The IB Design Technology Internal Assessment (IA)—also known as the design project—often feels mysterious to students. Many work hard on their projects but still lose marks because they misunderstand how IB actually grades the IA. The key to scoring highly is not doing more work, but doing the right work in line with the assessment criteria.
This article explains how the IB grades the Design Technology IA and what examiners are really looking for.
Who Grades the IB Design Technology IA?
The IA is:
- Marked internally by your teacher
- Moderated externally by the IB
This means teachers must follow IB criteria closely, because IB moderators check whether marks are justified. Projects that look impressive but lack evidence or justification are often marked down during moderation.
What the IA Is Really Assessing
The IB Design Technology IA does not assess:
- How complex your product is
- How expensive your materials are
- How good your final prototype looks
Instead, it assesses your ability to:
- Apply design thinking
- Make justified design decisions
- Show development and iteration
- Evaluate success honestly and critically
Every mark comes from evidence of thinking, not appearance.
Key Areas Examiners Focus On
Although the IA is presented as a single project, examiners look for clear performance across several areas.
