Geography · Fieldwork Investigation (IA)
IB Geography IA Grader
Upload your Fieldwork Investigation (IA) and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the official IB Geography internal assessment (fieldwork investigation) criteria (first assessment 2019). 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 — 25 marks total
Your Fieldwork Investigation (IA) is graded against 6 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Fieldwork Question and Geographic Context
A geographical, focused fieldwork question identifying a precise location and answerable with primary data collected in the field; the link to the relevant syllabus topic or geographical theory described; and one or more locational maps following mapping conventions.
Methods of Investigation
The data-collection methods described and justified — technologies, sampling and surveying techniques, time, location and circumstances — used correctly and producing reliable, good-quality primary data sufficient for the analysis the question needs.
Quality and Treatment of Information Collected
Information and data directly relevant to the question and sufficient in quantity and quality for analysis, presented with the most appropriate techniques (graphs, maps, statistical tests, annotated images…) following accepted conventions for numbering, labelling and annotation.
Written Analysis
Interpretation and explanation of the information collected in relation to the fieldwork question: appropriate descriptive and statistical techniques, trends and spatial patterns explained and linked to the question, theory, location and methods, with outliers and anomalies identified and explained.
Conclusion
A clear, concise conclusion answering the fieldwork question, supported by the analysis — it may legitimately state that the findings do not match the original prediction or hypothesis.
Evaluation
A review of the investigative methodology — the most relevant strengths and weaknesses of the methods, question formulation, data presentation and choice of location explained — with improvements suggested and the potential impact of those improvements explained.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Fieldwork Question and Geographic Context
- Fieldwork question not actually phrased as a question, or too broad
- No link to a syllabus topic or geographical theory
- Locational map copied from the internet with no conventions applied
- Location too vague to allow primary data collection
Methods of Investigation
- Methods listed without justification or sampling detail
- Sample size too small for the intended analysis
- No explanation of how the data collected relates to the question
- Sampling technique named but used incorrectly
Quality and Treatment of Information Collected
- Data displayed with techniques that don't fit the data type
- Graphs and tables missing titles, labels or numbering
- Data insufficient or only loosely relevant to the question
- A single display technique used where the data demands a range
Written Analysis
- Describing the data without explaining the patterns behind it
- Statistical techniques used incorrectly or without relevance
- Anomalies and outliers ignored
- Analysis never linked back to the fieldwork question or theory
Conclusion
- Conclusion introduces ideas the analysis never covered
- No explicit answer to the fieldwork question
- Forcing the conclusion to match the hypothesis despite the data
Evaluation
- Superficial weaknesses ("we needed more time") not tied to the study
- Improvements that don't address the weaknesses raised
- Factors affecting validity (bias, weather…) not considered
- Impact of the proposed improvements never explained
Common questions
How is the IB Geography Fieldwork Investigation (IA) marked?
Your Fieldwork Investigation (IA) is marked against 6 criteria totalling 25 marks using the official IB Geography internal assessment (fieldwork investigation) criteria (first assessment 2019): Fieldwork Question and Geographic Context (/3), Methods of Investigation (/3), Quality and Treatment of Information Collected (/6), Written Analysis (/8), Conclusion (/2), 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 Geography Fieldwork Investigation (IA)?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Written Analysis: Describing the data without explaining the patterns behind it; Statistical techniques used incorrectly or without relevance. On Quality and Treatment of Information Collected: Data displayed with techniques that don't fit the data type; Graphs and tables missing titles, labels or numbering. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB Geography Fieldwork Investigation (IA)?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Written Analysis" and is worth 8 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 Geography Fieldwork Investigation (IA)?
Word and page limits for the Fieldwork Investigation (IA) are set in the official IB Geography internal assessment (fieldwork investigation) criteria (first assessment 2019) 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 Geography 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.