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Economics IA Criteria Guide

Use diagrams, terminology, and evaluation to build a strong economics commentary.

Keep the commentary focused on the article, the economic theory, and the quality of your reasoning from start to finish.

Assessment criteria

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

Criterion names, marks and mark bands follow the IB subject guide. The band descriptions are our own summaries, so check your subject guide for the exact wording.

Criterion A: Diagrams (3 marks)

How accurately you construct and explain diagrams that apply to the article.

Stronger evidence
Diagrams are relevant, accurate, and properly labelled, and fully explained in the context of the article.
Early-stage evidence
Relevant diagrams appear but are not explained, or the explanation is wrong.

Criterion B: Terminology (2 marks)

How appropriately you use economic terms relevant to the article.

Stronger evidence
Relevant economic terms are used appropriately all the way through.
Early-stage evidence
Relevant economic terms appear in the commentary.

Criterion C: Application and Analysis (3 marks)

How well you apply economic theory to the article and analyse the situation it describes.

Stronger evidence
Relevant theory is applied throughout with effective analysis.
Early-stage evidence
Relevant theory is applied to the article with little analysis.

Criterion D: Key Concept (3 marks)

How clearly you identify a key concept and explain its link to the article.

Stronger evidence
The link between the key concept and the article is fully explained.
Early-stage evidence
A key concept is named, and you try to connect it to the article.

Criterion E: Evaluation (3 marks)

How well your judgments are supported by reasoned, balanced argument.

Stronger evidence
Judgments are backed by effective, balanced reasoning.
Early-stage evidence
Judgments rest on limited reasoning.

Criterion F: Rubric Requirements (3 marks)

Whether the whole portfolio meets the three rubric requirements.

Stronger evidence
All three rubric requirements are met.
Early-stage evidence
One of the three rubric requirements is met.

Mark bands

Want to know where your IA sits in these bands? Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion.

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How to build it

Most weak drafts fail on order, not on ideas.

  1. 1

    Build the diagram first

    Choose the most relevant diagram early so your explanation stays precise and accurate.

  2. 2

    Use terminology consistently

    Keep the economic terms relevant to the article and use them throughout the commentary.

  3. 3

    Link theory to the article

    Apply the theory to the real-world context instead of leaving it as abstract explanation.

  4. 4

    Evaluate the judgment

    Show that your conclusion is reasoned, balanced, and supported by the evidence you selected.

Before you submit

  • The diagram is accurate, labelled, and fully explained.
  • Economic terminology is relevant and used appropriately throughout.
  • The commentary applies theory to the article with clear analysis.
  • The final judgement is supported by reasoned evaluation.

Quick wins

  • Annotate the article with theory links before drafting.
  • Write a one-line purpose for each paragraph so the commentary stays focused.
  • Check the rubric wording after every draft pass, not just at the end.

Turn Commentary Criteria Into A Strong Draft

Marksy grades your economics commentary against IB criteria and shows you exactly where the rubric is strong or weak. The result includes a mark for every criterion, evidence from your draft, and the changes to make first.

Start IA GradingSee Pricing
  1. 1

    Upload your IA draft as a PDF

  2. 2

    Get a mark and feedback for every IA criterion

  3. 3

    Revise and grade the new version

A mark for every criterion
A mark for every criterionSee where the draft is now, criterion by criterion.
Comments on your sentences
Comments on your sentencesEach comment points at the passage it is about.
What to fix first
What to fix firstConcrete next edits instead of "improve your analysis".