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Chemistry IA Criteria and Checklist
Is your Chemistry IA deadline coming up? Are you sure that your work meets all the assessment criteria? Use our checklist to avoid unnecessarily losing points for your internal assessment. We are here to support your writing process! This post covers the new Science IA syllabus starting from the May 2025 exam session.
You can obtain up to 24 points for your Chemistry IA, contributing to 20% of the final score. This consists of the following criteria:
Criterion A: Research Design - 6 points
This criterion consists of several key components to ensure a well-structured investigation process. Firstly you must introduce a well-defined topic and state a research question. Add contextual background information to demonstrate your knowledge and facilitate understanding of the investigation for the reader. Provide definitions, and characteristics of the chemical components, explain the chemical processes etc. You are expected to select a suitable methodology that will ensure the reliability and adequacy of the obtained results. Justify the chosen methodology, list the necessary apparatus, and outline the sequential steps for conducting the research. Attention should also be given to safety, ethical, and environmental considerations throughout the report.
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 this can be found here.
Criterion B: Data Analysis - 6 points
Your analysis should include the selection, processing, and interpretation of data to formulate conclusions regarding the topic of your study. What is crucial here is obtaining a sufficient amount of raw data capable of supporting arguments. it is equally important to take into account the accuracy in data processing thus considering measurement uncertainties. After having obtained the data, explore trends, patterns, and anomalies. Interpret them to formulate a valid conclusion. Graphical forms of interpretation such as graphs can be useful for observing the trends.
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 this 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
Deepen the evaluation through the discussion of the strengths, weaknesses, and methodological issues of the report. Outline their influence on the findings and present suggestions for improving and extending the investigation.
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 the tables' cells.
All pages must be numbered.
A good example can be found here.
That's it! You are one step closer to writing a perfect Chemistry IA. If you need more guidance, check out our Review service. It's a 100% safe way to receive constructive feedback.
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