One of the most common — and least obvious — reasons IB Internal Assessments lose marks is unclear focus. Many students believe their IA is focused because it has a research question and relevant content. However, examiners assess focus continuously, not just at the beginning. When focus is unclear or inconsistent, marks are often capped long before students realise there is a problem.

Understanding how unclear focus affects marking helps students avoid this hidden grade limiter.

Focus Is Assessed From Start to Finish

IB examiners do not check focus once and move on. They are constantly asking:

• Is this section relevant to the research question?
• Does this paragraph move the investigation forward?
• Is the IA still answering the same question?

When focus drifts, even briefly, examiners notice.

Unclear Focus Leads to Irrelevant Content

When the focus is weak, students often include content that is:

• Interesting but unnecessary
• Technically correct but off-topic
• Loosely related rather than directly relevant

This makes the IA feel unfocused and forces examiners to search for relevance, which reduces confidence in awarding higher marks.

Analysis Becomes Shallow Without Clear Focus

Strong analysis depends on knowing exactly what is being analysed. If the focus is unclear:

• Analysis becomes general
• Points lack direction
• Conclusions feel unsupported

Students may analyse something, but not clearly analyse the right thing. This limits access to higher bands.

Evaluation Suffers the Most

Evaluation is one of the first areas affected by weak focus. When students are unsure what the IA is really about:

• Evaluation becomes vague
• Limitations are generic
• Judgments lack justification

Examiners can tell when evaluation is not anchored to a specific, sustained line of inquiry.

Structure Starts to Break Down

Unclear focus often leads to structural problems, such as:

• Sections that don’t clearly link together
• Repetition of ideas
• Difficulty deciding what to include or cut

Even well-written sections can feel disconnected if the overall focus is unstable.

Why Students Think Their Focus Is Clear (When It Isn’t)

Students often believe their focus is clear because:

• The research question sounds specific
• The content is relevant to the subject
• The work feels logical to them

However, examiners judge focus based on relevance and consistency, not intention.

Focus Is About Control, Not Narrowness

Many students worry that tightening focus will make their IA too narrow. In reality, strong focus gives students:

• Better control over evidence
• Clearer analysis
• Stronger evaluation

Unfocused IAs feel bigger but achieve less.

How to Tell If Focus Is Costing You Marks

Warning signs include:

• Repeatedly changing direction
• Unsure how each section answers the question
• Difficulty writing a clear conclusion

These usually indicate a focus problem rather than a writing problem.

Fixing Focus Early Saves Marks and Time

Focus problems are easiest to fix early. Small adjustments can:

• Remove irrelevant sections
• Strengthen analysis
• Improve evaluation significantly

Late fixes often require major rewrites.

Using a Clear Coursework Framework

Many students struggle with focus because they don’t have a clear model of how an IA should develop. A structured coursework framework helps students:

• Maintain focus throughout
• Check relevance at every stage
• Align work with assessment expectations

If you’re working on any IB IA or the Extended Essay, following a clear coursework system can help you protect marks by keeping your focus sharp from start to finish.

You can find a step-by-step guide to managing IA and EE focus effectively here:
👉 https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-guide

Final Thoughts

Unclear focus is one of the most common reasons IB IAs lose marks — and one of the easiest to overlook. When focus drifts, analysis weakens, evaluation becomes vague, and structure suffers. By treating focus as something to maintain throughout the IA, not just define at the start, students can significantly improve both clarity and final grades.