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The Internal Assessment (IA) in IB Psychology asks students to consider how psychological research can contribute to improving people’s lives.
Students are not expected to conduct the research or collect real data.
Since the IA is a proposal only, these ideas may be included as long as the study remains ethical in design.
The internal assessment (IA) forms part of the final grade in IB Psychology and is weighted differently at each level:
| Level | Contribution to final grade | Time allocated | Marks available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Level (SL) | 30% | 20 hours | 24 marks |
| Higher Level (HL) | 20% | 20 hours | 24 marks |
The 20 hours of teaching time should be used for:
The IA is submitted as a written report of no more than 2200 words. It must include the following sections, aligned with the four assessment criteria:
| Criterion | Introduction | Research methodology | Data collection | Discussion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of available marks | 6 (25%) | 6 (25%) | 6 (25%) | 6 (25%) |
The title page must include:
The report may include tables, graphs, or images if they are relevant.
References and appendices are not included in the word count but must be submitted with the report.
A copy of the data collection tool must be included in the appendix.
Students must follow IB academic integrity guidelines. This includes:
Although the research will not be carried out, the proposed study must still meet high ethical standards. Students should design their proposal as if it must be approved by an ethics committee. The following guidelines apply:
Students are encouraged to consider ethical implications throughout the design process and to explain how ethical issues would be addressed in the study.