Many IB Design Technology students assume that their IA mark depends largely on their teacher’s personal opinion. In reality, teachers follow strict IB criteria, and their marks are closely checked through moderation. Understanding how teachers mark the IA helps students focus on what actually earns marks — and avoid wasting time on low-impact work.
Who Marks the IB Design Technology IA?
The marking process has two stages:
- Internal marking by your Design Technology teacher
- External moderation by the IB
Teachers assign marks using IB assessment criteria, and IB moderators review a sample of projects to ensure marks are consistent with global standards. If marking is too lenient or too harsh, IB can adjust marks.
This system means teachers must justify every mark they award.
What Teachers Are Actually Looking For
Teachers do not mark based on:
- How complex your product is
- How expensive your materials are
- How visually impressive your prototype looks
They mark based on evidence of design thinking, justification, testing, and evaluation. Teachers are trained to look for the same things examiners look for.
How Teachers Use the Assessment Criteria
Although the IA is presented as one project, teachers mentally break it into assessable components.
They look for:
- A clear, user-focused problem
- Relevant and applied research
- Justified design decisions
- Evidence of testing and iteration
- Honest, evidence-based evaluation
Each section contributes to the overall level awarded.
