The internal assessment (IA) in IB History (first examination 2017) is an integral part of your History course and is compulsory for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students. You will demonstrate skills and knowledge, and you can follow your personal interests, without the time limitations and other constraints that are associated with written exams.
What is the IB History IA
  • The Internal Assessment (IA) is a historical investigation, and in the process of inquiry you will learn and apply the skills of professional historians.
  • It is a crucial part of achieving your International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) in IB History. 
  • This IA is an individually written piece of 2200 words. It consists of three elements: The evaluation of sources, the investigation itself and the reflection

​Guidance and authenticity

The historical investigation submitted for internal assessment must be the your own work. You must discuss the internally assessed work with your teacher.
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As part of the learning process, your teacher will read and give advice on one draft of the work. You must confirm that the work is your own authentic work and constitutes the final version of that work. Once you have officially submitted the final version of the work, it cannot be retracted.
Key Points about the IB History IA
  • Requirements for SL and HL students are the same.
  • You can chose your own topic, follow your own interests. The topic of your IA does not have to be related to the school's syllabus.
  • The topic must be historical, and therefore cannot be on an event that has happened in the last 10 years.
  • The IA is important to your overall success in IB History. It is worth 25% of the final assessment for SL students, and 20% for HL students.
  • The historical investigation will be internally assessed by your teacher and externally moderated by the IB.
  • The investigation must be a written piece and should be done individually, group work is not permitted.
  • The word limit for the historical investigation is 2,200 words

Part 1 - Identification and Evaluation of Sources

Part 2 - Investigation

Part 3 - Reflection