Internal Assessments
What Is an Internal Assessment (IA) in the IB?
In the IB Diploma Programme, students are assessed in a variety of ways over the two-year course—including essays, presentations, and final exams. With so many assignments, the IB relies on more than just external examiners to assess student work. That’s where Internal Assessments (IAs) come in.
An IA is any assignment that is marked by your classroom teacher instead of by an IB examiner. These are official components of your final IB grade and vary by subject. For example, in IB Economics, students write three commentaries over the two years, and those are considered internal assessments.
Every IB subject includes at least one internal assessment. These can be written reports, scientific investigations, oral presentations, or data analysis, depending on the course.
An IA is any assignment that is marked by your classroom teacher instead of by an IB examiner. These are official components of your final IB grade and vary by subject. For example, in IB Economics, students write three commentaries over the two years, and those are considered internal assessments.
Every IB subject includes at least one internal assessment. These can be written reports, scientific investigations, oral presentations, or data analysis, depending on the course.
Why Are Internal Assessments Important?
IAs carry significant weight in your final IB score, so they deserve your full attention. Since your teacher is the one grading your work, it’s essential to follow their instructions carefully. While you might find lots of advice online, the most reliable guidance comes from the person who will actually be assigning your grade.
Your IA score is submitted to the IB and can be moderated by an external examiner to ensure fairness. If the IB finds that a teacher’s marks are too high or too low, they’ll adjust the grades for the entire class—so you’ll still get a grade that reflects your performance based on global standards.
Your IA score is submitted to the IB and can be moderated by an external examiner to ensure fairness. If the IB finds that a teacher’s marks are too high or too low, they’ll adjust the grades for the entire class—so you’ll still get a grade that reflects your performance based on global standards.
What’s the Difference Between Internal and External Assessments?
Internal Assessments (IAs): Graded by your teacher at school. These are sent to the IB and may be checked by external examiners.External Assessments: These include final exams and some major coursework. They are sent straight to the IB and marked entirely by outside examiners.Both types are crucial to your final results and require careful planning, strong writing or presentation skills, and a clear understanding of the IB’s criteria.
How Can Markbands Help?
- At Markbands, we specialize in helping IB students succeed in their Internal Assessments across all subjects. Our expert tutors—many of whom are current or former IB teachers and examiners—know exactly what the IB is looking for. We provide personalized support to guide students through every stage of their IA, including:
- Choosing the right topic or article
- Understanding the subject-specific assessment criteria
- Planning and structuring the assignment
- Reviewing drafts and giving actionable feedback
- Polishing the final submission for clarity and impact
- Preparing for any related presentations or follow-ups