The Political Thought Internal Assessment (IA) is a critical component of the IB Global Politics course, allowing students to engage deeply with a political issue of personal significance. This page provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the IA rubric, interpreting your grades, and enhancing your work using our free embedded grader tool.
Quick Start Checklist
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
- Chosen Political Issue: Clearly defined and relevant to your interests.
- Engagement Activity: Documented experience related to the political issue.
- Research Materials: Both primary and secondary sources.
- Reflection Notes: Insights gained from your engagement.
- Draft Report: Structured according to IA guidelines.
Rubric Breakdown (Paraphrased & Plain English)
Understanding the assessment criteria is essential for success. Below is a breakdown of each criterion:
Criterion A: Identification of Issue and Justification (4 marks)
What It Tests: Your ability to clearly identify a political issue and justify its significance.
Performance Levels:
- High (3–4 marks): The political issue is explicitly identified with a clear explanation of its relevance and a strong link to course content.
- Medium (1–2 marks): The issue is implied but not clearly identified; the explanation of relevance is limited, and the connection to course content is weak.
- Low (0 marks): The work does not meet the standard described above.
Common Mistakes:
- Failing to explicitly state the political issue.
- Weak justification of the issue's significance.
- Lack of connection to course content.
Evidence You Must Show:
- Explicit identification of the political issue.
- Clear explanation of its relevance.
- Strong link to course content.
Criterion B: Explanation of the Engagement (4 marks)
What It Tests: Your ability to describe your engagement activity and how it informed your understanding of the political issue.
Performance Levels:
- High (3–4 marks): Clear and relevant description of the engagement; strong explanation of how experiences informed understanding.
- Medium (1–2 marks): Description of the engagement is present but lacks clarity or relevance; limited explanation of learning outcomes.
- Low (0 marks): The work does not meet the standard described above.
Common Mistakes:
- Vague description of the engagement activity.
- Insufficient explanation of learning outcomes.
Evidence You Must Show:
- Detailed description of the engagement activity.
- Clear explanation of how it informed your understanding.
Criterion C: Analysis of Issue (6 marks)
What It Tests: Your ability to critically analyze the political issue and justify your main points.
Performance Levels:
- High (5–6 marks): In-depth exploration with clear critical analysis; all main points are well-justified.
- Medium (3–4 marks): Some critical analysis present but lacks depth; some main points are justified.
- Low (1–2 marks): Limited analysis; few main points are justified.
- Very Low (0 marks): The work does not meet the standard described above.
Common Mistakes:
- Descriptive rather than analytical approach.
- Lack of justification for main points.
Evidence You Must Show:
- Critical analysis of the political issue.
- Justification of all main points.
Criterion D: Synthesis and Evaluation (6 marks)
What It Tests: Your ability to synthesize experiences and research, and evaluate the political issue from multiple perspectives.
Performance Levels:
- High (5–6 marks): Integrated treatment of the issue; clear, balanced conclusions consistent with evidence; evaluation from multiple perspectives.
- Medium (3–4 marks): Some links between experiences and theoretical perspectives; conclusions stated but not entirely consistent with evidence; acknowledgment of multiple perspectives.
- Low (1–2 marks): Limited links between ideas; conclusions are irrelevant or absent.
- Very Low (0 marks): The work does not meet the standard described above.
Common Mistakes:
- Weak integration of experiences and research.
- Unbalanced or unsupported conclusions.
- Ignoring multiple perspectives.
Evidence You Must Show:
- Synthesis of experiences and research.
- Balanced conclusions consistent with evidence.
- Evaluation from multiple perspectives.
How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool
Our embedded grader provides a detailed breakdown of your performance across each criterion. Here's how to interpret the results:
- Review Each Criterion Score: Understand where you excelled and where improvements are needed.
- Analyze Feedback: Pay attention to specific comments for each criterion.
- Identify Patterns: Look for recurring issues across criteria.
If You're Between Bands or Uncertain:
- Seek Clarification: Consult your teacher or peers for further insights.
- Revisit Your Work: Focus on areas with lower scores and consider revisions.
Improvement Actions:
- Criterion A: Ensure explicit identification and justification of the political issue.
- Criterion B: Provide a clear and relevant description of your engagement.
- Criterion C: Enhance critical analysis and justification of main points.
- Criterion D: Integrate experiences and research, and evaluate multiple perspectives.
Annotated Examples
High-Band Excerpt:
"The student clearly identifies the political issue of voter suppression, providing a comprehensive analysis of its impact on democratic processes. The engagement activity involved volunteering with a local advocacy group, offering firsthand insights into the challenges faced by marginalized communities. The report synthesizes personal experiences with academic research, leading to well-supported conclusions and evaluations from multiple perspectives."
Why It Scores High:
- Explicit identification and justification of the issue.
- Clear and relevant description of engagement.
- In-depth analysis with justified main points.
- Synthesis of experiences and research with balanced conclusions.
Mid/Low-Band Excerpt:
"The student discusses the issue of climate change but fails to explicitly state its relevance. The engagement activity is mentioned briefly without clear connection to the political issue. Analysis is superficial, lacking depth and justification. Conclusions are stated but not supported by evidence, and multiple perspectives are not considered."
What's Missing:
- Explicit identification and justification of the issue.
- Clear description of engagement activity.
- In-depth analysis with justified main points.
- Synthesis of experiences and research with balanced conclusions.
Grade Boundaries & Converting Your Mark
Understanding how your IA score translates to your overall grade is crucial. Below are the latest grade boundaries:
| Total Marks | Grade |
|---|---|
| 22–25 | 7 |
| 18–21 | 6 |
| 14–17 | 5 |
| 10–13 | 4 |
| 6–9 | 3 |
| 2–5 | 2 |
| 0–1 | 1 |
Note: Grade boundaries may vary by session; verify with your teacher for the most current figures.
Contribution to Overall Subject Grade:
The IA contributes 25% to your final grade in IB Global Politics. Therefore, a strong performance can significantly impact your overall score.
Common Mistakes & Fast Fixes
- Mistake: Vague identification of the political issue.
- Fix: Clearly state and justify the issue's relevance.
- Mistake: Superficial description of engagement.
- Fix: Provide a detailed and relevant account of your activity.
- Mistake: Descriptive rather than analytical approach.
- Fix: Focus on critical analysis and justification of points.
- Mistake: Ignoring multiple perspectives.
- Fix:
