Internal Assessments, commonly known as IAs, are one of the most important — and often most misunderstood — parts of the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). Many students focus heavily on final exams, but what they don’t realize is that internal assessments can significantly improve or damage an IB score.
If you’re searching for:
what is an internal assessment in IB
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then this guide is written for you.
At IB Demystified, we support IB students worldwide through one-to-one online IA tutoring, feedback services, and examiner-style guidance, helping students turn their IA into a scoring advantage rather than a source of stress.
An internal assessment is a piece of coursework completed by IB students during the academic year and assessed internally by the school, then moderated externally by IB examiners.
Unlike final exams, IAs allow students to:
Explore topics in depth
Apply concepts creatively
Demonstrate independent thinking
Showcase research and communication skills
Every IB subject includes an IA, though the format, length, and weighting differ by subject.
One of the most common misconceptions is that IAs are “just coursework.” In reality, internal assessments often carry 20%–30% of the final subject grade.
They are completed over time (less exam pressure)
They reward consistency and clarity
They can compensate for exam stress
They reflect real academic skills, not memorization
For many students, a strong IA can be the difference between a 5 and a 6 — or a 6 and a 7.
The importance of an IA depends on the subject, but in every case, it is significant.
This means ignoring your IA is a serious risk.
The mathematics internal assessment is an individual exploration where students investigate a topic of personal interest using mathematical concepts.
Key expectations include:
Clear research question
Correct mathematical reasoning
Logical structure
Reflection and communication
Many students lose marks not because the maths is wrong, but because:
The exploration lacks focus
Explanations are unclear
Criteria are misunderstood
This is where expert IA feedback makes a huge difference.
Choosing the right topic is critical. A good IA topic is:
Personally interesting
Mathematically appropriate
Clearly focused
Aligned with IB criteria
Strong IAs follow a logical structure:
Introduction and rationale
Methodology
Mathematical analysis
Reflection and conclusion
Students must balance depth with clarity. Overcomplicating often reduces marks.
Professional IA feedback service helps identify gaps before submission.
Each IA is graded using official IB assessment criteria, which typically include:
Mathematical knowledge and understanding
Mathematical communication
Personal engagement
Reflection
Use of mathematics
Understanding these criteria is more important than writing long pages.
At IB Demystified, we train students to write for the criteria, not just for content.
Many students ask about the difference between internal assessment vs external assessment.
Both matter, but IAs give students more control over their grades.
IAs are:
Marked by school teachers
Moderated by IB examiners
This means:
Criteria accuracy matters
Clear justification matters
Presentation and explanation matter
Even small mistakes can lead to lost marks if criteria are not met.
Yes — absolutely.
A strong IA can:
Offset weaker exam performance
Push a student into the next grade boundary
Reduce pressure in final exams
This is why IB IA tutoring is one of the smartest academic investments a student can make.
Looking at internal assessment examples helps students:
Understand expectations
Learn structure
Avoid common mistakes
However, copying examples is dangerous. Instead, students should learn patterns, not replicate content.
Many students struggle because:
Teachers have limited time
Feedback is general
Deadlines approach quickly
An IB internal assessment tutor online provides:
Personalized guidance
Examiner-style feedback
Clear improvement strategies
At IB Demystified, our tutors work one-to-one on Zoom, supporting students ethically and effectively.
We provide comprehensive IB internal assessment help worldwide, including:
Topic selection support
Structure guidance
Criteria-focused improvement
Detailed written feedback
Examiner-style comments
Clear next steps
Language clarity
Academic tone
Structure and flow
Based on official IB criteria
Ethical and compliant
For students needing structured help, we offer:
Internal assessment online courses
IA revision support
Deadline-based planning
This is ideal for students balancing multiple subjects.
IB is an international curriculum. Students across:
Europe
USA
Asia
Middle East
Face similar IA challenges. IB Demystified supports students globally through online tutoring and feedback services.
Choosing overly complex topics
Ignoring criteria
Writing too descriptively
Weak reflection
Poor structure
Most of these issues are easy to fix with expert guidance.
At IB Demystified, we focus on:
Ethical IB-compliant support
Experienced subject tutors
Clear, actionable feedback
Our goal is not just to improve one assignment, but to teach students how to score better across IB.
An IA is coursework assessed internally and moderated by IB.
Typically 20–30% depending on the subject.
Yes, a strong IA can significantly boost final grades.
Using official IB criteria and external moderation.
IA requires different skills — research, structure, and reflection.
Yes, IB Demystified offers one-to-one online IA tutoring worldwide.
Yes, ethical proofreading and feedback are allowed under IB rules.
IB Demystified is a trusted online learning platform led by certified IB examiners and educators.
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