Global Politics · Engagement Project report (IA)
IB Global Politics IA Grader
Upload your Engagement Project report (IA) and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the IB Global Politics internal assessment (engagement project) 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 — 24 marks total
Your Engagement Project report (IA) is graded against 5 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Explanation and Justification
The political issue explored through the engagement is clearly and explicitly identified, with a clear explanation of why this engagement and political issue are of interest to the student, and a clear link between the engagement and political issue on one hand and course content on the other.
Process
The research process: complementary engagement (active, first-hand involvement) and research methods, with the choice of activities and of primary/secondary methods appropriate to the political issue and their use explained.
Analysis and Synthesis
The political issue explored in depth using the key concepts of the course where relevant, with clear critical analysis in which the main points are justified, and the experiences from the engagement synthesized with the researched perspectives of stakeholders rather than reported side by side.
Evaluation and Reflection
An evaluation of the research process — the strengths and limitations of the engagement and methods used, including possible personal bias — and reflection on how the engagement shaped or changed the student's understanding of the political issue.
Communication
The report is well organized, clear and concise, with a structure that supports the argument, consistent referencing, and the 2,000-word limit respected.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Explanation and Justification
- Topic stated as a theme ("migration") rather than a contestable political issue
- Why the issue matters to you asserted but never explained
- No link drawn between the issue and course concepts/content
- Engagement and issue described separately, never connected
Process
- Engagement described as an event log rather than a research process
- Primary engagement and secondary research never brought together
- Methods named but their appropriateness to the issue unexplained
- Engagement too thin to generate first-hand evidence
Analysis and Synthesis
- Describing the engagement instead of analysing the political issue
- Course concepts (power, legitimacy, sovereignty…) absent or decorative
- Stakeholder perspectives reported but never weighed against each other
- Engagement experiences and secondary research kept in separate sections
Evaluation and Reflection
- No reflection on how the engagement changed your view of the issue
- Personal bias never acknowledged or examined
- Limitations listed generically, not tied to this engagement
- Evaluation of sources missing where secondary research is used
Communication
- Report organized as a diary of the engagement rather than an argument
- Sources cited inconsistently or not at all
- Exceeding the word limit (or padding far below it)
- Key terms used loosely where precise vocabulary exists
Common questions
How is the IB Global Politics Engagement Project report (IA) marked?
Your Engagement Project report (IA) is marked against 5 criteria totalling 24 marks using the IB Global Politics internal assessment (engagement project) criteria (first assessment 2026): Explanation and Justification (/4), Process (/3), Analysis and Synthesis (/8), Evaluation and Reflection (/6), Communication (/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 Global Politics Engagement Project report (IA)?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Analysis and Synthesis: Describing the engagement instead of analysing the political issue; Course concepts (power, legitimacy, sovereignty…) absent or decorative. On Evaluation and Reflection: No reflection on how the engagement changed your view of the issue; Personal bias never acknowledged or examined. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB Global Politics Engagement Project report (IA)?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Analysis and Synthesis" 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 Global Politics Engagement Project report (IA)?
Word and page limits for the Engagement Project report (IA) are set in the IB Global Politics internal assessment (engagement project) 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 Global Politics 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.