When an IB IA deadline is approaching, many students panic and assume it is too late to meaningfully improve their work. While major structural changes are rarely realistic at the last minute, there are high-impact improvements that can significantly raise your final mark if done strategically.
The most effective last-minute improvement is increasing clarity. Examiners must be able to quickly see how your work meets the criteria. Re-read your IA and look specifically at topic sentences and transitions. If a paragraph’s purpose is unclear, rewrite the first sentence to explicitly link it to the research question. This small change alone can make analysis far more visible.
Another powerful fix is tightening analysis. Many IAs contain good evidence but weak explanation. Add short analytical links after key data, results, or examples. Explain what the evidence shows, why it matters, and how it supports your argument. These additions do not require rewriting entire sections but can substantially improve markband placement.
Cutting irrelevant content is also extremely effective. Removing unnecessary background information or repeated explanation improves focus and makes stronger sections stand out. Examiners reward relevance, and trimming excess content often improves the overall impression of control and precision.
Evaluation and conclusion are ideal targets for last-minute improvement. These sections are often rushed and generic. Revisiting them to make limitations, improvements, and final claims more specific to your investigation can yield quick gains. Even refining a few sentences to be more precise can increase marks.
Another overlooked improvement is consistency. Ensure key terms, variables, and arguments are described the same way throughout the IA. Inconsistency creates confusion and makes examiners less confident in awarding higher marks, even when understanding is present.
Presentation also matters more than students realise. Clear headings, readable formatting, and logical paragraph breaks help examiners navigate your work. While presentation alone will not earn marks, poor presentation can prevent examiners from recognising strong thinking.
Finally, avoid introducing new ideas. Last-minute additions of new data or arguments often weaken an IA by creating imbalance or confusion. Focus on strengthening what is already there rather than expanding the scope.
The RevisionDojo Coursework Guide highlights exactly which last-minute changes have the highest impact on IA marks. When time is short, working strategically rather than frantically makes all the difference.
👉 https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-guide
