One of the most common reasons IB Internal Assessments lose marks is an overly broad research question. Many students believe that choosing a wide, ambitious question will show depth and sophistication. In reality, the opposite is usually true. Broad research questions make strong analysis and evaluation far more difficult, and often cap grades earlier than students expect.
Understanding why this happens helps students refine their focus and protect marks from the start.
Broad Questions Create Superficial Analysis
When a research question covers too much ground, students are forced to spread their analysis thinly. This often leads to:
- Brief discussion of many points
- Limited depth in each section
- Generalised conclusions
Examiners reward depth, not coverage. A narrow question allows students to explore cause-and-effect relationships and justify conclusions more convincingly.
Students Confuse Scope With Complexity
Many students assume that a complex-sounding question will impress examiners. As a result, they choose questions that try to investigate:
- Too many variables
- Long time periods
- Multiple concepts at once
Complexity in IB coursework comes from how well ideas are analysed, not how many ideas are included. Narrow questions often lead to more sophisticated thinking.
Broad Questions Make Evaluation Weak
Evaluation depends on having something specific to judge. When a question is too broad:
- Limitations become vague
- Conclusions become descriptive
- Judgments lack justification
Students often end up summarising findings rather than evaluating them, which limits access to higher mark bands.
