Sports, Exercise & Health Science · Scientific Investigation (IA)
IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science Internal Assessment
Upload your Scientific Investigation (IA) and get examiner-level feedback on every criterion — scored against the IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science internal assessment (scientific investigation) criteria (first assessment 2026). Free to try, no account required.
Assessment criteria — 24 marks total
Your Scientific Investigation (IA) is graded against 4 criteria. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Research Design
The methodology (purpose and practice) used to address the research question effectively communicated: a focused question in a specific sport/exercise/health context, the relevant variables (or groups being compared), methodological choices explained, and enough detail to reproduce the investigation.
Data Analysis
Data recorded, processed and presented in ways relevant to the research question: clear and precise communication (tables, graphs, units, significant figures), appropriate consideration of uncertainties and variability, and processing carried out appropriately and accurately.
Conclusion
The research question answered with regard to the analysis and the accepted scientific context — a justified conclusion consistent with the data and its limitations, compared against published research or accepted theory, and considering the implications of the findings for real-world sport, exercise or health practice.
Evaluation
Evidence of evaluation of the investigation methodology with suggested improvements: specific weaknesses and limitations (protocol, participant variability, measurement) weighed for their relative impact on the conclusion, with realistic improvements that address them.
Common mistakes to avoid
Research Design
Research question without a specific sport, exercise or health contextComparison groups or variables not operationally definedMethod missing the detail needed to reproduce the protocolEthical/safety considerations for human participants ignored
Data Analysis
Tables or graphs missing units, labels or consistent precisionHuman variability and measurement uncertainty ignoredProcessing errors that propagate into the findingsProcessed results that don't address the research question
Conclusion
Conclusion claims more than the data and its variability supportNo comparison with published values or accepted theoryStatistical significance confused with practical significance for performanceReal-world implications of the findings never considered
Evaluation
Generic weaknesses ("human error") not specific to this protocolImprovements unrelated to the weaknesses identifiedRelative impact of each limitation on the conclusion not weighedParticipant-related limitations (motivation, learning effects) ignored
Common questions
How is the IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science Scientific Investigation (IA) marked?
Your Scientific Investigation (IA) is marked against 4 criteria totalling 24 marks using the IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science internal assessment (scientific investigation) criteria (first assessment 2026). Your teacher marks first, then the IBO moderates a random sample from your school — so your mark may be adjusted up or down if the moderator consistently disagrees with your teacher.
What is the most important criterion in the IB Sports, Exercise & Health Science IA?
All criteria matter, but the highest-weighted criterion — worth the most marks — is "Research Design". Focus on what the mark band descriptor says for the top score and make sure every element it mentions is present in your submission.
Can I use AI to help with my Sports, Exercise & Health Science IA?
The IBO allows AI for feedback and research support, 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.