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IA Playbook

History IA Criteria Guide

Turn source selection and evaluation into a tighter, more defensible investigation.

Use this guide to keep your question narrow, make source value and limitations explicit, and connect your reflection to historical method rather than summary.

History IA

Assessment criteria

See 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: Identification and evaluation of sources (6 marks)

How clearly you state your question, explain why your sources are relevant, and evaluate two of them.

Stronger evidence

A suitable question is clearly stated, source relevance is clearly explained, and two sources are analysed in detail, discussing value and limitations with reference to origin, purpose, and content.

Early-stage evidence

The question is stated and suitable sources are selected, but their relevance is barely explained and two sources are described rather than analysed.

Criterion B: Investigation (15 marks)

How clearly organized and critically analytical the investigation is, and how well evidence and perspectives support a reasoned conclusion.

Stronger evidence

Clear, coherent, and well organized; well-developed critical analysis focused on the question; effective use of evidence; perspectives evaluated; a reasoned conclusion consistent with the evidence.

Early-stage evidence

Unclear and poorly organized, with little focus and little or no critical analysis; mostly generalizations; evidence is mentioned but not analysed.

Criterion C: Reflection (4 marks)

How well you reflect on what the investigation showed you about historians' methods and their challenges.

Stronger evidence

A clear focus on historians' methods, clear awareness of their challenges or limits, and an explicit link to the investigation.

Early-stage evidence

Some discussion of what you learned about historians' methods, little awareness of their challenges or limits, and only an implied link to the investigation.

Markband guide

Criterion A: Identification and evaluation of sources (6 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0Nothing in the work reaches the lowest band.
1-2The question is stated and suitable sources are selected, but their relevance is barely explained and two sources are described rather than analysed.
3-4A suitable question is stated, source relevance is partly explained, and two sources are analysed and evaluated with limited discussion of value and limitations.
5-6A suitable question is clearly stated, source relevance is clearly explained, and two sources are analysed in detail, discussing value and limitations with reference to origin, purpose, and content.

Criterion B: Investigation (15 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0Nothing in the work reaches the lowest band.
1-3Unclear and poorly organized, with little focus and little or no critical analysis; mostly generalizations; evidence is mentioned but not analysed.
4-6Partly organized but unclear; mainly narrative with limited critical analysis; evidence is included but not integrated.
7-9Generally clear and organized; some analysis that is not sustained; some attempt to integrate evidence; perspectives noted but not evaluated.
10-12Generally clear and organized; critical analysis that may lack development; evidence from a range of sources supports the argument; some evaluation of perspectives; a reasoned conclusion.
13-15Clear, coherent, and well organized; well-developed critical analysis focused on the question; effective use of evidence; perspectives evaluated; a reasoned conclusion consistent with the evidence.

Criterion C: Reflection (4 marks)

MarksWhat the draft currently shows
0Nothing in the work reaches the lowest band.
1-2Some discussion of what you learned about historians' methods, little awareness of their challenges or limits, and only an implied link to the investigation.
3-4A clear focus on historians' methods, clear awareness of their challenges or limits, and an explicit link to the investigation.

Build Sequence

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

Step 1

Narrow the question

Define a question that can be answered with specific evidence instead of a broad historical overview.

Step 2

Evaluate the sources

Explain why your key sources matter by discussing origin, purpose, content, value, and limitations.

Step 3

Build the investigation

Organize your argument around evidence and interpretation, not just chronology.

Step 4

Write the reflection

Make the historian's methods and limitations explicit so the final section is clearly connected to the investigation.

Submission Checklist

  • The question is precise and researchable.
  • Two sources are explicitly evaluated for value and limitations.
  • Evidence from sources supports a sustained argument.
  • The reflection clearly discusses historical method and its limits.

Quick Wins

  • Trim the question until it fits one clear line of inquiry.
  • Note origin, purpose, and content for every key source before drafting.
  • Use one paragraph to compare perspectives instead of retelling events.

Did You Know?

Build A Cleaner History IA With Rubric Feedback

Marksy grades your investigation against IB criteria, highlights source-evaluation gaps, and shows where your argument and reflection need more precision. 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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