Evaluation is one of the highest-impact sections of the IB Design Technology IA — and one of the most poorly handled. Many students treat evaluation as a summary of what they built or simply state that the solution “worked well.” This approach almost always limits marks.
In IB Design Technology, evaluation is about judging success against evidence, not celebrating outcomes.
What Does “Evaluation” Mean in IB Design Technology?
Evaluation means assessing how well your final solution meets the original design requirements and user needs, using testing results and feedback as evidence.
A strong evaluation answers three key questions:
- Did the solution meet the user’s needs?
- How well did it meet each requirement?
- What limitations remain, and why?
Evaluation is not descriptive. It is analytical and evidence-based.
Why Evaluation Has Such a Big Impact on IA Marks
Evaluation links together the entire project:
- Problem statement
- Research
- Design requirements
- Prototyping and testing
- Iteration
When evaluation is weak, examiners often assume earlier stages were superficial. When evaluation is strong, it validates the entire design process.
What Examiners Look For in Strong Evaluation
Direct Reference to Design Requirements
High-scoring evaluations clearly refer back to the design requirements or success criteria established earlier.
Strong evaluation:
- Assesses each requirement individually
