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Official IB Visual Arts IA criteria

Read the official IB Visual Arts 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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Step 2 — narrow it down

Group
Subject
Level

Official criteria

Visual Arts · SL · Resolved artworks

3 criteriaTotal 32 marks

Criterion A: Coherence of body of artworks

8 marks

Guiding question

To what level do the submitted visual and written materials evidence: a coherent body of five resolved artworks?

  • 0

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

  • 1–2

    The rationale is limited and outlines minimal or superficial artistic intentions. There are scarce references to the student’s main technical, stylistic or conceptual choices. The relationships among the five artworks are minimal and the body of work communicates superficially or with limited coherence.

  • 3–4

    The rationale is partial and describes some artistic intentions. There are partial or partially relevant references to the student’s main technical, stylistic or conceptual choices, or the artistic intentions expressed in the rationale remain partially disconnected from the body of work. The relationships among the five artworks are partial and the body of work communicates with partial coherence.

  • 5–6

    The rationale is mostly clear and explains artistic intentions. There are mostly relevant references to the student’s main technical, stylistic or conceptual choices to convey meaning. The relationships among the five artworks are clear and the body of work mostly communicates with coherence.

  • 7–8

    The rationale is clear and justifies artistic intentions. There are relevant and meaningful references to the student’s main technical, stylistic or conceptual choices. The relationships among the five artworks are meaningful and the body of work communicates with coherence.

Criterion B: Conceptual realization

12 marks

Guiding question

To what level do the submitted visual and written materials evidence: synthesis of concept and form to communicate artistic intentions?

  • 0

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

  • 1–3

    The five resolved artworks minimally demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is obvious, contrived or superficial. There is minimal or rudimentary communication of intentions.

  • 4–6

    The five resolved artworks partially demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is adequate. There is some communication of intentions.

  • 7–9

    The five resolved artworks mostly demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is mostly insightful. There is mostly effective communication of intentions.

  • 10–12

    The five resolved artworks demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is meaningful. There is accomplished and creative communication of intentions.

Criterion C: Technical resolution

12 marks

Guiding question

To what level do the five resolved artworks evidence: resolution in the application of media and use of formal qualities to communicate artistic intentions?

  • 0

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

  • 1–3

    The five resolved artworks demonstrate minimal application and manipulation of media and materials to communicate artistic intentions. There is evidence of minimal resolution, with rudimentary use of formal qualities.

  • 4–6

    The five resolved artworks demonstrate some appropriate application and manipulation of media and materials to communicate artistic intentions. There is evidence of partial resolution, with some appropriate but inconsistent use of formal qualities.

  • 7–9

    The five resolved artworks demonstrate mostly assured application and manipulation of media and materials to communicate artistic intentions. There is evidence of resolution, with mostly assured and mostly effective use of formal qualities.

  • 10–12

    The five resolved artworks demonstrate assured and insightful application and manipulation of media and materials to communicate artistic intentions. There is evidence of resolution, with fluent and effective use of formal qualities.

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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