Click here to explore thousands of examiner marked IA, EE and TOK exemplars!
![Biology IA Criteria and Checklist [2025 updated] cover image](https://d5wyp2frzhena.cloudfront.net/webp/hq_76488_A_minimalist_hand_drawn_doodle_sketch_illustration_c_740728a9_32f1_4e5e_8176_d7b2ce7e6fa0_1_e837fe071e.webp)
Biology IA Criteria and Checklist
Is your Biology IA stressing you out? Do not worry! We're here to help you improve your grade by making sure that your investigation meets the assessment criteria. Drawing from extensive experience with numerous revised essays, here are our recommendations. This post covers the new Science IA syllabus starting from the May 2025 exam session.
The Biology internal assessment, accounting for 20% of the HL and 25% of the SL score, is graded on a total of 24 points, evaluating the following aspects:
Criterion A: Research Design - 6 points
This criterion is about showing how well you have thought out and planned your research for the IA. Begin your report by providing a brief introduction to the topic and stating a specific research question. Provide relevant background information to establish the context of the research. Here you can refer to the contents of the Biology course. While determining your approach to answering the topic of your investigation remember that your methodology must result in reliable and sufficient data. Address safety, ethical, and environmental issues associated with your experiment. Lay out the apparatus and procedural steps clearly. You need to showcase independent thinking, creativity, and initiative in different steps of executing the investigation.
For a maximum of 6 points:
The research question must state the dependent and independent variables or two correlated variables and briefly describe the system in which the research question is embedded - describe the method of analysis.
Discuss background theory of direct relevance to the research question.
Explain the selection of methods for measuring the independent and dependent variables.
If data is obtained through the school's large-scale activity, treat the investigation as a database investigation and focus the methodology on the way the data is filtered and sampled from the whole database.
Explain the selection of the database or the method of data sampling.
Discuss decisions regarding the scope, quantity, and quality of measurements, for example, the range, interval or frequency of the independent variable, repetition and precision of measurements.
Identify the control variables and explain the method and reason of control.
Address the safety, ethical and environmental issues associated with the investigation.
Ensure the methodology includes precise procedural steps and names of materials, and is detailed enough to allow for the investigation to be reproduced.
Avoid including unnecessary or repetitive information in the methodology so the reader may easily understand how the methodology was implemented.
A good example of research design can be found here.
Criterion B: Data Analysis - 6 points
The next section of your IA involves selecting, processing, and interpreting the collected data. Use different data processing techniques involving calculations, statistical tests or forms of graphical representations such as diagrams. Remember to involve apparatus uncertainties. Present what trends you were able to identify, and explain anomalies, if they occurred. You can form mini-conclusions.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Clearly communicate how the data was recorded and processed so that all steps are easily understood.
Communicate how the data was recorded and processed in a precise manner. All graphs, tables and figures are appropriately annotated and the correct units, decimal places and significant figures are used.
Show evidence of appropriate consideration of uncertainties.
The work should not have any major inaccuracies, omissions, or inconsistencies that would prevent or limit the possibility of drawing a valid conclusion.
The processing of the data is relevant to the research question and is carried out appropriately and accurately.
A good example of data analysis can be found here.
Criterion C: Conclusion - 6 points
You are expected to formulate a conclusion answering your research question based on the obtained findings and scientific context. Ensure to use experimental values from the data analysis in the conclusion and critically evaluate the data. You should ensure that you provide a comparison of your experimental values to literature results.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Provide a conclusion that is relevant to the research question and is consistent with the data analysis presented.
Ensure that the conclusion is fully supported and justified by the data analysis results.
Include a relevant comparison to the accepted scientific literature such as published papers, values, course notes, textbooks, or other outside sources (paper or online).
Provide a sufficiently detailed citation of the published materials to allow these sources to be traceable.
Include the interpretation of processed data including associated uncertainties.
A good example of this can be found here.
Criterion D: Evaluation - 6 points
Evaluate the strong and weak aspects of your investigation and propose how to improve your methodology. You are also supposed to think of possible extensions of your study.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Discuss the relevant strengths of the report and investigation.
Identify specific methodological weaknesses or limitations.
Explain the relative impacts of the methodological weaknesses regarding the control of variables, the precision of measurement, or the variation in the data.
Explain the relative impacts of the methodological weaknesses regarding the conclusion being limited in scope by the range of the data collected, the confines of the system, or the applicability of the assumptions made.
Identify realistic improvements to the investigation that are relevant to the identified weaknesses or limitations.
Explain the proposed improvements to the investigation.
A good example of this can be found here.
Other Requirements
Maintain a clear structure of the essay, keep within the 3000-word limit, and ensure that the text is justified and data is centred in tables' cells.
Ensure the work does not surpass 3000 words.
The title of the investigation must be stated at the start of the report.
The IB candidate code for the individual (or group members if applicable) is provided at the beginning of the document.
Ensure the word count is stated at the start of the work.
Make sure the text is justified in the document, and all text and data are centered in tables' cells.
All pages must be numbered.
A good example of this can be found here.
The most important step is already behind you - you know the assessment criteria. Now employ our recommendations in your IA to increase the chances of scoring high. If you are looking for professional and safe feedback regarding your internal assessment we can help you! Check out our Review service.
The Fast Track To Your
Best IB Coursework & College Essays
All content on this website has been developed independently from and is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. International Baccalaureate and IB are registered trademarks owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization.