Before you submit any Internal Assessment, run through this checklist. It’s organized in the same order examiners actually read your work — from the research question through to your final reference list — so you can catch issues in the same sequence they’ll be found.
Research Question / Investigation Focus
- Is the independent variable clearly defined, with a specific numerical range or set of conditions?
- Is the dependent variable clearly defined, including exactly how it will be measured?
- Is the question narrow enough to be thoroughly investigated within the word/page limit?
- Is there a genuine personal or original angle, rather than a copied textbook question?
Methodology / Design
- Are all relevant variables controlled, and is this control explicitly explained?
- Is there a sufficient number of data points and repeats (or sample size) to support a meaningful conclusion?
- For experimental subjects: are safety and risk considerations addressed where relevant?
- For Psychology: are informed consent, right to withdraw, and debriefing explicitly addressed?
- For Business Management: is the organization real, specific, and genuinely accessible for information?
Data Collection and Presentation
- Is raw data presented clearly, in an appropriately formatted table or set of tables?
- Are units, uncertainties, and significant figures used consistently and correctly?
- Are diagrams/graphs correctly labeled, with appropriate scales and axis titles?
Analysis
- Is the correct statistical test used for the data type and design?
- Is the choice of statistical test explicitly justified, not just applied?
- Is the result of the test interpreted in the actual context of the research question, not just stated numerically?
- For Economics: is the theory explicitly applied to specific facts and figures from the article, not just explained in the abstract?
Evaluation
- Are limitations specific and quantified, rather than generic («human error»)?
- Is the likely impact of each limitation on the results actually discussed?
- Are proposed improvements specific and realistic, not vague («use better equipment»)?
- Does the evaluation connect back to the reliability/validity of the overall conclusion?
Communication and Structure
- Does the report follow the structure expected for your specific subject?
- Is the language appropriately formal and subject-specific throughout?
- Is the word count or page limit respected, based on the current subject guide?
- Are section headers, if used, clear and appropriately labeled?
Referencing and Academic Honesty
- Are all sources (data, background theory, direct quotations, images) properly cited?
- Is the citation style consistent throughout (check your school’s required format)?
- Has the IA been checked against your school’s academic honesty / plagiarism policy before submission?
Final Pre-Submission Steps
- Has a full draft been reviewed by your teacher, with enough time left to make substantial changes?
- Have you reread the actual top mark-band descriptors for your subject and confirmed your report matches that language?
- Have you proofread for spelling, grammar, and consistent formatting (fonts, table styles, decimal places)?
- Is the file named, formatted, and submitted exactly according to your school’s and the IB’s submission requirements?
How to Use This Checklist Effectively
Don’t wait until the night before the deadline to run through this list — use it at three points: after finalizing your research question, after completing your first full draft, and immediately before final submission. Catching a structural issue early is far easier to fix than catching it the night before your IA is due.