Small mistakes can cost big marks because the assessment is short and every second counts.
Examiners aren’t just checking if you can speak, they’re checking if you can think, connect to themes, and communicate naturally.
Avoiding these pitfalls means you don’t lose marks for simple errors that are totally preventable.
1. Just describing the stimulus instead of analyzing it
Why it’s a problem: Examiners want to see interpretation and connection to themes, not just “what you see.”
How to avoid it: Always move from description to meaning.
Example
Instead of “The poster shows people with signs,” say: “The poster suggests activism is a way young people express frustration about climate change, linking to the theme of Sharing the Planet.”
2. Ignoring prescribed themes
Why it’s a problem: The IA is built around the five themes (identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization, sharing the planet). If you don’t link to them, you lose marks in the Message criteria.
How to avoid it: Identify the theme in your introduction and keep referring back to it.
Example
“This extract from Othello links to the theme of identities because Othello defines himself through race and status.”
3. Running out of ideas after 1–2 minutes
Why it’s a problem: The presentation should last 3–4 minutes. If you stop early, you miss chances to show depth and lose marks.