Environmental Systems & Societies · Individual Investigation (IA)
IB Environmental Systems and Societies IA Grader
Upload your Individual Investigation (IA) and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the official IB Environmental Systems and Societies internal assessment (individual investigation) criteria (first assessment 2026). 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 — 30 marks total
Your Individual Investigation (IA) is graded against 6 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Research Question and Inquiry
A focused research question addressing a local or global environmental topic or issue, with the topic explained through sufficient background research to support the question.
Strategy
An existing or developing strategy that addresses the environmental issue linked to the research question, with an explanation of a tension between different perspectives (economic, social, cultural, political or environmental) that results from the strategy.
Method
A repeatable method that allows sufficient data to be collected to answer the research question — enough procedural detail that another student could repeat the investigation.
Treatment of Data
Clear and detailed communication of raw and processed data, with processing techniques that lead to findings fully addressing the research question and raw data processed correctly.
Analysis and Conclusion
Analysis that explains the patterns and trends in the data relevant to the research question — including measures of bias, reliability, validity and uncertainty — and a conclusion that addresses the research question and is supported by the analysis presented.
Evaluation
An evaluation of specific methodological limitations or weaknesses that impact the conclusion, with evaluated improvements that address them, and unresolved questions arising from the investigation described as they impact the conclusion.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Research Question and Inquiry
- Research question too broad or not linked to the chosen environmental issue
- Background research too thin to support the question
- Environmental context described with errors or omissions
- No clear link between the issue's significance and the investigation
Strategy
- No real-world strategy connected to the research question
- Strategy named but never described or developed
- Tension between perspectives stated but not explained
- Only the environmental perspective considered (no societal counterweight)
Method
- Method missing the detail needed to repeat it
- Sample size or sampling strategy too small to answer the question
- Variables, controls or equipment not specified
- Data collected that can't actually address the research question
Treatment of Data
- Tables or graphs missing units, labels or clear headings
- Processing errors that carry into the findings
- Processed results that don't address the research question
- Raw data shown but processing steps impossible to follow
Analysis and Conclusion
- Patterns identified but never explained
- Bias, reliability, validity and uncertainty ignored in the analysis
- Conclusion that overreaches what the data supports
- Conclusion that doesn't answer the stated research question
Evaluation
- Generic weaknesses ("human error") not specific to this method
- Improvements unrelated to the weaknesses identified
- Impact of each limitation on the conclusion never assessed
- No unresolved questions or further-investigation ideas offered
Common questions
How is the IB Environmental Systems & Societies Individual Investigation (IA) marked?
Your Individual Investigation (IA) is marked against 6 criteria totalling 30 marks using the official IB Environmental Systems and Societies internal assessment (individual investigation) criteria (first assessment 2026): Research Question and Inquiry (/4), Strategy (/4), Method (/4), Treatment of Data (/6), Analysis and Conclusion (/6), Evaluation (/6). 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 Environmental Systems & Societies Individual Investigation (IA)?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Treatment of Data: Tables or graphs missing units, labels or clear headings; Processing errors that carry into the findings. On Analysis and Conclusion: Patterns identified but never explained; Bias, reliability, validity and uncertainty ignored in the analysis. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB Environmental Systems & Societies Individual Investigation (IA)?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Treatment of Data" and is worth 6 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 Environmental Systems & Societies Individual Investigation (IA)?
Word and page limits for the Individual Investigation (IA) are set in the official IB Environmental Systems and Societies internal assessment (individual investigation) criteria (first assessment 2026) 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 Environmental Systems & Societies 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.