MYP History eAssessments are externally marked by trained IB examiners, not by the student’s History teacher. Examiners use an authorized, question-specific markscheme to assess responses saved during the on-screen examination. Raw marks are then converted into a final MYP grade from 1 to 7 through the IB’s grade-award process.
The school administers the examination and submits each candidate’s response file, but it does not award the official marks. Exam-day arrangements vary, so students must follow their coordinator’s current instructions.
How MYP History eAssessments are marked
History is assessed through an Individuals and Societies on-screen examination. The IB overview of MYP assessment confirms that on-screen examinations are externally marked, unlike ePortfolios, which are teacher-marked and externally moderated.
The marking process is:
- The candidate completes the supervised examination on a computer.
- The software saves the candidate’s responses.
- The school securely submits the response file to the IB.
- IB-appointed examiners apply the authorized markscheme and markbands.
- Marks from all questions are combined into a raw total.
- The IB applies the session’s grade boundaries.
- The candidate receives a subject grade from 1 to 7.
This is criterion-related assessment. Students demonstrate defined historical knowledge and skills rather than competing for a limited number of high grades.
What examiners assess
MYP History uses the four Individuals and Societies criteria. External examiners award question-level raw marks, however, rather than assigning one classroom achievement level for each criterion.
| Criterion | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| A: Knowing and understanding | Accurate knowledge, concepts, terminology and relevant examples |
| B: Investigating | Research questions, inquiry planning, methods and evaluation |
| C: Communicating | Clear organization and communication suited to the required audience, purpose and format |
| D: Thinking critically | Analysis of evidence, source evaluation, perspectives and supported arguments |
The IB Individuals and Societies subject brief describes three tasks worth 80 marks in total.
| Task | Criteria | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Investigating | A and B | 26 |
| Communicating | A and C | 18 |
| Thinking critically | A, C and D | 36 |
The assessment represents all four criteria with broadly equal weighting. The IB explanation of MYP passing criteria states that examinations follow published blueprints and may vary from the intended criterion distribution by no more than three marks.
How individual answers receive marks
Focused questions may use a point-based markscheme, awarding separate marks for specific valid points or explanations. Longer responses commonly use markbands. The examiner selects the band that best describes the response and then chooses a mark within it.
Command terms determine what evidence is required. Describe asks for a detailed account, analyse requires relationships and implications, and evaluate requires a supported judgment. A factually accurate narrative may earn limited credit if the question requires analysis that the student never provides.
Examiners assess only the submitted response. Effort, classroom behaviour, predicted grades and the teacher’s opinion cannot add marks.
How raw marks become a grade
The raw total is not converted using the classroom table based on four criterion levels out of 8. Instead, the IB establishes grade boundaries through a grade-award process for the relevant subject and session.
Students should therefore not assume that one fixed percentage always equals a grade 5, 6 or 7. Boundaries can vary to account for examination difficulty while maintaining comparable standards. The result is reported as a whole-number grade from 1 to 7, as explained on the IB’s grading and awards page.
MYP History exam-day logistics
The History examination is generally a two-hour on-screen examination administered securely by the school. Schools provide suitable computers, verify candidates, arrange invigilation, implement approved access arrangements, record incidents and submit response files.
The IB supplies the assessment, appoints examiners, manages marking and issues results. Reporting times, permitted items, rough paper and procedures for devices or personal belongings can vary. Students should follow their coordinator’s session-specific directions and the school’s eAssessment preparation guidance.
Preparing for examiner expectations
Effective preparation combines historical knowledge with practice applying the criteria. Students should identify the command term, use precise evidence, analyse sources and perspectives, and compare completed responses with the relevant markscheme.
Common mistakes include describing when analysis is required, making unsupported claims, ignoring the requested audience or format, presenting only one side of an evaluation and leaving extended writing unfinished. Longer answers are not automatically better; every paragraph should address the task directly.
RevisionDojo’s MYP History assessment guide, History resource hub, MYP History Questionbank and 30-day eAssessment study plan support targeted, timed practice.
Conclusion
MYP History eAssessments are externally marked using question-specific markschemes and markbands connected to Criteria A to D. Schools administer and submit the examination, while the IB combines the raw marks and awards the final 1-to-7 grade. RevisionDojo Study Notes, Questionbank, Flashcards and Jojo AI can help students practise the evidence, analysis and communication examiners reward.
