IB History HL Internal Assessment Example

The student stated a clear, focused, and evaluative research question that gives their investigation a precise historical direction.

The student selected two relevant academic sources that are clearly connected to the issue of NATO expansion and the Crimea annexation.

The student evaluated the sources using origin, purpose, and content, and they consistently linked their usefulness to their enquiry.

Some of the student's evaluation relies too much on a source’s academic status or publication type rather than on the actual quality of its evidence and reasoning.

A few limitation comments are speculative, especially where the student infers bias from national context without showing it in the source itself.

The student's source analysis would be stronger if it examined methodology and specific evidence more closely.

The student's investigation is generally well organized and easy to follow, with a clear line of argument running through the essay.

The student develops a sustained causal argument and does not just describe events; they attempt to weigh NATO expansion against other important explanations.

The student shows genuine engagement with different perspectives and reaches a reasoned conclusion that responds directly to the question.

At times, the analysis moves too quickly from a cited point to a broad conclusion, so some causal claims need tighter proof.

Some evidence is used more as background than as direct support for the argument, especially where the link to Putin’s decision-making is not fully unpacked.

A few comparisons between competing explanations would be stronger if the student stated more explicitly why one factor matters more than another.