• Design Technology (First Exam 2027)
• Digital Society (DS)
• Economics
• English A Lang & Lit
• English A Lit
• English B
• Environmental systems and societies (ESS)
• French A
• French ab initio
• French B

• Geography
• German A
• German ab initio
• German B
• Global Politics
• History
• Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (AA)
• Mathematics Applications & Interpretation (AI)
• Philosophy
• Physics

• Psychology
• Psychology (First Exam 2027)
• Spanish A
• Spanish ab initio
• Spanish B
• Sports, exercise and health science (SEHS)
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

Common Mistakes:

• Vague or overly broad research questions.
• Inadequate explanation of chosen methods.

Mark Band Descriptors:

Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)

What It Tests: Your grasp of the subject matter and how well you integrate knowledge from the chosen disciplines.

High Performance: Demonstrates deep understanding with effective integration of interdisciplinary insights.

Medium Performance: Shows understanding but with limited integration of interdisciplinary perspectives.

Low Performance: Superficial understanding with minimal or no integration of disciplines.

Common Mistakes:

• Relying heavily on one discipline without integrating others.
• Misinterpreting key concepts from the disciplines.

Mark Band Descriptors:

Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 marks)

What It Tests: Your ability to analyze, evaluate, and construct a coherent argument.

High Performance: Presents a well-structured argument with insightful analysis and evaluation.

Medium Performance: Develops an argument with some analysis and evaluation but lacks depth.

Low Performance: Weak argument with little analysis or evaluation.

Common Mistakes:

• Descriptive rather than analytical writing.
• Failure to critically evaluate sources.

Mark Band Descriptors:

Criterion D: Presentation (4 marks)

What It Tests: The organization, layout, and formal elements of your essay.

High Performance: Well-organized with consistent formatting and adherence to guidelines.

Medium Performance: Generally organized with minor formatting inconsistencies.

Low Performance: Poorly organized with significant formatting issues.

Common Mistakes:

• Inconsistent citation style.
• Lack of clear headings or structure.

Mark Band Descriptors:

Criterion E: Engagement (6 marks)

What It Tests: Your reflection on the research process and personal learning.

High Performance: Insightful reflection demonstrating significant personal and intellectual growth.

Medium Performance: Adequate reflection showing some personal and intellectual development.

Low Performance: Superficial reflection with little evidence of growth.

Common Mistakes:

• Merely describing the research process without analysis.
• Lack of personal insight or learning.

Mark Band Descriptors:

How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool

The embedded grader will provide a score for each criterion, which you can sum to get your total out of 34. This total corresponds to a grade boundary, typically as follows:

• A: 27-34
• B: 21-26
• C: 14-20
• D: 7-13
• E: 0-6

If your score falls between bands or you're uncertain, focus on the criteria where you scored lower and consider revising those sections.

Improvement Actions:

• Criterion A: Refine your research question and ensure your methodology is well-justified.
• Criterion B: