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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the ideas from Clastify's Research Question Generator?
Yes. Our Research Question Generator was trained on thousands of high-scoring IB exemplars, and the ideas it generates are designed to align with IB criteria so you can develop research questions that meet the standards.
How does the Research Question Generator work?
Select your subject and category (IA or EE), optionally enter a few keywords or interests, then click Generate. The AI returns research question ideas tailored to your subject, which you can refine further with the tweak tools.
Do I need to enter keywords to generate research questions?
No. You can leave the keyword field blank for instant inspiration, or add a few words about your interests to get more targeted ideas.
Are AI-generated research questions original enough for IB coursework?
Generated questions are starting points aligned with IB expectations. Similar research questions appear across cohorts—what matters is that your investigation or essay content is your own work.
How does the Research Question Evaluator work?
The Research Question Evaluator was trained on thousands of research questions marked by IB-certified examiners. It evaluates your research question using the same IB criteria, helping you understand its strengths and areas for improvement.
How many free generations do I get?
Free users get a limited number of generations per week. Your limit resets weekly. Upgrade to Pro for higher limits and full access to Clastify AI tools.
What does the Research Question Evaluator check for Environmental Systems and Societies?
Systems/sustainability focus, feasibility, and whether the question is investigable locally rather than globally vague.
Why do global Environmental Systems and Societies topics score poorly as research questions?
“Climate change” without a bounded system cannot be investigated well. Name a site, scale, and measurable variable.
What makes a strong Environmental Systems and Societies IA research question?
A focused environmental systems question with measurable indicators and clear spatial/temporal boundaries.
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