IB Economics IA Grader
- Lots of students struggle to decode their Economics Internal Assessment grade and assessment.
- This is a free grading tool that breaks down the IB Economics IA rubric into plain English, so you understand exactly where your portfolio of three commentaries 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.
The grader works in two modes:
- Draft Mode: Quick assessment of your work-in-progress. Input your current commentary sections and get instant feedback on which criteria need more work before you finish writing.
- Full Mode: Complete evaluation of your finished IA portfolio. Input your final commentary details across all criteria and get a comprehensive grade breakdown with specific improvement suggestions for each section.
Quick Start Checklist
- Before using the grader, ensure you understand these key elements:
- Three Economics Commentaries - Each 750 words maximum, covering different economic concepts and real-world situations
- Economics Theory Application - Must demonstrate understanding of microeconomics, macroeconomics, and international economics concepts
- Real-World Articles - Three different published news articles from credible sources within 12 months of writing
- Economic Analysis - Critical evaluation of economic issues using appropriate diagrams, calculations, and theoretical frameworks
- Word Count Verification - Each commentary maximum 750 words (bibliography and diagrams excluded from count)
- Complete Structure - Title, source reference, summary, analysis, evaluation, and conclusion for each commentary
- Economic Diagrams - Hand-drawn or computer-generated diagrams with proper labeling and economic accuracy
- Bibliography - Proper citation of news articles and any additional economic sources used
Rubric Breakdown
Criterion A: Knowledge and Understanding of Economics (10 marks)
- This criterion tests your grasp of economic concepts, theories, and terminology.
- It evaluates whether you demonstrate clear understanding of economic principles across your three commentaries.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No economic knowledge | No understanding of economic concepts or inappropriate use of terminology |
| 1-2 | Limited knowledge | Basic understanding with minimal use of economic terminology |
| 3-4 | Satisfactory knowledge | Some understanding with appropriate use of economic concepts |
| 5-6 | Good knowledge | Clear understanding with good use of economic terminology and concepts |
| 7-8 | Very good knowledge | Comprehensive understanding with effective use of economic concepts |
| 9-10 | Excellent knowledge | Sophisticated understanding with expert use of economic terminology and theory |
Criterion B: Application and Analysis (10 marks)
- This evaluates your ability to identify economic issues and apply economic theory to real-world situations.
- It assesses how well you analyze economic data and connect theory to practice.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No application | No connection between economic theory and real-world situations |
| 1-2 | Limited application | Basic identification of economic issues with minimal theory application |
| 3-4 | Satisfactory application | Some economic theory application with appropriate analysis |
| 5-6 | Good application | Clear theory application with good economic analysis |
| 7-8 | Very good application | Effective theory application with strong economic analysis |
| 9-10 | Excellent application | Sophisticated theory application with expert economic analysis |
Criterion C: Synthesis and Evaluation (10 marks)
- This is the most challenging criterion - testing your ability to evaluate economic arguments and synthesize information.
- It assesses your critical thinking skills and ability to weigh economic evidence.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No evaluation | Purely descriptive, no economic evaluation |
| 1-2 | Limited evaluation | Some basic evaluation but mainly descriptive |
| 3-4 | Satisfactory evaluation | Clear evaluation with some economic reasoning |
| 5-6 | Good evaluation | Strong evaluation with good economic judgment |
| 7-8 | Very good evaluation | Comprehensive evaluation with balanced economic assessment |
| 9-10 | Excellent evaluation | Sophisticated evaluation with original economic insights and nuanced judgment |
Criterion D: Use of Appropriate Skills (10 marks)
- This assesses professional presentation and economic communication skills.
- It includes diagram quality, economic terminology, and adherence to academic conventions.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Poor skills | Unclear structure, poor economic diagrams, missing citations |
| 1-2 | Limited skills | Basic presentation with some economic communication issues |
| 3-4 | Satisfactory skills | Generally clear with adequate economic diagrams |
| 5-6 | Good skills | Clear presentation with good economic diagrams and proper citations |
| 7-8 | Very good skills | Professional structure, excellent economic diagrams, accurate terminology |
| 9-10 | Excellent skills | Outstanding presentation, sophisticated economic communication, perfect citations |
How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool
- The embedded grader calculates your total score out of 40 marks across all four criteria.
- Here's how to interpret your results:
- 35-40 marks (Grade 7 territory): Excellent work with sophisticated economic analysis. Minor refinements needed.
- 30-34 marks (Grade 6 range): Strong project with good economic theory application. Focus on critical evaluation and economic synthesis.
- 25-29 marks (Grade 5 level): Competent work meeting basic requirements. Strengthen economic analysis and evidence evaluation.
- 20-24 marks (Grade 4 range): Adequate foundation but needs significant improvement. Review theory application and economic understanding.
- Below 20 marks (Grade 3 or lower): Major revision required across most criteria. Restructure approach and strengthen economic fundamentals.
If you're between bands, focus on Criterion C (Synthesis and Evaluation) - it offers the biggest impact for improvement.
Grade Boundaries & Converting Your Mark
IB Economics IA grade boundaries vary by session but your IA contributes significantly to your final grade:
| IB Grade | Typical Mark Range | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 34-40 | 85-100% |
| 6 | 28-33 | 70-82% |
| 5 | 22-27 | 55-67% |
| 4 | 16-21 | 40-52% |
| 3 | 10-15 | 25-37% |
| 2 | 5-9 | 12-22% |
| 1 | 0-4 | 0-10% |
- Your IA grade contributes 20% to your final Economics grade.
- Your IA portfolio must demonstrate breadth across different economic concepts and areas.
Subject-Specific Tips
Microeconomics Focus:
- Investigate market structures, consumer behavior, firm decisions, or price mechanisms.
- Include supply and demand analysis, elasticity calculations, and market efficiency concepts.
Macroeconomics Focus:
- Examine economic growth, inflation, unemployment, or fiscal/monetary policy.
- Use aggregate demand/supply models, multiplier effects, and policy impact analysis.
International Economics Focus:
- Study trade patterns, exchange rates, globalization effects, or development economics.
- Include comparative advantage, balance of payments, and trade policy analysis.
Development Economics Focus:
- Investigate economic development, inequality, poverty reduction, or sustainable growth.
- Use development indicators, growth models, and policy effectiveness research.
Behavioral Economics Focus:
- Analyze decision-making, market anomalies, behavioral biases, or nudge policies.
- Include psychological factors, experimental evidence, and policy applications.
And quick fixes:
- Too broad commentary topics → Focus on specific economic phenomena with clear scope and measurable outcomes
- Insufficient economic theory → Use minimum 3-4 economic concepts per commentary from different economic areas
- Purely descriptive content → Include critical evaluation, data analysis, and theoretical application
- Weak diagram integration → Connect diagrams directly to article content with proper economic labeling
- Poor article selection → Choose recent articles (within 12 months) with clear economic content
- Missing economic calculations → Include elasticity calculations, percentage changes, or economic indicators where relevant
- Inadequate economic terminology → Use precise economic vocabulary and technical terms appropriately
- Word count violations → Stay within 750 words per commentary; only first 750 words are marked
- Generic conclusions → Base conclusions on specific economic evidence and theoretical analysis
- Poor source citation → Use consistent citation style and credible economic sources
FAQs
- Can I use the same article for multiple commentaries?
- No - each commentary must use a different article from a different source.
- How recent should my articles be?
- Articles must be published within 12 months of writing your commentary.
- Should my commentaries connect to each other?
- No - each commentary should be independent and cover different economic areas.
- What level of economic detail is expected?
- Include economic mechanisms and theoretical principles but ensure accessibility to educated readers.
- How important are economic diagrams?
- Very important - include supply/demand curves, market diagrams, economic models, and data graphs.
- Can I focus on specific countries or regions?
- Yes - country-specific or regional analysis provides focused scope and practical relevance.
- Should I include statistical analysis?
- Where relevant - elasticity calculations and quantitative analysis enhance commentary quality.
- How detailed should my evaluation be?
- Provide comprehensive assessment of economic arguments with balanced judgment rather than one-sided analysis.
- Can I use government reports?
- Sparingly - prioritize news articles as primary sources with government data as supporting evidence.
- What makes an Economics IA stand out?
- Current economic relevance, sophisticated analysis, quantitative evaluation, and original synthesis of economic concepts.
Use the Free Economics IA Grader Now
- Stop guessing about your grade.
- The comprehensive grading tool evaluates your IA portfolio against all four official criteria, giving instant feedback on strengths and improvement areas.
- Input your commentary details and get a preliminary grade calculation that helps you focus revision efforts where they matter most.
- Economics-specific analysis helps you master the economic theory application and critical evaluation that separate excellent from average Economics Internal Assessments.