The blank page isn’t the problem.
The problem is the moment right before it -- when your brain insists that a good IA idea must arrive fully formed, original, and impressive. That belief turns brainstorming into a staring contest with your cursor. And it quietly steals time you could be using to build something that actually scores.
A strong IA almost never starts as a “perfect topic.” It starts as a small, workable curiosity. Then it gets narrowed, tested, and improved until it fits the criteria. That is good news, because it means you don’t need inspiration -- you need a process.
Quick checklist to unstick your IA brainstorming
Use this as a 20-minute reset when you feel stuck on an IA:
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Write down 3 things you genuinely notice in daily life (not “academic interests,” just real ones)
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Turn each into a “could I measure / compare / explain this?” prompt
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Apply one constraint (time, equipment, word count, data access)
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Draft 2–3 possible research questions, even if they feel bad
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Check them against the rubric language (analysis, evaluation, method)
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Validate by scanning high-scoring examples for scope
If you want real models while you brainstorm, browse IB Coursework Examples: IA, EE and TOK Exemplars. Seeing what “workable” looks like makes your own IA feel possible.
Why you feel stuck (and why it’s normal)
Most IB students preparing for exams are juggling revision, deadlines, and the quiet pressure that the IA affects the final grade. That combination creates a weird trap: you don’t want to choose the “wrong” topic, so you choose nothing.
But “nothing” isn’t neutral. It’s a decision that drains confidence.
A healthier mindset is to treat your IA idea like a draft, not a destiny. You’re not marrying the first thought. You’re prototyping it.
To ground yourself in what the assessment actually rewards, keep this open while you brainstorm: What IB Examiners Look for in a Strong IA. It’s much easier to generate ideas when you know what counts as “strong.”
Start with what you already pay attention to
The fastest way into an IA idea is to stop asking, “What topic should I do?” and start asking, “What do I already notice?”
Try these three prompts:
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Annoyances: What consistently bothers you (slow Wi-Fi, noisy study spaces, confusing ads, unfair rules)?
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Routines: What do you do on repeat (gym, cooking, commuting, gaming, music practice)?
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Mini-obsessions: What rabbit holes do you fall into (nutrition, politics, fashion, finance, sports stats)?
Then convert each into an IA-shaped sentence:
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“I notice X changes when Y changes.”
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“I wonder if A is related to B.”
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“I suspect people respond differently to C than to D.”
If you want inspiration by subject, scan a category page like IB Biology IA Examples or IB Psychology IA Examples. You’re not copying -- you’re learning what a manageable scope feels like.
Turn big topics into testable IA questions
Most stuck IA ideas are not bad -- they’re just too wide.
Here’s a reliable narrowing pattern:
Use the “one variable, one outcome, one context” rule
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Variable: what you change or compare
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Outcome: what you measure or evaluate
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Context: where/when/which group/which texts
Example transformations:
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“Pollution and plants” becomes “How does X concentration affect Y germination rate in Z conditions?”
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“Propaganda in WWII” becomes “To what extent did X source influence Y group during Z period?”
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“Sports and math” becomes “How well does X model predict Y performance for Z dataset?”
Add constraints on purpose
Constraints feel like they shrink your options, but they actually create clarity. Pick one today:
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“I must be able to collect all data in 7 days.”
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“I can only use tools I already have at home/school.”
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“I need at least two viewpoints or two conditions to compare.”
That single rule will cut 90% of unrealistic IA ideas, leaving you with the few that can actually be finished.
Use the rubric as a brainstorming engine (not a grading threat)
When you’re stuck, the rubric can generate ideas for you.
Ask three questions:
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Where is the analysis? What will you do with the data beyond reporting it?
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Where is the evaluation? What limitations, sources of error, or alternative explanations can you discuss?
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Where is the method? Can you describe a clear, repeatable way to gather evidence?
If your IA idea can’t answer those, it isn’t “bad” -- it’s incomplete. That means you edit it, not abandon it.
To see the bigger picture of how an IA fits into IB grading and moderation, this is worth reading once: How IB Internal Assessment (IA) Moderation Works.
Borrow structure from great examples (without copying)
There’s a quiet trick top students use: they don’t hunt for “unique topics.” They borrow structures.
On RevisionDojo’s IB IA Guides, you can see how different subjects expect different kinds of evidence. And in the coursework exemplars, you can scan titles quickly to spot patterns:
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the variable is clear
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the context is specific
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the measurement/evidence is realistic
If you’re doing a subject with a very defined format, use a subject guide as an anchor. For example, the SEHS IA Survival Guide shows how to move from brainstorm to a finished investigation.
A simple “RevisionDojo loop” to turn an idea into a plan
Once you have one workable IA question, don’t let it sit. Stress grows in the gaps.
Use this loop:
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Use AI Chat to challenge your draft question (“Is this measurable? What variables am I missing?”)
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Use Study Notes to check you’re aligned to syllabus language
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Use Flashcards to lock in key terms you’ll need to write accurately
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Use the Coursework Library (exemplars) to sanity-check scope
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If you have a draft paragraph, use Grading tools to see what your writing is missing
And while you’re preparing for exams, don’t forget that coursework confidence helps exam confidence. When your IA feels under control, revision gets lighter.
Conclusion: your next IA idea doesn’t need to be perfect
When you feel stuck, remember this: the best IA ideas are rarely found. They’re built.
Start with what you notice, narrow it with constraints, and let the rubric guide your edits. Then use RevisionDojo to speed up the cycle: explore IA Guides, scan Coursework Exemplars, and lean on tools like AI Chat, Grading tools, and the Coursework Library to move from “maybe” to a finished IA plan.
If you do one thing today, do this: write two draft research questions -- messy, imperfect, real. Your IA starts the moment you stop waiting for the perfect idea.
