ESS IA Research Question Evaluator
Use the tabs below to generate a new ESS IA idea or evaluate your current research question.
IA
Compare High-Scoring vs. Flawed ESS RQs
Below are examples of evaluated RQs from recent ESS IAs. Review the strengths and weaknesses to understand the scoring criteria, and feel free to evaluate your own RQ using the form above.
How does fertilizer type (no fertilizer control, 5 g organic compost, 5 g NPK synthetic per pot) affect nitrate leaching concentration (mg NO3–N L−1 collected from soil lysimeters) in loamy soil at the University Field Station following a simulated 20 mm rainfall event in July 2026?
Strengths:
Clear identification of the independent variable and its explicit levels.
Weaknesses:
What is ESS?
Strengths:
The question is concise and framed as a question.
Weaknesses:
Specify the independent variable with clear levels or categories (e.g., "nutrient level: low, medium, high").
How does distance from a major road (0 m, 25 m, 50 m, 100 m) affect NO2 concentration (µg/m3) in air at fixed sampling height along Main Street, Springfield, over four weekday mornings in June 2026?
Strengths:
Clear independent variable with specific distance levels.
Weaknesses:
What is ESS?
Strengths:
The question is about a defined scientific topic (ESS).
Weaknesses:
Specify the independent variable and its levels, eg: Insert: "sunlight exposure (full sun vs shade)".
How to Evaluate Your Research Question
Simply choose your subject and enter your research question. Our evaluator will then analyze your question against the IB requirements and return a report with any issues or improvements you can make. Trained on thousands of IB RQs marked by official IB examiners, our evaluator is able to provide accurate and helpful feedback.
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