This is a very basic overview of how the IA is assessed for the International Baccalaureate in Biology

1. Internal Assessment Guide
• Makes up 20% of your marks
• 6-12 page report
• Based on 5 criteria

3. 1. Personal Engagement (8%)
• Show that you have specific reasons for being interested in the
research question.
• Show that your investigation involved as many of your own ideas as
possible and were not just copied from elsewhere without
modification.

4. 2. Exploration (25%)
• Describe the biology relating to your investigation so that it is clear
why you want to ask your research question.
• State the research question clearly. It must be focused so you can
make definitive conclusions at the end.
• Explain how you designed and developed your experimental
procedures, including preliminary trials, how you will make sure the
data is reliable.
• Include a risk assessment of the methods involved. Include an audit
of environmental and ethical considerations.

5. 3. Analysis (25%)
• Present raw data appropriately.
• Titles
• Headings
• SI Units
• Decimal places
• Uncertainties
• Calculate means, standard deviations and relevant statistical tests.
• Plot graphs
• Means with variation
• Join points with straight lines
• No extrapolation

6. 4. Evaluation (25%)
• Explain in detail your conclusions based on your data and analysis of
it.
• Compare with published research or with general scientific
consensus.
• Assess strengths and weaknesses of all aspects of your investigation.
• Discuss suggestions for improving and extending your investigation.

7. 5. Communication (17%)
• Present it clearly.
• Divide report into sections with suitable headings:
• Developing the research question
• Methods
• Results and analysis
• Conclusion
• Evaluation
• Keep it concise
• Check for errors and correct terminology
• Include a numbered list of sources (bibliography)

8. Section Total Marks Available
Personal Engagement 2
Exploration 6
Analysis 6
Evaluation 6
Communication 4
Total Marks Available: 24