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Official IB Political Thought IA criteria

Read the official IB Political Thought Internal Assessment criteria with markbands, guiding questions, and notes. Use the selectors to switch subject, level, or component; the optional AI grading prompt stays at the bottom for self-review.

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Official criteria

Political Thought · All · Political thought investigation

4 criteriaTotal 25 marks

Criterion A: Identification and selection of political issue

3 marks
  • 0

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

  • 1

    The political issue is implicitly identified. There is a limited explanation of why this issue was selected.

  • 2

    The political issue is identified. There is some explanation of why this issue was selected.

  • 3

    The political issue is clearly identified. There is a clear explanation of why this issue was selected.

Criterion B: Summary of political content

6 marks
  • 0

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

  • 1-2

    There summary of the political issue and relevant material is superficial and lacks accuracy. No link to political theory is established.

  • 3-4

    There is a satisfactory summary of the political issue and relevant material. A link to political theory is established.

  • 5-6

    There is a clear, accurate summary of the political issue and relevant material. A clear and effective link to political theory is established.

Criterion C: Critical Thought

12 marks
  • 0

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

  • 1-3

    The response contains little or no critical analysis, and consists mostly of generalizations and poorly substantiated assertions. There is little or no recognition of the importance of the material in the context of political theory.

  • 4-6

    The response includes some analysis but is primarily narrative/ descriptive in nature rather than analytical. There is limited recognition of the importance of the material in the context of political theory.

  • 7-9

    The response includes analysis and evaluation. There is some recognition of the importance of the material in the context of political theory.

  • 10-12

    The response includes well developed analysis and evaluation. It demonstrates clear recognition of the importance of the material in the context of political theory.

Criterion D: Presentation and organization

4 marks
  • 0

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

  • 1-2

    The response lacks clarity and coherence, with structural issues significantly impeding understanding. It demonstrates a limited understanding of the demands of the task.

  • 3-4

    The response is clear, coherent and effectively organized. It demonstrates a high level of awareness of the demands of the task.

Optional: AI grading prompt

For self-review only

A copyable prompt that embeds the criteria above and asks an AI to grade the work criterion by criterion. Use it as a draft sanity check — not a substitute for teacher or examiner feedback.

Common questions

Where do the criteria come from?

The criteria are stored locally in a structured database that mirrors the official IB descriptors. The page only displays them — descriptor wording is preserved as written, with no paraphrasing.

Why pick subject, level, and component?

The criteria differ by assessment type, subject, level, and component. The selectors at the top filter the database to the criteria set that applies to your specific submission.

What is the AI grading prompt at the bottom for?

It is an optional helper. The prompt embeds the same criteria you see above and asks an AI to evaluate the work criterion by criterion. Useful for a quick self-review before teacher feedback.

Is my work sent anywhere?

No. The page only loads criteria. If you choose to use the AI prompt, you copy it manually and paste it into the AI tool of your choice — nothing leaves this page.

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