The internal assessment aspect of the course involves three principle elements:
1) The attainment of laboratory skills in the completion of either 40 or 60 hours of time involved in a practical scheme of work. This is a requirement of the course, although no grades will be submitted.
2) The Group 4 project, which will involve collaboration with other group 4 subjects (the sciences and mathematics).
3) The IA Individual Investigation, which is worth 20% of the over all grade.
The IA Individual investigation dominates the landscape of the new IB criteria, and a comprehensive guide can be downloaded from the link below.
What should it look like?
Three examples of successful student Biology IAs (with moderators comments). They are contrasting types:
- experimentation
- manipulation of secondary data,
- use of a simulation
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BIO-IA-example-1.pdf”]
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Bio-IA-example-2.pdf”]
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/BIo-IA-example-3.pdf”]
How do you judge the quality of an IA? An IA is graded using the following rubric:
A weak IA
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Weak-IA.docx” download=”none” viewer=”microsoft”]
A medium IA
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Medium-IA.docx” viewer=”microsoft”]
A strong IA
[embeddoc url=”https://www.mrhorrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Excellent-IA.docx” viewer=”microsoft”]
How is it graded? Take a look at the IA bio rubric
A reminder…the Conclusion and Evaluation section is probably the most important. See this guide to doing a good job of the conclusion and evaluation section
A Reminder…a good conclusion and evaluation section for a Biology IA
I can’t write the IA! Need help, check out this writing frame document. All you need to do is complete the sentences!
IA writing frame support document (1)
CHOOSING A RESEARCH QUESTION
