The quiet way good IAs lose marks
Two IAs can have the same research question, the same data, and the same level of insight. One reads like a clean lab report or magazine feature. The other feels like a group chat screenshot stitched into a PDF at 2:11 a.m.
Neither is “graded for prettiness.” But an IA that is hard to navigate becomes hard to trust. And when an examiner has limited time, trust is currency.
If you want a model of what “clean and credible” looks like, start by scrolling a few high-scoring samples in the Coursework Exemplars library. Not to copy the topic, to copy the discipline.
IA formatting essentials (fast checklist)
Before you obsess over sentence-level polish, run this IA formatting checklist:
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Consistent headings and section order (no surprise structure)
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Page numbers and clear figure/table numbering
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Graphs and tables labeled with units and meaningful captions
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One citation style used consistently (and actually checked)
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Raw data moved to an appendix (not flooding the main argument)
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Word count respected without “formatting hacks”
If you want the broader grading mindset behind this, read What IB Examiners Look for in a Strong IA. Formatting is part of “communication,” even when it isn’t a separate criterion.
Inconsistent headings and structure (the examiner’s map problem)
A strong IA has a visible spine. When headings randomly change style (bold here, underlined there, all caps in one section) your reader starts doing navigation work instead of evaluation work.
What helps:
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Use the same hierarchy throughout: Heading style for main sections, subheading style for sub-sections.
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Keep section names conventional: Introduction, Method/Methodology, Analysis, Evaluation, Conclusion (subject-specific wording is fine, chaos is not).
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Make spacing consistent above and below headings.
If you’re unsure what “normal structure” looks like across subjects, Comparing IA Expectations Across Different IB Subjects is a useful reference point.
Poorly labeled graphs and tables (data without shoes)
Examiners should understand your figure in isolation. If they have to hunt through paragraphs to find what the axes mean, your IA starts feeling fragile.
Common formatting mistakes:
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Missing axis labels and units
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Titles like “Graph 1” instead of “Figure 1: Effect of temperature on enzyme activity (°C vs rate)”
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Tiny fonts from pasted screenshots
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Tables that spill across pages with no repeated headings
Fix it with a simple rule: every visual gets (1) a number, (2) a descriptive caption, and (3) labels with units.
Citation inconsistency (where credibility leaks out)
A citation style is like a promise: “I’m careful.” When your IA switches between APA, MLA, and random URL drops, the promise breaks.
Typical issues:
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Mixing styles across paragraphs
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Missing page numbers for direct quotations
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Bibliography entries that don’t match in-text citations
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Copy-pasting from generators without checking formatting
The IB doesn’t force one style, but it expects consistency and traceability. For a quick overview of the common systems, see What Are The Common Formatting And Citation Styles Used In IAs?. For a deeper “do this, not that” approach, use 10 Best Practices for Citing Sources Properly in IB EE and IA.
Raw data overload in the main body (when evidence becomes noise)
There’s a moment when “being thorough” becomes “making your reader drown.” If your IA contains pages of unprocessed spreadsheet output in the main section, you’re forcing the examiner to do your summarizing.
Better approach:
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Put raw data in an appendix.
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Keep the main body for processed data, trends, and interpretation.
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Reference the appendix clearly: “See Appendix A for raw trial data.”
Want a full end-to-end final polish routine? Use How to Proofread and Polish Your IA Before Submission.
Word count mismanagement (the formatting tricks that don’t work)
Most students try at least one of these: shrinking margins, squeezing line spacing, dropping font size to 10.5, or shoving analysis into captions. Examiners have seen it all.
A healthier strategy for your IA:
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Cut repetition first (same idea stated twice in different wording).
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Replace long “background” paragraphs with only what the analysis needs.
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Use visuals to summarize, but explain what the visual means.
Unprofessional visuals and inconsistent typography
You can be a brilliant student and still lose the reader with messy presentation.
Watch for:
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Multiple fonts in one document
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Low-resolution images (pixelated screenshots)
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Hand-drawn graphs (unless your subject explicitly allows and it’s neat)
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Excessive color palettes that look like a poster, not an academic investigation
Aim for simple: one body font, one heading system, clean graphs, and consistent spacing.
Missing page numbers, titles, and figure numbering
Small omissions create a “draft” feeling. And a draft feeling lowers confidence in the IA, even when the content is strong.
Minimum professionalism set:
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Title page (simple and clear)
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Page numbers
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Figure and table numbers referenced in text
How RevisionDojo helps you format like a top scorer
Formatting is easiest when you can see what good looks like and then run a tight feedback loop.
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The Coursework Exemplars library gives you real examples of clean structure, captions, appendices, and citation consistency.
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The IA Guides hub helps you align your layout to what rubrics actually reward.
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RevisionDojo’s Grading tools help you check whether your communication is helping or hurting you.
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If you get stuck, AI Chat can sanity-check things like figure labeling, appendix placement, or citation consistency.
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When you want a human eye, Tutors can review presentation and clarity the way an examiner would.
And while you’re balancing exams and coursework, keep your revision loop efficient with Study Notes, Flashcards, Questionbank, Predicted Papers, and Mock Exams inside the same platform.
Closing: let your IA look as careful as your thinking
The goal isn’t to make your IA pretty. It’s to make it frictionless, so the examiner spends their attention on your reasoning, not your formatting.
If you want the fastest upgrade, do two things today: (1) compare your draft to a few high-scoring examples in the Coursework Exemplars library, then (2) run the checklist again with ruthless honesty. RevisionDojo is built for this entire loop, from exemplars and IA Guides to Grading tools, AI Chat, and Tutors, so your work reads like it was made by someone who expected to score well.