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IA Playbook

Anthropology IA Criteria Guide

Move from observation to method, then show how your analysis and reflection earn the stronger bands.

This guide combines the SL and HL anthropology criteria so you can clearly track how observation, method, analysis, ethics, and reflection are rewarded.

Social and Cultural Anthropology IA

Assessment criteria

See what each criterion measures, how many marks it carries, and what stronger evidence usually looks like.

This is Marksy's independently written criteria explanation, not an official IB publication.

Criterion A: Observation and report (4 marks)

How effectively the report records and interprets an initial observation.

Stronger evidence

The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Early-stage evidence

Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address observation and report, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.

Criterion B: Methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork (6 marks)

How well the investigation extends the initial fieldwork through suitable concepts and methods.

Stronger evidence

The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Early-stage evidence

Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.

Criterion C: Second fieldwork data collection and analysis (4 marks)

How purposefully further fieldwork evidence is collected and analyzed.

Stronger evidence

The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Early-stage evidence

Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address second fieldwork data collection and analysis, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.

Criterion D: Critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry (12 marks)

How critically the report reflects on fieldwork, methods, concepts, position, and limitations.

Stronger evidence

The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Early-stage evidence

Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.

Markband guide

Criterion A: Observation and report (4 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0The submitted material does not provide assessable evidence for observation and report.
1Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address observation and report, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.
2Some relevant evidence is developed, although the response is inconsistent or leaves important connections unexplained.
3The response addresses the criterion securely in most places, using relevant evidence and generally clear reasoning, with limited gaps.
4The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Criterion B: Methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork (6 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0The submitted material does not provide assessable evidence for methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork.
1-2Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address methodological and conceptual extension of initial fieldwork, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.
3Some relevant evidence is developed, although the response is inconsistent or leaves important connections unexplained.
4-5The response addresses the criterion securely in most places, using relevant evidence and generally clear reasoning, with limited gaps.
6The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Criterion C: Second fieldwork data collection and analysis (4 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0The submitted material does not provide assessable evidence for second fieldwork data collection and analysis.
1Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address second fieldwork data collection and analysis, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.
2Some relevant evidence is developed, although the response is inconsistent or leaves important connections unexplained.
3The response addresses the criterion securely in most places, using relevant evidence and generally clear reasoning, with limited gaps.
4The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Criterion D: Critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry (12 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0The submitted material does not provide assessable evidence for critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry.
1-3Only fragments of relevant evidence are visible. The response begins to address critical reflection of fieldwork research, methods and concepts/area of inquiry, but important parts remain missing, unclear, or unsupported.
4-6Some relevant evidence is developed, although the response is inconsistent or leaves important connections unexplained.
7-9The response addresses the criterion securely in most places, using relevant evidence and generally clear reasoning, with limited gaps.
10-12The response addresses the criterion consistently and precisely. Evidence is well selected, reasoning is sustained, and important choices or limitations are handled convincingly.

Build Sequence

Did You Know? Most weak drafts fail from sequence chaos, not lack of ideas.

Step 1

Frame the observation

Define the setting, the people, and the anthropological idea you are observing before you write anything else.

Step 2

Choose the second method carefully

Explain why the follow-up method extends the observation and how it improves the quality of the fieldwork data.

Step 3

Analyze with concept in view

Keep the data tied to the key concept or area of inquiry so the writing stays analytical rather than descriptive.

Step 4

Reflect on the research process

Discuss your position as a researcher, the limits of the method, and what the fieldwork process actually taught you.

Submission Checklist

  • The observation context is clear and specific.
  • The second method is justified, not just named.
  • Analysis stays connected to the key concept or area of inquiry.
  • Reflection covers researcher position, ethics, and what was learned.

Quick Wins

  • State the anthropological concept in the opening paragraph and return to it throughout.
  • Use short fieldwork evidence notes before turning them into full analysis paragraphs.
  • Add one explicit reflection sentence at the end of every major section.

Did You Know?

Turn Anthropology Fieldwork Into A Stronger Draft

Marksy gives independently written feedback highlighting weak reflection or analysis. Every criterion mark is an estimate, not an official result. The result includes an estimated mark for every criterion, evidence from your draft, and the changes to make first. Your final mark may differ after teacher assessment or external moderation.

1. Upload your IA draft PDF to Marksy.
2. Get an estimated mark and feedback for every IA criterion.
3. Revise and resubmit with focused improvements.
Marksy grading results view

Instant Grading Results

See where your score is now, not just where it could be.

Marksy criterion feedback highlights

Criterion-By-Criterion Feedback

See the estimated mark, evidence, and next step for every assessment criterion.

Marksy list of fixes for an IB draft

Action List To Improve

Get concrete next edits instead of vague "improve analysis" advice.

Marksy AI detection and highlight review

Confidence And Integrity Signals

Review flagged sections and strengthen authenticity before submission.

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