Official IB Environmental Systems and Societies IA criteria

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The report: describes a local or global environmental topic or issue but with errors or omissions showing a limited understanding states a research question but there is a lack of focus or it is not linked to the chosen environmental topic or issue.

The report: explains a local or global environmental topic or issue with sufficient background research to support the research question states a focused research question that addresses the chosen environmental topic or issue.

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The report: states an existing or developing strategy that addresses an environmental issue linked to the research question describes a tension between different perspectives (economic, social, cultural, political or environmental) that results from the strategy

The report: describes an existing or developing strategy that addresses an environmental issue linked to the research question explains a tension between different perspectives (economic, social, cultural, political or environmental) that results from the strategy

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The report describes a method that is not repeatable. The method does not allow for sufficient data to be collected to address the research question.

The report describes a repeatable method. The method does allow for the collection of sufficient data to answer the research question.

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The communication of raw and processed data is not clear. The techniques used to process the raw data lead to findings that do not address the research question. The raw data is processed with major errors.

The communication of raw and processed data is clear. The techniques used to process the raw data lead to findings that do not fully address the research question. The raw data is processed with some minor errors.

The communication of raw and processed data is clear and detailed. The techniques used to process the raw data lead to findings that fully address the research question. The raw data is processed correctly.

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The analysis identifies patterns or trends within the data that are relevant to the research question. The conclusion either does not address the research question or is not supported by the analysis presented.

The analysis describes patterns or trends within the data that are relevant to the research question, including (some) measures of bias, reliability, validity and uncertainty. The conclusion addresses the research question and is partially supported by the analysis presented.

The analysis explains all the patterns and trends within the data that are relevant to the research question, including measures of bias, reliability, validity and uncertainty. The conclusion addresses the research question and is supported by the analysis presented.

The report does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.

The evaluation: states generic methodological limitations or weaknesses that impact the conclusion states improvements to the method that address the identified limitations or weaknesses states generic unresolved questions that arise from the investigation.

The evaluation: describes methodological limitations or weaknesses that impact the conclusion describes improvements to the method that address the identified limitations or weaknesses outlines unresolved questions that arise from the investigation.

The evaluation: evaluates specific methodological limitations or weaknesses that impact the conclusion evaluates improvements to the method that address limitations or weaknesses describes unresolved questions that arise from the investigation as they impact the conclusion.