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Is your Computer Science IA deadline approaching and you are wondering about its updated requirements for the 2027 first assessment? Clastify has you covered! Read further to get familiarized with the new structure and word counts to better meet the assessment criteria.
Computer Science IA word count and page limit
The Computer Science Internal Assessment (IA) requires developing a computational software solution to a problem of your own choosing. The IA submission now consists of three main parts: documentation (a single PDF), a video of the product, and appendices. It is recommended to structure your report according to the five assessment criteria: Problem specification, Planning, System overview, Development, and Evaluation.
There is no page limit but the word limit is 2000 words. The only information that is included in the word count is the series of documents that use text i.e the extended writing, that:
describes the scenario, client requirements and/or adviser input
justifies the rationale behind the proposed product
explains the techniques used to develop the product
evaluates the success of the product in resolving the original problem and client and/or adviser feedback
recommends further improvements to the product.
The remaining information does not account for the word count if it is used in the following styles*:
bullet points or tables to list information
scanned diagrams or other appropriate images as part of the design process
other styles of non-extended writing or diagrammatic representation such as flow charts, Gantt charts or spider diagrams where appropriate.
appendices and bibliography - if you're interested, see this examplar of appendices with full code.
excerpts of code
comments within the code
* But be careful not to misuse them! If overused, the examiner can include their contents in the word count. This will result in the exclusion of the final part of your IA, which exceeds the limit.
Criterion A: Problem specification
Begin your IA by describing the problem scenario and its measurable solution requirements. You must state appropriate success criteria and explain your choice of computational context. This section has a recommended length of 300 words.
Criterion B: Planning
This criterion assesses how you have decomposed the problem into manageable sub-problems. You should include a proposed chronology for your steps (often using GANTT or AGILE charts) and ensure the plan addresses your success criteria. Devote around 150 words to this part.
Criterion C: System overview
The system overview provides a model of your product, including its key components, user interface design, and their relationships. You must also include the algorithms (presented as flowcharts, pseudocode, or natural language) and a viable testing strategy table. We suggest using about 150 words here.
Criterion D: Development
As the most heavily weighted section, this will be your longest documentation piece. It is recommended to use approximately 1,000 words. In this section, you must:
Justify the structure of your product and why it is appropriate.
Demonstrate and evaluate the techniques used to implement your algorithms (e.g., loops, data structures, or existing libraries).
Describe and justify your testing strategy for correctness, reliability, and efficiency, referencing examples seen in your video.
Ensure all code excerpts are referenced to the full source code in the appendix and include relevant comments.
Criterion E: Evaluation
Allocate the remaining 400 words for the last criterion. Evaluate the product using the success criteria presented in criterion A. You should include the feedback from the client or advisor and suggest realistic recommendations for further improvement.
Video and Appendices
Video: You must submit a video (max 5 minutes) that demonstrates the full functionality of your product and provides evidence of your testing strategy.
Appendices: This must include your full source code. While examiners are not required to read it, you cannot receive full marks for Criterion D techniques if it is missing.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the IB Computer Science IA word count and page limit. For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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