Visual Arts Internal Assessment: what criteria are configured?
The table below is the 3-criterion, 32-mark model currently configured in iBacalao. Treat it as a reference until the subject-specific evidence pack has been reviewed.
| Criterion | Name | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Coherence of the Body of Artworks | Coherence of the Body of Artworks | 8 |
| Conceptual Realization | Conceptual Realization | 12 |
| Technical Resolution | Technical Resolution | 12 |
| Total | 32 | |
How do Visual Arts IA criteria work?
Each criterion describes a different part of the assessment, and its mark-band descriptors explain what evidence and reasoning earn credit.
Coherence of the Body of Artworks
Coherence of the Body of Artworks
What this criterion assesses
Meaningful relationships between the five resolved artworks so the body of work conveys a clear overall meaning greater than each piece alone, with a rationale that clearly justifies the artistic intentions and makes relevant, meaningful references to the main technical, stylistic or conceptual choices that create the coherence.
Mark band descriptors
Criterion A: Coherence of the body of artworks — SL (0–8): - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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 relationship among the five artworks are minimal and the body of work communicates superficially or with limited coherence. - 0: The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptor. [Verbatim — Visual arts guide, first assessment 2027 (p.84–85, SL resolved artworks).]
Common mistakes
- Five unrelated pieces with coherence asserted, not demonstrated
- Rationale describes each work separately without linking them
- Artistic intentions stated but the choices that realize them unexplained
- Rationale disconnected from what the artworks actually show
Conceptual Realization
Conceptual Realization
What this criterion assesses
How effectively material and conceptual inquiries are synthesized to communicate meaning — practical art-making combined with contextual and personal experiences, communicating intentions insightfully and creatively rather than through superficial imagery.
Mark band descriptors
Criterion B: Conceptual realization (0–12): - 10–12: The five resolved artworks demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is meaningful. There is accomplished and creative 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. - 4–6: The five resolved artwork partially demonstrate synthesis of concept and form. Conceptual realization is adequate. There is some communication of intentions. - 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. - 0: The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptor. [Verbatim — Visual arts guide, first assessment 2027 (p.84–85 SL / p.89–91 HL; identical bands, HL substitutes "selected" for "resolved").]
Common mistakes
- Concept described in the rationale but not realized in the works
- Superficial or cliché imagery standing in for an idea
- Personal/contextual sources of the concept left unexplained
- Intentions that shift between works without acknowledgment
Technical Resolution
Technical Resolution
What this criterion assesses
Competence in applying media, skills and formal qualities (composition, light, texture…) to achieve the artistic goals — an artwork is resolved when it effectively conveys the intended meaning to an audience through intentional technical and material choices.
Mark band descriptors
Criterion C: Technical resolution (0–12): - 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. - 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. - 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. - 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. - 0: The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptor. [Verbatim — Visual arts guide, first assessment 2027 (p.84–85 SL / p.89–91 HL; identical bands, HL substitutes "selected" for "resolved").]
Common mistakes
- Technique unconnected to the stated intention (skill for its own sake)
- Formal qualities (composition, light, texture) never discussed in the rationale
- Works at clearly different levels of finish without explanation
- Material choices unexplained or arbitrary
Sources & verification
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
The exact subject guide for Visual Arts is the authority for the task, criteria and limits. Some IB subject guides do not have a stable public URL, so this page names the configured assessment session and links the official IB update hubs instead of fabricating a direct source link.
- IB - Diploma Programme assessment and examsOfficial overview of criterion-related assessment and internal assessment in the Diploma Programme.
- IB - current curriculum updatesOfficial update hub for subject and first-assessment changes. Use it to confirm that your exam session matches the criteria shown here.
Ready to review your Visual Arts Resolved artworks — rationale draft (IA)?
Use the dedicated review workflow to check your draft against the configured Visual Arts criteria for this assessment session.
Review Visual Arts draft →