MYP eAssessment is the International Baccalaureate’s system for externally validating achievement at the end of the IB Middle Years Programme. It may include on-screen examinations, electronically submitted coursework and the personal project, depending on the subjects and results registered by a school.
MYP eAssessment is usually taken in MYP year 5, when students are typically 15 or 16. It assesses more than recall: students must apply knowledge, interpret unfamiliar material, communicate reasoning and make connections across subjects.
How MYP eAssessment fits into the MYP
Most assessment during the IB Middle Years Programme is created and marked by classroom teachers using published MYP criteria. Each subject uses four criteria, commonly labelled A, B, C and D, although their meanings differ by subject.
MYP eAssessment provides external IB validation. On-screen examinations are marked by trained IB examiners. ePortfolios and the personal project are marked by teachers and moderated by the IB to support consistent international standards.
The full eAssessment package is optional for schools, and registration can vary by subject and student. However, the personal project is required for students completing MYP year 5. Families should ask the MYP coordinator which assessments apply.
The three parts of MYP eAssessment
| Assessment type | How it works | Typical components |
|---|---|---|
| On-screen examinations | Timed computer-based examinations marked externally by the IB | Language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and interdisciplinary learning |
| ePortfolios | Extended coursework marked by teachers and moderated by the IB | Arts, design, and physical and health education |
| Personal project | Independent project, report and evidence submitted electronically | Required MYP core component |
Language acquisition also includes an internally assessed individual speaking component.
On-screen examinations
IB MYP on-screen examinations are more than digital paper tests. They may include written sources, images, video, data, interactive tools and structured response areas. Most last between 1 hour 45 minutes and 2 hours, although the exact format depends on the subject.
Questions use MYP criteria and a session-specific global context. A student may analyse evidence, explain a scientific conclusion, construct a mathematical argument or evaluate competing interpretations. Accurate knowledge matters, but students must also show how they use it.
ePortfolios
ePortfolios are used when a timed examination would not adequately demonstrate learning. A design student might document the development and evaluation of a solution, while an arts student could submit evidence of creative processes and performance.
The IB provides a partially completed unit planner for the session. Teachers deliver the unit, mark the work and submit it for moderation. The IB reviews a sample to check whether the school’s marks reflect the expected standard.
The personal project
The personal project allows a student to investigate a genuine interest, create a product or outcome and explain the process in a report. It assesses planning, research, application of skills and reflection rather than expertise in one conventional subject.
Students should keep evidence of planning decisions, research choices, changes and evaluations. The RevisionDojo MYP syllabus and assessment overview explains how the project fits within the programme.
How the MYP certificate works
Students can receive MYP course results for individual eAssessment subjects without completing the full certificate. To earn the full IB MYP certificate, a student must complete eight assessed components:
- Language and literature
- Language acquisition, or an eligible second language and literature course
- Individuals and societies
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- One subject from arts, design, or physical and health education
- Interdisciplinary learning
- The personal project
Each component receives a grade from 1 to 7, giving a maximum of 56 points. Under the IB’s MYP grading and award requirements, students need at least 28 points overall, at least grade 3 in every required component and must meet the school’s expectations for service as action.
These are official certificate requirements. A school may set additional expectations for progression, so families should distinguish school policy from IB award rules.
What MYP eAssessment tests
MYP eAssessment reflects the programme’s emphasis on conceptual understanding, inquiry, communication, critical thinking and application in unfamiliar contexts. Effective preparation combines:
- Knowledge review: Learn definitions, methods, concepts and terminology.
- Criterion-focused practice: Understand what each criterion rewards.
- Timed application: Practise interpreting sources, data and scenarios under examination conditions.
The RevisionDojo MYP resource library can support concept review and application practice. Use subject-specific material where available, then spend substantial time answering unfamiliar questions rather than only rereading notes.
Common preparation mistakes
Revising only from notes is insufficient. Notes support knowledge, but students must practise selecting relevant information and constructing responses when a question is unfamiliar.
Students should also become comfortable with the digital interface. Schools provide familiarisation activities and specimen assessments, which can help students practise typing extended answers, navigating multimedia sources and using available tools.
Do not assume that past topics or grade boundaries will repeat. Preparation should be based on current subject guidance, criteria and examination information supplied through the school.
What parents should ask the school
Parents should confirm:
- Whether the school offers course results or the full MYP certificate
- Which subjects use examinations and which use ePortfolios
- The May or November session involved
- When mock examinations and technology familiarisation will occur
- What inclusive access arrangements are available
- How the personal project and service as action are monitored
This establishes exactly what the student must complete and recognises that eAssessment arrangements differ between MYP schools.
Conclusion
MYP eAssessment is the IB’s externally validated assessment system for the end of the Middle Years Programme. It may include on-screen examinations, moderated ePortfolios and the personal project, while the full MYP certificate requires eight assessed components.
Students prepare best by learning the content, understanding the criteria and applying ideas in unfamiliar situations. RevisionDojo’s MYP Study Notes, Flashcards, Questionbank and subject resources provide structured support through the MYP resource library.