Criterion A: Rationale and preliminary research
8 marks- The rationale is clearly stated and developed.
- Research uses a wide range of sources.
- Supporting evidence is relevant.
IB World Religions IA Grader
Grade your World Religions IA before you submit. Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion, comments tied to your sentences, and a list of what to fix first.
5 free gradings a month. No card. Private to you.
- of marks within one grade of the IB's final mark
- 92%
- marking score. ChatGPT 65, Claude 61, Gemini 57
- 74/100
- real IAs and TOK essays tested against the mark the IB gave
- 1,317
- Marks
- 30, from five criteria
- Length
- 1,800 words at most
- Level
- SL only
- Over the limit
- Criterion E scores 0
See the mark, and the sentences behind it
Check the quality of your method, analysis, evaluation, communication and subject-specific reasoning. Find the weakest parts of the draft and see what to change first.
What Marksy checks for each World Religions IA criterion
You get a mark for each IB assessment criterion below. The points under each one are what Marksy looks for in your draft. See the mark bands
Criterion B: Plan for study
3 marks- The scope and plan are appropriate and focused.
- There is a clearly focused research question.
- The question is closely tied to the scope and plan.
Criterion C: Summary of significant findings
6 marks- Significant findings are clearly stated.
- They are developed rather than listed.
- Their link to the question, rationale, and plan is shown.
Criterion D: Critical reflection and evaluation
10 marks- Reflection links the research question to the findings.
- Misconceptions or inconsistencies are identified and evaluated.
- Research methods, assumptions, and possible bias are evaluated.
Criterion E: References and compliance with format
3 marks- The work is within 1,800 words.
- References follow one standard format consistently.
- The required format for the written analysis is followed.
Where World Religions IAs usually lose marks
Marksy flags these in your draft and links each one to the sentences it is about.
- A rationale that is only personal"I've always been curious about Sikhism" is a start, not a rationale. Say why your question matters for understanding the religion and what you expected to find.Criterion A
- Research from one placeOne website or one interview is thin. Criterion A rewards a range of sources, such as sacred texts, scholarly books, interviews, visits and community material.Criterion A
- A topic with no research question"Hindu festivals" is a topic, not a question. Without a research question, criterion B can't go above 1 mark out of 3. Narrow it to one practice, group or place.Criterion B
- Findings that are only listedState your most important findings. Then show how each one answers your research question and connects to your rationale and plan.Criterion C
- Methods that are never questionedSay what your study taught you about religious belief or experience. Then question your methods: whose voices are missing, and what did you assume before you started?Criterion D
- Going over 1,800 wordsEvery mark on criterion E needs the work to be within 1,800 words. Go over and you lose all 3 marks, however good your references are.Criterion E
Before you upload
- Use clear headings for your rationale, plan, findings and reflection.
- Keep your reference list in the file, in one referencing style.
- If you interviewed people, say who they are (their role, not their full name) and how you spoke to them.
- Check your word count before you upload.
Your draft stays at the centre
Marksy reads the work you upload, points each comment back to your writing, and puts the most important changes first.
Does each section clearly support the rationale, research question, and final reflection?Read World Religions IA Planning Guide
- 1
Upload your draft
A PDF of your World Religions IA, finished or not. Every comment stays connected to your own writing.
- 2
Read the comments
Highlights show which passage each comment is about.
- 3
Fix the important parts first
Work down a short list instead of making scattered edits.
- 4
Keep the final say
Accept, adapt or ignore each suggestion. You stay the author.
What students wrote afterwards
From Trustpilot, as written.
marksyib has saved my ib diploma. thanks to it, my IA's were perfect and got the points i needed. really recommended.
Marksy ib allowed me to be able to finish my IAs much before allowing me to be able to relax better. 100% recommended
Your work stays your work
Marksy reads the draft you upload and comments on it. It doesn't rewrite your assessment, and your files are never used to train AI.
Read the safety answers- Private to youOnly you can see your work unless you choose to share it.
- Never used for trainingYour coursework is not added to any AI training data.
- Feedback, not ghostwritingUse the report to improve your own analysis and decisions.
- Delete it whenever you wantYou control the files stored in your account.
Questions before you upload
Still planning? The coursework guide covers the criteria and what to ask yourself while you write. Open the guide
Marksy marks criterion E with the limit in mind, but it can't promise an exact count. Check the count in your word processor too, and follow your teacher's rules on what counts.
No. World Religions is only offered at SL, so there is one set of criteria. If the upload page asks for a level, either choice uses the same criteria.
Criterion D is worth 10 of the 30 marks. Marksy checks whether you link your findings back to your research question, spot misconceptions, and weigh up your methods, including any assumptions or bias.
We tested Marksy on 1,317 real IAs and TOK essays with the mark the IB gave them. 92% of Marksy's marks landed within one grade. On a set with as many weak as strong essays, it scored 74/100 on our marking score, against 65 for ChatGPT, 61 for Claude and 57 for Gemini. Every number, and how we tested, is on the grading accuracy page.
Yes. Marksy checks your World Religions IA against the IB assessment criteria for it and returns marks, comments and fixes instead of generic essay advice.
Yes. Early drafts are useful because the report can show a weak criterion before you spend hours polishing the wrong section. You can revise and grade another version later.
A free account includes 5 gradings a month. You don't need a card.
No. Marksy reads your existing work, explains each comment, and suggests what to revise. The writing and the final decisions stay yours.
Your upload is private to your account, is not used to train AI models, and can be deleted whenever you want.
Stop guessing what to fix in your World Religions IA
Upload the version you have now and find the parts holding it back.