Struggling with your IB Business Management Internal Assessment (IA)? You’re not alone. The IA is one of the most important projects in your IB Business course—and it’s also one of the most challenging. Whether you’re in SL or HL, your IA counts for 20–25% of your final grade and demands deep analysis, real data, and strategic thinking.
This guide will walk you through what makes a successful IB Business IA, highlight high-quality sample ideas, and recommend the best tools to help you research and structure your work.
What Is the IB Business IA and Why Does It Matter?
- A written report of up to 2,000 words based on a real business issue or decision
- Students apply IB business tools and theories to analyze the issue
- Assessed internally and moderated externally
- Must include primary research (interviews, surveys) and relevant secondary data
- Helps you develop critical thinking, business insight, and academic writing skills
Sample Research Question (RQ) Examples That Score Well
A strong RQ is focused, clear, and analytical. Here are sample ideas used by top students:
- To what extent should Company X adopt a hybrid working model to improve productivity?
- Should Coffee Shop Y expand to a second location in central London?
- To what extent would an increase in employee training improve performance at Retailer Z?
- Should a family-run bakery introduce e-commerce to increase market share?
- Is it financially viable for Tech Startup A to outsource app development to Vietnam?
Ideal Structure of an IB Business IA
Here’s the structure that consistently earns high marks:
