IB ESS IA Source Checker

ESS IA sources should support a focused environmental research question with valid data, clear method, and evaluation of reliability, ethics, and environmental impact.

Check this sourceCheck sources for other subjects

Environmental Systems and Societies IA source check

Marksy reads the links or notes you give it, applies the rules for your IB assignment, and only stops to ask you something when the answer would change the verdict.

  1. Assignment
  2. 2Sources
  3. 3Clarify
  4. 4Verdict

Checking against

Environmental Systems and Societies IA

What usually works for Environmental Systems and Societies IA

Usually strong

  • Field measurements, biodiversity surveys, water/soil/air quality data, questionnaires, government datasets, and academic environmental studies.
  • GIS/maps, policy documents, and local management data used as context.
  • Student-collected or secondary data when method and limitations are clear.

Example

Student water-quality measurements with repeats plus official river-flow data and a local management plan.

Needs a second look

  • News articles used as data rather than context.
  • Datasets with unknown sampling methods.
  • Fieldwork that could harm habitats or participants.

Example

A government dataset that is relevant but collected at a broad regional scale.

Avoid or replace

  • AI-generated environmental datasets.
  • Unclear copied fieldwork tables.
  • A source pack with no actual environmental data.

Example

A climate-change opinion blog.

Where to find better Environmental Systems and Societies IA sources

If a source gets a warning, don't just add more websites. Search for sources that match the assessment rule and can carry real analysis.

Searches to try

If a source is weak

  • Replace ai-generated environmental datasets. with field measurements, biodiversity surveys, water/soil/air quality data, questionnaires, government datasets, and academic environmental studies..
  • Use news articles used as data rather than context. only as context unless your teacher confirms they can carry evidence.
  • Add one source that gives direct evidence for the IA, not just general background.

Good places to look

  • Field measurements, biodiversity surveys, water/soil/air quality data, questionnaires, government datasets, and academic environmental studies
  • GIS/maps, policy documents, and local management data used as context
  • Student-collected or secondary data when method and limitations are clear

Questions people ask