Many IB students know that evaluation is important, but far fewer understand what examiners actually reward in this section. As a result, evaluations often feel rushed, generic, or disconnected from the investigation. Writing evaluation that earns marks requires clarity, specificity, and a clear link to your own IA.
The first key principle is relevance. Strong evaluation must be rooted in what actually happened in your investigation. Examiners expect you to refer directly to your method, data, and results. Vague statements about “possible errors” or “limitations in general” do not demonstrate critical thinking. Instead, you should explain which aspects of your investigation limited reliability or validity and why they mattered.
Another essential feature of high-scoring evaluation is explanation of impact. It is not enough to state a limitation. You must explain how that limitation affected your results or conclusions. For example, saying that a sample size was small is descriptive. Explaining how a small sample reduced reliability or skewed trends is analytical—and that is what earns marks.
Many students lose marks by being overly negative. Evaluation is not about tearing your IA apart. Examiners are looking for balanced judgment: acknowledging weaknesses while showing that the investigation was still meaningful and appropriately designed. Excessive self-criticism can actually cap your score by making the work appear fundamentally flawed.
Specific improvements are another major marking point. High-quality evaluation explains how the investigation could be improved and why those changes would strengthen results. Suggestions must be realistic and clearly linked to identified limitations. Statements like “do more trials” or “control variables better” are too vague to earn high marks. Examiners want to see thoughtful, practical refinements.
Structure also matters. Strong evaluation is clearly organised, often moving from limitations to impact to improvements. This helps examiners follow your thinking and quickly identify where criteria are being met. Disorganised evaluation, even when ideas are good, often results in missed marks.
Finally, evaluation should show academic control. This means demonstrating that you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your own work without relying on generic phrases. When evaluation is precise, evidence-based, and reflective, it signals higher-level thinking across all IB subjects.
The RevisionDojo Coursework Guide breaks evaluation down step by step, showing students exactly how to move from basic reflection to examiner-level analysis. When evaluation is treated as a skill rather than an afterthought, IA scores improve significantly.
