sources of error have been identified.

With regard to random error, comment on the overall reliability of your investigation.

Suggest possible sources affecting systematic errors.

Obvious weaknesses that are in line with the errors found in the data are explained.

Comment on the reliability between the experiment and the theoretical model/research question and hence the
validity of the investigation.

The strengths in the quality of the data obtained should be explained.

Do not overstate errors as it shows that there were fundamental mistakes in the RQ, methodology, analysis
and evaluation.

Link the effectiveness of the methodology to the conclusions formed.

The student has discussed realistic and relevant suggestions for the improvement and extension of the
investigation.
o

With reference to your topic and background research, suggest an extension of the investigation. Examples
could include: using a different method to arrive at the result or widening the investigation to include more
examples.

The extensions suggested should follow on from the RQ in a meaningful way and enhance understanding of
the topic, and the importance of gathering the extra data is stated.

Suggested improvements and extensions should be precise, focused and relevant to the investigation.

Provide Suggestions for improving methodology of the investigation.

Referring to each source of error/limitation stated above, give practical suggestions for possible improvements
to minimize error, to enlarge the data range or to improve data distribution.

The improvements must be related to the weaknesses identified and it should be possible to carry out the
improvements in a school setting.

Communication
Communication is assessed throughout the whole report and is concerned predominately with how the text is written, how
information is presented in a coherent and concise manner and that all external sources of information or ideas are well referenced.

Students must present the investigation into the topic or research question (RQ) in a clear manner that the topic or RQ,
the process of investigation and the outcomes are easy to understand.

Mark

Criteria and description of level needed to attain the mark.

3-4

The presentation of the investigation is clear. Any errors do not hamper understanding of the focus, process and
outcomes.
o

Every graph, diagram or table in the report is neatly presented with a title and description; axes are also labelled,
with legends included if needed.

The size and layout of graphs, diagrams and tables are clear to read.

For data and graphs directly captured by sensors, show samples.

Be objective in writing style: avoid I replace it with the author or use the passive voice, the report is not written
in the first person.

Any work which is included in the report which is not original must be referenced at the moment the work is used
and at the end in the bibliography section of your report.

The report is well structured and clear, the necessary information on focus, process and outcomes is present and
presented in a coherent way.
o

Less than 12 pages in length, with 1.5 spacing, Arial font and size 11 is ideal.

The writing is divided into manageable sections with clear appropriate headings: such as introduction,
methodology, experimental data, evaluation and conclusion.

The writing flows logically and coherently with all relevant information included and is paragraphed appropriately
allowing information to be easily accessed.

The report is relevant and concise thereby facilitating a ready understanding of the focus, process and outcomes of
the investigation.

The report is concise with very little repetition in the report.

The report should be directly relevant to the research question.

Enough detail of sample calculations are shown that are relevant to the topic.

The conclusion of the investigation is relevant to the topic or RQ.

The use of subject-specific terminology and conventions is appropriate and correct. Any errors do not hamper
understanding.
o

There is consistent use of SI units and correct formulae.

The use of uncertainties of errors is consistent, with the measurement data having the same precision of
uncertainty.

Define all symbols.

Define key concepts, such as coefficient of restitution, critical angle, etc.

Specify quantities.

Every equation should be assigned a sequence number.