One of the most common reasons IB Internal Assessments lose marks is an overly broad research question. Many students believe that choosing a wide, ambitious question will show depth and sophistication. In reality, the opposite is usually true. Broad research questions make strong analysis and evaluation far more difficult, and often cap grades earlier than students expect.
Understanding why this happens helps students refine their focus and protect marks from the start.
Broad Questions Create Superficial Analysis
When a research question covers too much ground, students are forced to spread their analysis thinly. This often leads to:
- Brief discussion of many points
- Limited depth in each section
- Generalised conclusions
Examiners reward depth, not coverage. A narrow question allows students to explore cause-and-effect relationships and justify conclusions more convincingly.
Students Confuse Scope With Complexity
Many students assume that a complex-sounding question will impress examiners. As a result, they choose questions that try to investigate:
- Too many variables
- Long time periods
- Multiple concepts at once
Complexity in IB coursework comes from how well ideas are analysed, not how many ideas are included. Narrow questions often lead to more sophisticated thinking.
Broad Questions Make Evaluation Weak
Evaluation depends on having something specific to judge. When a question is too broad:
- Limitations become vague
- Conclusions become descriptive
- Judgments lack justification
Students often end up summarising findings rather than evaluating them, which limits access to higher mark bands.
Broad Focus Leads to Structural Problems
An unclear or overly broad question often results in:
- Sections that feel loosely connected
- Repetition of ideas
- Difficulty deciding what to include or cut
Examiners quickly notice when an IA lacks a clear line of inquiry, even if individual paragraphs are well written.
Why Students Choose Broad Questions
Students usually choose broad questions because:
- They are afraid of being “too narrow”
- They want flexibility later
- They are unsure what examiners expect
Unfortunately, this flexibility often turns into confusion and rewriting.
Narrow Questions Are Easier to Control
Strong IA questions are focused enough that students can:
- Stay relevant throughout
- Select evidence confidently
- Develop sustained analysis
- Reach justified conclusions
Narrow does not mean simple — it means manageable.
Refining a Broad Question
A broad question can often be improved by:
- Limiting the context
- Reducing the number of variables
- Focusing on one clear relationship
Refinement is usually far more effective than starting again.
Why This Matters Across All IB Subjects
This issue appears in:
- Sciences
- Humanities
- Languages
- Arts
Because the underlying problem is the same: unclear focus limits analysis and evaluation regardless of subject.
Getting the Focus Right Early
Students who refine their research question early:
- Save time later
- Avoid major rewrites
- Score more consistently across criteria
The challenge is knowing how narrow is narrow enough.
Using a Clear Coursework Framework
Most students struggle with focus because they don’t have a clear model for what a strong IA question looks like. A structured coursework framework helps students:
- Judge whether a question is too broad
- Refine focus confidently
- Align the question with assessment criteria
If you’re working on any IB IA or the Extended Essay, following a clear coursework system can help you get your research question right from the start.
You can find a step-by-step guide to refining IA and EE focus here:
👉 https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-guide
Final Thoughts
A broad IA research question may feel safe, but it often limits depth, clarity, and evaluation. Strong IAs are built on focused questions that allow sustained analysis and justified conclusions. Getting the focus right early is one of the most effective ways to improve both grades and confidence.
