IB Chemistry IA Grader
- Lots of students struggle to decode their Chemistry Internal Assessment grade and assessment.
- This is a free grading tool that breaks down the IB Chemistry IA rubric into plain English, so you understand exactly where your scientific investigation stands across all four assessment criteria.
- The embedded grader makes self-evaluation faster and more accurate than manual rubric checking, so you're never left guessing.
Note
The grader works in two modes:
- Draft Mode: Quick assessment of your work-in-progress. Input your current sections and get instant feedback on which criteria need more work before you finish writing.
- Full Mode: Complete evaluation of your finished IA. Input your final project details across all criteria and get a comprehensive grade breakdown with specific improvement suggestions for each section.
Quick Start Checklist
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- Research Question: A clear and focused question guiding your investigation.
- Methodology: Detailed procedure outlining how data was collected.
- Raw Data: Comprehensive and organized data collected during the experiment.
- Processed Data: Data that has been analyzed, including calculations and statistical analysis.
- Graphs and Tables: Visual representations of data with appropriate labels and units.
- Chemical Theory - Background research connecting investigation to chemical concepts and principles
- Conclusion: A summary of findings addressing the research question.
- Evaluation: Reflection on the investigation's strengths, limitations, and possible improvements.
- Citations: Properly formatted references for all sources used.
Rubric Breakdown
The Chemistry IA is assessed based on four criteria, each worth up to 6 marks, totaling 24 marks. Below is a breakdown of each criterion:
Criterion A: Research Design (6 marks)
- This criterion tests how well you plan and design your chemical investigation.
- It evaluates your research question, methodology, and experimental control.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | Comprehensive and well-justified research design. | Clear research question, thorough background, detailed methodology, and control of variables. |
| 3–4 | Adequate research design with some justification. | Research question and methodology present but lacking depth or clarity. |
| 1–2 | Limited research design with minimal justification. | Unclear research question, insufficient methodology, and poor control of variables. |
| 0 | No relevant research design presented. | Absent or entirely inappropriate research question and methodology. |
Criterion B: Data Analysis (6 marks)
- This evaluates how well you collect, process, and interpret your chemical data.
- It tests your ability to analyze patterns and handle uncertainties appropriately.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | Thorough and accurate data analysis with clear interpretation. | Comprehensive data collection, appropriate processing, and insightful interpretation. |
| 3–4 | Adequate data analysis with some interpretation. | Sufficient data collection and processing with basic interpretation. |
| 1–2 | Limited data analysis with minimal interpretation. | Insufficient data collection, poor processing, and superficial interpretation. |
| 0 | No relevant data analysis presented. | Absent or entirely inappropriate data collection and processing. |
Criterion C: Conclusion (6 marks)
- This assesses how well you answer your research question using your chemical data.
- It evaluates your chemical understanding and connection to theory.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | Well-supported conclusions addressing the research question. | Clear linkage between data analysis and conclusions with biological context. |
| 3–4 | Conclusions addressing the research question with some support. | Basic linkage between data analysis and conclusions. |
| 1–2 | Limited conclusions with minimal support. | Weak linkage between data analysis and conclusions. |
| 0 | No relevant conclusions presented. | Absent or entirely inappropriate conclusions. |
Criterion D: Evaluation (6 marks)
- This tests your ability to critically evaluate your chemical investigation.
- It assesses your identification of limitations and realistic improvements.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5–6 | Comprehensive evaluation with well-justified improvements. | Detailed analysis of strengths, limitations, and realistic improvements. |
| 3–4 | Adequate evaluation with some justified improvements. | Basic analysis of strengths, limitations, and improvements. |
| 1–2 | Limited evaluation with minimal improvements. | Superficial analysis of strengths, limitations, and improvements. |
| 0 | No relevant evaluation presented. | Absent or entirely inappropriate evaluation. |
How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool
- The embedded grader calculates your total score out of 24 marks across all four criteria.
- Here's how to interpret your results:
- 22-24 marks (Grade 7 territory): Excellent work with sophisticated scientific investigation. Minor refinements needed.
- 19-21 marks (Grade 6 range): Strong investigation with good data analysis. Focus on evaluation depth and biological theory application.
- 16-18 marks (Grade 5 level): Competent work meeting basic requirements. Strengthen data processing and conclusion justification.
- 13-15 marks (Grade 4 range): Adequate foundation but needs significant improvement. Review methodology detail and variable control.
- Below 13 marks: Major revision required across most criteria. Restructure approach and strengthen experimental design.
Tip
- Your IA contributes 20% for both SL and HL to your final Chemistry grade
- A strong IA can boost your overall grade significantly, especially if you're borderline between grade bands.
Grade Boundaries & Converting Your Mark
IB Chemistry IA grade boundaries vary by session but your IA contributes significantly to your final grade:
| IB Grade | Typical Mark Range | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 22-24 | 91-100% |
| 6 | 19-21 | 79-88% |
| 5 | 16-18 | 66-75% |
| 4 | 13-15 | 54-63% |
| 3 | 10-12 | 42-50% |
| 2 | 7-9 | 29-38% |
| 1 | 0-6 | 0-25% |
Subject-Specific Tips
- Reaction Kinetics:
- Measure initial rates rather than overall reaction time for more accurate kinetic analysis.
- Use appropriate temperature control and timing methods for reliable rate measurements.
- Equilibrium Studies:
- Allow sufficient time for equilibrium establishment and confirm equilibrium through repeated measurements.
- Use colorimetric or titration methods for quantitative equilibrium position determination.
- Acid-Base Chemistry:
- Calibrate pH meters properly and use appropriate indicators for titration endpoints.
- Include buffer solutions and ionic strength considerations in your analysis.
- Thermochemistry:
- Use calorimetry with proper insulation and temperature measurement techniques.
- Calculate specific heat capacity and heat losses to improve accuracy.
- Electrochemistry:
- Ensure proper electrode preparation and stable electrical connections throughout measurements.
- Consider concentration effects and temperature dependence of cell potentials.
Common Mistake
And quick fixes:
- Vague research question → Make it specific with clear variables, units, and controlled conditions
- Insufficient data points → Collect minimum 5 data points per variable with multiple trials
- Poor variable control → Identify and control all variables except your independent variable
- Missing uncertainties → Include measurement uncertainties, error bars, and uncertainty propagation
- Weak data processing → Show sample calculations, use appropriate graphs, and include statistical analysis
- Superficial conclusion → Quantify results, reference specific data, and connect to chemical theory
- Generic evaluation → Identify specific limitations and suggest realistic, detailed improvements
- Word count violations → Stay within 3,000 words - only first 3,000 words are marked
- Missing safety protocols → Address chemical hazards, disposal methods, and safety equipment used
- Poor graph presentation → Include proper titles, axis labels, units, error bars, and trend lines
FAQs
- How long should my Chemistry IA be?
- Maximum 3,000 words - focus on clear scientific communication and stay within the limit.
- Can I use digital simulations instead of lab experiments?
- Yes, virtual experiments and database analysis are acceptable if properly justified and scientifically rigorous.
- Should I include statistical tests?
- Basic statistics (mean, standard deviation, correlation) are expected. Advanced tests enhance higher-level analysis.
- How many trials should I perform?
- Minimum 3-5 trials per data point, but more trials improve statistical reliability.
- What if my results don't match literature values?
- Discrepancies are acceptable - focus on explaining differences using chemical principles and experimental limitations.
- Can I collaborate with other students?
- Limited collaboration allowed for data collection but each student must have unique research question and individual analysis.
- How detailed should my method be?
- Detailed enough for exact replication - include equipment specifications, concentrations, timing, and measurements.
- Should I include preliminary experiments?
- Yes, preliminary work demonstrates good research design and helps justify methodology choices.
- What chemical topics work well for IAs?
- Reaction kinetics, equilibrium studies, acid-base chemistry, thermochemistry, and electrochemistry are popular and work well.
- How important is chemical theory integration?
- Very important - connect your results to specific chemical concepts from the IB syllabus throughout your IA.
Use the Free Chemistry IA Grader Now
- Stop guessing about your grade.
- The comprehensive grading tool evaluates your IA against all four official criteria, giving instant feedback on strengths and improvement areas.
- Input your investigation details and get a preliminary grade calculation that helps you focus revision efforts where they matter most.
- Chemistry-specific analysis helps you master the experimental design and data analysis that separate excellent from average Chemistry IAs.
