IA Notes Exam- 2016

Introduction
In the past the term 'Internal Assessment' was applied to the whole 40 hours (SL) or 60 hours (HL) practical programme. Now it very specifically only
applies to the Individual Scientific Investigation. The Individual Scientific Investigation is scheduled to take ten hours of the Practical Scheme of Work
and is the ONLY part that forms the 20% of the final internal assessment component mark. There will be a few marks devoted to the type of skills
and understanding covered in the mandatory laboratory components inSection A of Paper 3 in the external examination but none of the practical
work counts towards the internal assessment mark apart from the Individual Scientific Investigation. The great strength of this is that it enables
teachers to plan their own practical programme as an integral part of their 150 hours (SL) or 240 Hours (HL) teaching course without having to worry
too much about assessment. It means that students can learn through practical work and reinforce their understanding and they do not have to write up
each and every practical to an agreed set of criteria. The downside is that all the 20% of the internal assessment marks are placed on just one single
10 hour investigation. This means that many teachers will use the practical programme to scaffold the Individual Scientific Investigation, i.e. to teach
students the skills necessary for them to achieve a high mark in their individual investigation.

What is the Individual Scientific Investigation?

The point of internal assessment is that it allows students to demonstrate they can apply their skills and knowledge,
and at the same time can pursue their personal interests, without the exact time limitations and other constraints associated with the written
examinations. The internal assessment task consists of just one scientific investigation which should take about ten hours and be presented for
assessment in a 6-12 page write-up. The investigation should be complex and commensurate with the level of the course although Standard Level and
Higher Level students will be marked according to the same set of criteria. It should have a purposeful research question together with the underlying
scientific rationale for it. Although the investigation can follow a traditional hands-on approach there is much more scope that can be used and, in fact, it
is permissible that all the data employed can be obtained from secondary sources. This is perhaps to accommodate the fact that in the near future
students will be able to do an online IB Diploma chemistry course where traditional supervised practical work will no longer be possible. The IB lists
some of the possible tasks that could be used. These include:
a laboratory investigation using a hands-on approach.
analysis and/or modelling using spreadsheets.
using a database to extract information leading to graphical analysis.
a hybrid of the above three, i.e. using a spreadsheet or database together with a more traditional hands-on investigation
the use of an interactive and open-ended simulation.
Note that some of the tasks could consist of appropriate and relevant qualitative chemistry that is also combined with quantitative chemistry.
The Individual Scientific Investigation is marked out of 24 according to five different criteria: personal engagement, exploration, analysis, evaluation and
communication. These do not all have equal weighting. Exploration, analysis and evaluation are each worth a maximum of six marks, exploration is
marked out of two and the maximum mark for communication is four. Once the total mark out of 24 is obtained it will be scaled to a mark out of 20
which will make up the internal assessment component mark. Samples of student work from each school will be moderated to try to ensure a
consistent standard.
The attached links on the left attempt to break down the whole process into manageable sections to help your students achieve to their maximum
potential. This includes preparing students beforehand, choosing the research topic and the production, assessment and moderation of the Individual
Scientific Investigation.

Practical (Internal) Assessment 2016 exams

This is assessed by means of a single extended practical experiment, which the students carry out and write reports on. The new assessment model uses
five criteria to assess the final report of the individual investigation with the following raw marks and weightings assigned:

The exam report is assessed according to the following criteria:

Personal engagement - 2 (8%)

Exploration - 6 (25%)

Analysis - 6 (25%)

Evaluation - 6 (25%)

Communication - 4 (17%)

Total - 24 (100%)

Levels of performance are described using multiple indicators per level. In many cases the indicators occur together in a specific level, but not always.
Also, not all indicators are always present. This means that a candidate can demonstrate performances that fit into different levels. To accommodate this,
the IB assessment models use markbands and advise examiners and teachers to use a best-fit approach in deciding the appropriate mark for a particular
criterion.

Teachers should read the guidance on using markbands shown above in the section called "Using assessment criteria for internal assessment" before
starting to mark. It is also essential to be fully acquainted with the marking of the exemplars in the teacher support material. The precise meaning of the
command terms used in the criteria can be found in the glossary of the subject guides.

The criteria are mostly formative in that the students develop skills during the course of their studies and are given a final level for each criterion*. The
assessment is carried out by the teacher(s) in charge and samples sent away for external moderation.

*Note: A student is not expected to begin the course with highly developed skills in these areas and low levels are normal at first.

Practical (Internal) Assessment 2016 exams

Personal engagement

This

criterion

assesses

the

extent

to

which

the

student

engages

with

the

exploration

and

makes

it

their

own.

Personal engagement may be recognized in different attributes and skills. These could include addressing personal interests or showing evidence of
independent thinking, creativity or initiative in the designing, implementation or presentation of the investigation.

Mark
0

Descriptor
The student's report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The
1

evidence

of

personal

engagement

with

the

exploration

is

limited

with

little

independent

thinking,

initiative

or

creativity.

The justification given for choosing the research question and/or the topic under investigation does not demonstrate personal significance, interest or curiosity.
There is little evidence of personal input and initiative in the designing, implementation or presentation of the investigation.
The

evidence

of

personal

engagement

with

the

exploration

is

clear

with

significant

independent

thinking,

initiative

or

creativity.

The justification given for choosing the research question and/or the topic under investigation demonstrates personal significance, interest or curiosity.
There is evidence of personal input and initiative in the designing, implementation or presentation of the investigation.

Exploration

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student establishes the scientific context for the work, states a clear and focused research question and
uses concepts and techniques appropriate to the Diploma Programme level. Where appropriate, this criterion also assesses awareness of safety,
environmental, and ethical considerations.

Mar
k
0

Descriptor
The student's report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
The

topic

of

the

investigation

is

identified

and

research

question

of

some

relevance

is

stated

but

it

is

not

focused.

The background information provided for the investigation is superficial or of limited relevance and does not aid the understanding of the context of the investigation.
1-2

The methodology of the investigation is only appropriate to address the research question to a very limited extent since it takes into consideration few of the significant
factors

that

may

influence

the

relevance,

reliability

and

sufficiency

of

the

collected

data.

The report shows evidence of limited awareness of the significant safety, ethical or environmental issues that are relevant to the methodology of the investigation.
The

topic

of

the

investigation

is

identified

and

relevant

but

not

fully

focused

research

question

is

described.

The background information provided for the investigation is mainly appropriate and relevant and aids the understanding of the context of the investigation.
3-4

The methodology of the investigation is mainly appropriate to address the research question but has limitations since it takes into consideration only some of the
significant

factors

that

may

influence

the

relevance,

reliability

and

sufficiency

of

the

collected

data.

The report shows evidence of some awareness of the significant safety, ethical or environmental issues that are relevant to the methodology of the investigation.
The

topic

of

the

investigation

is

identified

and

relevant

and

fully

focused

research

question

is

clearly

described.

The background information provided for the investigation is entirely appropriate and relevant and enhances the understanding of the context of the investigation.
5-6

The methodology of the investigation is highly appropriate to address the research question because it takes into consideration all, or nearly all, of the significant factors
that

may

influence

the

relevance,

reliability

and

sufficiency

of

the

collected

data.

The report shows evidence of full awareness of the significant safety, ethical or environmental issues that are relevant to the methodology of the investigation.
* This indicator should only be applied when appropriate to the investigation.

Analysis

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student's report provides evidence that the student has selected, recorded, processed and interpreted the
data in ways that are relevant to the research question and can support a conclusion.

Mark Descriptor
0

1-2

The student's report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
The

report

Some

basic

The

report

includes
data

insufficient

processing

shows

is

evidence

relevant
carried
of

out

little

raw
but

data
is

to

either

consideration

of

too

support
inaccurate
the

impact

valid
or

conclusion

too
of

insufficient
measurement

to
to

lead

the
to

uncertainty

research
a
on

valid
the

question.
conclusion.
analysis.

The processed data is incorrectly or insufficiently interpreted so that the conclusion is invalid or very incomplete.
3-4

The report includes relevant but incomplete quantitative and qualitative raw data that could support a simple or partially valid conclusion to the research question.
Appropriate and sufficient data processing is carried out that could lead to a broadly valid conclusion but there are significant inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the
processing.

The

report

shows

evidence

of

some

consideration

of

the

impact

of

measurement

uncertainty

on

the

analysis.

The processed data is interpreted so that a broadly valid but incomplete or limited conclusion to the research question can be deduced.
The report includes sufficient relevant quantitative and qualitative raw data that could support a detailed and valid conclusion to the research question.
Appropriate and sufficient data processing is carried out with the accuracy required to enable a conclusion to the research question to be drawn that is fully consistent
5-6

with

the

The

report

shows

evidence

of

full

experimental

and

appropriate

consideration

of

the

impact

of

data.

measurement

uncertainty

on

the

analysis.

The processed data is correctly interpreted so that a completely valid and detailed conclusion to the research question can be deduced.

Evaluation

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student's report provides evidence of evaluation of the investigation and the results with regard to the
research question and the accepted scientific context.

Mar
k
0

Descriptor
The student's report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
A

conclusion

The
1-2

is

outlined

which

conclusion

is

not

makes

relevant

to

the

superficial

research

question

comparison

or

to

is

not

supported

the

by

accepted

the

data

presented.

scientific

context.

Strengths and weaknesses of the investigation, such as limitations of the data and sources of error, are outlined but are restricted to an account of the practical or
procedural

issues

faced.

The student has outlined very few realistic and relevant suggestions for the improvement and extension of the investigation.
A

conclusion

A
3-4

is

conclusion

described
is

which

described

is

relevant

which

to

makes

the

some

research
relevant

question

and

comparison

supported

to

by

the

the

accepted

data

presented.

scientific

context.

Strengths and weaknesses of the investigation, such as limitations of the data and sources of error, are described and provide evidence of some awareness of the
methodological

issues

involved

in

establishing

the

conclusion.

The student has described some realistic and relevant suggestions for the improvement and extension of the investigation.
A

detailed

A
5-6

conclusion

conclusion

is

is

described

and

correctly

justified

described

which

is

and

entirely

justified

relevant

to

through

the

research

relevant

question

and

comparison

fully

to

supported

the

by

the

accepted

data

presented.

scientific

context.

Strengths and weaknesses of the investigation, such as limitations of the data and sources of error, are discussed and provide evidence of a clear understanding of the
methodological

issues

involved

in

establishing

the

conclusion.

The student has discussed realistic and relevant suggestions for the improvement and extension of the investigation.

Communication

This

criterion

assesses

whether

the

investigation

is

presented

and

reported

in

way

that

supports

effective

focus,

process

communication of the focus, process and outcomes.

Mark Descriptor
0

The student's report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
The

presentation

of

the

investigation

is

unclear,

making

it

difficult

to

understand

the

and

outcomes.

The report is not well structured and is unclear: the necessary information on focus, process and outcomes is missing or is presented in an incoherent or disorganized
1-2

way.
The understanding of the focus, process and outcomes of the investigation is obscured by the presence of inappropriate or irrelevant information.
There are many errors in the use of subject specific terminology and conventions.

3-4

The

presentation

of

the

investigation

is

clear.

Any

errors

do

not

hamper

understanding

of

the

focus,

process

and

outcomes.

The report is well structured and clear: the necessary information on focus, process and outcomes is present and presented in a coherent way.
The

report

The

use

is
of

relevant

and

subject

specific

concise

thereby

terminology

facilitating
and

ready

conventions

is

understanding

of

appropriate

and

the

focus,

correct.

process
Any

and

errors

outcomes
do

not

of

the

hamper

investigation.
understanding.

*For example, incorrect/missing labelling of graphs, tables, images; use of units, decimal places. For issues of referencing and citations refer to the "Academic honesty"
section.

Criterion

marks available

marks

Personal Engagement

maximum 2

2 marks

Exploration

maximum 6

6 marks

Analysis

maximum 6

6 marks

Evaluation

maximum 6

6 marks

Communication

maximum 4

4 marks
Total =

24 marks