Economics · Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries)
IB Economics IA Grader
Upload your Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries) and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the official IB Economics internal assessment commentary criteria A–E (first assessment 2022). The full IA is a portfolio of three 800-word commentaries (criteria A–E per commentary, 14 marks each) plus portfolio-wide criterion F (rubric requirements, 3 marks); this review grades one commentary against criteria A–E. Whether you are at Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL), iBacalao shows where your draft meets the mark scheme and what to improve before formative submission. Free to start in the Mac app; sign-in is required to keep reviews and usage limits tied to your account.
IB assessment criteria — 14 marks total
Your Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries) is graded against 5 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Diagrams
Relevant, accurate and correctly labelled diagram(s) included, with a full explanation. The best commentaries use dynamic diagrams — showing the shifts and movements the article describes — and explain every element that appears in them.
Terminology
Terminology relevant to the article used appropriately throughout the commentary. The goal is fluent, correct use of the language of economics in context — not defining every term.
Application and Analysis
Relevant economic theory applied to the article throughout the commentary, with effective economic analysis — the theory explains the events in the article rather than being recited in the abstract.
Key Concept
One of the nine key concepts (scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence, intervention) identified and its link to the article fully explained — used as a lens framing the analysis, not mentioned in passing.
Evaluation
Judgments supported by effective and balanced reasoning — for example short-run vs long-run implications, impacts on different stakeholder groups, assumptions behind the theory, and a prioritized, substantiated conclusion. Evaluate what is in the article; do not invent alternative policies the article never mentions.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Diagrams
- Static diagram where the article describes a change (no shifted curves)
- Axes, curves or equilibria left unlabelled
- Diagram included but never explained in the text
- Diagram not connected to the specific situation in the article
Terminology
- Everyday language where precise economic terms exist
- Long definition lists that eat the word count instead of applied usage
- Terms used incorrectly or in the wrong context
- Terminology only in the introduction, not sustained throughout
Application and Analysis
- Theory explained in textbook terms without linking to the article
- Paraphrasing the article instead of analysing it
- Analysis that drifts from the article's actual events or data
- Only describing what happened, never explaining why (the economic mechanism)
Key Concept
- Key concept named once in the introduction and never returned to
- Concept chosen that doesn't fit the article's economics
- Link to the article asserted but not explained
- Using the same key concept as another commentary in the portfolio
Evaluation
- Judgments stated without reasoning to support them
- One-sided evaluation (no balance of winners and losers)
- Proposing alternative policies not mentioned in the article
- No consideration of short-run vs long-run or stakeholder impacts
Common questions
How is the IB Economics Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries) marked?
Your Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries) is marked against 5 criteria totalling 14 marks using the official IB Economics internal assessment commentary criteria A–E (first assessment 2022). The full IA is a portfolio of three 800-word commentaries (criteria A–E per commentary, 14 marks each) plus portfolio-wide criterion F (rubric requirements, 3 marks); this review grades one commentary against criteria A–E: Diagrams (/3), Terminology (/2), Application and Analysis (/3), Key Concept (/3), Evaluation (/3). Each criterion has its own mark bands, and your teacher's marks are moderated by the IBO.
What are the most common mistakes in the IB Economics Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries)?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Diagrams: Static diagram where the article describes a change (no shifted curves); Axes, curves or equilibria left unlabelled. On Application and Analysis: Theory explained in textbook terms without linking to the article; Paraphrasing the article instead of analysing it. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB Economics Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries)?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Diagrams" and is worth 3 marks. The top mark band for this criterion is the most detailed, so missing any element it mentions is the fastest way to lose marks.
What is the word limit for the Economics Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries)?
Word and page limits for the Economics commentary (one of the three IA portfolio commentaries) are set in the official IB Economics internal assessment commentary criteria A–E (first assessment 2022). The full IA is a portfolio of three 800-word commentaries (criteria A–E per commentary, 14 marks each) plus portfolio-wide criterion F (rubric requirements, 3 marks); this review grades one commentary against criteria A–E rather than being the same across subjects, so check your subject guide for the exact figure. Going over the limit risks examiners stopping at the limit and not marking what follows.
Can I use AI to help with my Economics IA?
The IBO allows AI for research support and feedback, but the submitted work must be entirely your own. iBacalao gives criterion-by-criterion feedback on your draft — the same kind of comment your teacher would give — without generating any text for your IA.