IB Biology Internal Assessment Exemplar
Effect Of Different Potassium Chloride Concentrations On Radish Seeds
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Criteria A: Research Design
5/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
The research question is placed within a specific and appropriate biological context (soil salinity, food security, previous KCl studies).
Variables are clearly defined (species, salinity range, control variables) and the methodology description enables replication with minimal ambiguities.
The methodological considerations lack discussion of replication and statistical power.
Background includes generic statements about plant importance rather than focusing tightly on radish germination under salinity stress.
Criteria B: Data Analysis
4/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Data recording and processing are communicated both clearly and precisely with labelled tables, units, equations and a graph.
Appropriate processing of raw counts into germination capacity and mean germination time formulas.
Uncertainties are barely addressed (only one mass uncertainty reported), with no error bars or uncertainty propagation.
Data processing omits checks of statistical assumptions and shows inconsistencies (e.g., inappropriate use of chi-square for continuous data).
Criteria C: Conclusion
3/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
The conclusion is relevant to the research question and acknowledges non-significant inferential statistics.
Comparison to published studies and textbook descriptions is present and relevant.
Claims of hypothesis support are overstated given non-significant results, creating inconsistency.
Literature comparisons are brief and lack depth in explaining divergences.
Criteria D: Evaluation
3/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
Specific methodological weaknesses (salinity range, sample size, light conditions) are identified.
Realistic and relevant improvements are proposed for each limitation.
The relative impact of each identified weakness on results is not explained.
Improvements are described but lack detailed justification (e.g., no discussion of how sample size would alter statistical power).