Click here to explore thousands of examiner marked IA, EE and TOK exemplars!
Geography IA Criteria and Checklist
Don't waste your time working on IAs not knowing the assessment criteria. Getting to know them is a crucial step in writing any written assessment! Keep reading to learn about the Geography IA criteria and to find well-written exemplars that you can refer to in the writing process.
Internal assessment is an integral part of the geography course, contributing 25% to the final assessment in the SL course and 20% in the HL course. It is graded for 25 points.
Criterion A: Fieldwork question and geographic context - 3 points
The fieldwork question will guide your entire investigation so choose it wisely. It must be focused, and linked to the geography syllabus (state exactly to which part it relates). Make sure that it is possible to answer the question through the collection of primary data and make a preliminary judgment in the form of hypothesis. You must also briefly present the geographic context of your study. Provide a map, background information on the location and some characteristics.
For a maximum of 3 points:
The link between the fieldwork question and the relevant syllabus topic, the syllabus or geographical theory is described. The link made to geographical theory allows for the possible formulation of hypotheses and predictions.
The fieldwork question is geographical and focused, clearly identifying a precise location allowing for primary data collection within the limits of the internal assessment.
One or more locational maps are presented and follow mapping conventions, providing clear information and details of the fieldwork location.
See this IA for inspiration.
Criterion B: Methods of investigation - 3 points
Next, you must describe the methods used in your investigation. The description may include technologies employed, sampling techniques, time, location and circumstances of the fieldwork. Justify your choice of methodology. Remember that it must produce a sufficient quality and quantity of primary data to allow the fieldwork question to be investigated.
For a maximum of 3 points:
The method(s) used for information and data collection are described, explaining clearly and accurately how the combination of data collected is relevant to the theory, question formulated or the hypotheses for the internal assessment. They may describe statistical tests if appropriate.
The method(s), data collection instruments/technologies and sampling/surveying techniques are used correctly, resulting in reliable and good quality primary data supporting a relevant quantitative and/or qualitative analysis.
You can refer to this exemplar.
Criterion C: Quality and treatment of information collected - 6 points
You must think of the best techniques to treat and display the collected data for it to be helpful in further analysis. The precise techniques employed will differ depending on the nature of the fieldwork question but may include statistical tests, graphs, diagrams, maps, annotated photographs and images, matrices and field sketches.
For a maximum of 6 points:
The information and data collected is all directly relevant to the question formulated or the hypotheses, and is sufficient in quantity and quality to allow for analysis or answering of the question formulated.
The most appropriate techniques have been used effectively for the presentation of information and data collected.
The graphs, tables, diagrams or other illustrations follow conventions (labelling, titles, and so on).
Check out the treatment of information here.
Criterion D: Written analysis - 8 points
You must demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the topic through the interpretation of results. Look for trends and special patterns, you should also explain anomalies. This criterion assesses the quality of the analysis of the results, referring to: links to the question and hypotheses formulated, geographic context, information collected, statistics used (descriptive techniques as well as statistical techniques such as correlations or regression), and illustrative material.
For a maximum of 8 points:
The written analysis includes descriptive and statistical techniques (with confidence levels if appropriate) that are appropriate to the data and the question formulated.
The trends, patterns and statistics found, including outliers and anomalies if present, are explained and linked to the question formulated, hypotheses, geographical theory, the fieldwork location and methods used.
The written analysis allows for answering the question formulated, with no or only minor gaps in the supporting evidence.
You can refer to this analysis while writing your IA.
Criterion E: Conclusion - 2 points
In the conclusion, you must precisely state the answer to the research question based on the conducted analysis. It is acceptable for the findings not to match the preliminary judgment.
For a maximum of 2 points:
There is a clear conclusion to the fieldwork question, which is supported by the analysis.
Here you can find a good conclusion.
Criterion F: Evaluation - 3 points
Finally, you should review your methodology and approach to the fieldwork. Determine if any factors could have influenced your research, including personal bias and unpredicted external circumstances such as the weather. You should also suggest specific improvements and extensions for your study.
For a maximum of 3 points:
The most appropriate and relevant strengths and/or weaknesses are explained regarding the data collection methods, the formulation of the fieldwork research question, the presentation of data/information and the choice of location.
Suggestions for improvement are outlined and the potential impact of these improvements is explained.
See this exemplar.
We hope that you found this guide helpful! If you are looking for personalized feedback, submit your IA through the Review service on our website. Clastify's reviewers will evaluate your work based on a detailed markscheme and provide you with comments on how to improve your grade.
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.