Introduction
The IB Visual Arts course has three major components — the Exhibition, the Process Portfolio, and the Comparative Study. Each is graded according to specific assessment criteria. For many students, these criteria can feel overwhelming, full of academic jargon. But the truth is, once you break them down, they’re surprisingly straightforward.
This guide will simplify the IB Visual Arts assessment criteria so you know exactly what examiners are looking for — and how to aim for top marks.
IB Visual Arts Components and Criteria
1. The Exhibition
Your final showcase of selected artworks.
Examiners look for:
- Coherence – Do your works connect as a unified body?
- Variety – Have you shown a range of media, techniques, and ideas?
- Technical competence – Do your works show skill and refinement?
- Conceptual depth – Are your artworks thoughtful, with meaning and context?
- Curatorial rationale – Have you explained your choices clearly?
2. The Process Portfolio
A digital submission of experimental work, reflections, and research.
Examiners look for:
- Experimentation – Have you tried different media, techniques, and approaches?
- Process and development – Do you show how ideas grow and evolve?
- Artist research – Have you studied influences from different cultures or times?
- Reflection – Do you explain what worked, what failed, and what you learned?
- Connections – Do you link your process to final works in the exhibition?
3. The Comparative Study
A critical analysis of artworks from different artists and contexts.
Examiners look for:
- Formal analysis – Do you describe and analyze how the artworks are made?
- Cultural/contextual understanding – Do you explain the influences behind the works?
- Comparisons – Do you highlight both similarities and differences?
- Personal reflection – Do you show how the study influenced your own art?
- Presentation – Is your study well-organized and visually clear?
How Examiners Award Marks
Each component has its own maximum mark:
- Exhibition: 40% of final grade.
- Process Portfolio: 40% of final grade.
- Comparative Study: 20% of final grade.
Examiners grade holistically, meaning they consider both strengths and weaknesses. Consistency across all criteria is the key to scoring well.
Tips for Meeting the Criteria
- Plan ahead: Think about how each artwork or experiment fulfills part of the rubric.
- Use reflection: Always explain your choices — this shows depth.
- Balance skill and meaning: Examiners reward both technical ability and conceptual thought.
- Stay organized: Structure portfolios and studies clearly for examiner readability.
- Show growth: Highlight risk-taking and evolution over time.
Common Student Misunderstandings
- Thinking neatness is more important than experimentation.
- Believing only “pretty” artworks get top marks.
- Forgetting to link process portfolio to exhibition works.
- Writing vague rationales without clear explanation.
- Ignoring cultural influences in the comparative study.
FAQs on Assessment Criteria
Q1: Do examiners prefer technical skill or creativity?
Both. Examiners value students who balance refined skills with original, meaningful ideas.
Q2: Can I score highly if I focus on one medium?
Yes, but you must show variety within that medium (different techniques, scales, or concepts).
Q3: How important is reflection in the process portfolio?
Very important. Reflection shows self-awareness, growth, and intentionality.
Q4: Is the comparative study weighted less than other components?
Yes, it’s worth 20%, but it can still influence your final grade significantly.
Q5: Do HL and SL have the same criteria?
Yes, but HL students must meet more requirements (e.g., more screens in the portfolio, more artworks in the exhibition).
Conclusion
The IB Visual Arts assessment criteria may look intimidating at first, but they boil down to a few simple questions: Did you experiment? Did you reflect? Did you connect ideas? Did you present them clearly? By keeping these core ideas in mind, you’ll build a stronger exhibition, portfolio, and comparative study — and give examiners exactly what they’re looking for.
