INTERNAL

ASSESSMENT 2016
IB CHEMISTRY YEAR 2 HL
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT

• The IA investigation allows a student to carry out an inquiry on a topic of their own choice. The investigation aims
to:
• Develop research and writing skills
• Foster a journey of intellectual discovery
• Foster creativity
• Provide students with an opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge
• Provide students with an opportunity to pursue a topic of personal interest
• Reinforce Chemistry concepts and principles
• Develop an appreciation for how scientists’ use of data and models,
• Develop an appreciation for the benefits and limitations of science.
• Make local and/or global connections
WHAT IS THE IA?

• The IA in the group 4 sciences is a single investigation or exploration on a topic of the

student’s choice. It is marked out of 24 points but counts for 20% of the total IB
Chemistry grade. The requirements and assessment criteria at SL and HL are the same.
HOW IS IT GRADED?

• The teacher marks the IA using the published criteria and submits the marks to the IB for
moderation. Moderation is the principal tool used to ensure marking reliability in
internally assessed work that has been marked by the teacher. If there is a difference in
the interpretation of the criteria an adjustment is made to the teachers marks by the IB
Assessment Center. This is based on the differences between the marks awarded by the
teacher and the marks of the moderator. As a result the marks for all students in the class
may be lowered, raised or remain the same.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A TOPIC?

• Choosing a topic of interest is not something you will just decide on over night. It will take
thoughtful consideration. Some triggers could be
• Reflect at the end of each topic you have studied and record these reflections for future reference. What
particular concept, idea, lesson, application, experiment sparked your interest / curiosity? What else would
you like to know?
• Keep a record / journal of practical investigations you have enjoyed, questions you have, or something of
interest you saw online. Are you interested in learning more?
• Development of a topic / idea you has explored during the Group 4 project.

• Once you have a topic that interests you, carry out some background research. Find 3 helpful and
informative websites, videos, animations about the chemistry related to the topic.
PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT

• The personal engagement criteria assesses the extent to which you engage with your topic
and make it your own.
• Personal engagement reveals itself in different ways and may include addressing personal
interests or showing evidence of independent thinking, creativity or initiative in the
designing, implementation or presentation of the investigation (IBO, 2013)
PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT

• To score the maximum of two marks the Individual Scientific Investigation needs to:
• Show clear evidence of significant independent thinking or creativity.
• Demonstrate personal significance, interest or curiosity in the choice of research question or
topic under investigation.
• Provide evidence of personal input and initiative in the design, implementation or presentation.
EXPLORATION

• To score the maximum of six marks for Exploration the Individual Scientific Investigation needs
to:
• Identify the topic and describe a relevant and fully focused research question.
• Contain entirely appropriate and relevant background information that enhances the scientific context of
the investigation.
• Use highly appropriate methodology to address the research question that takes into account all, or
nearly all, of the factors that have a significant influence on the relevance, reliability and sufficiency of
the data collected.
• Show full awareness of any significant environmental, ethical and safety issues that are relevant to the
methodology used, if appropriate.
RESEARCH QUESTION

• For example, consider a student whose favorite desert is ice cream and jelly. He was interested in the
dye’s used to color the jelly and wondered whether different brands used the same dye . The type of
thought processes that he went through to arrive first for the topic of the essay and then a sharply
focused research question are shown below. Notice how it took six attempts to get a focused question.
1. Chemical analysis of jelly – far too broad. This is a topic not a research question
2. Analysis of red dyes in strawberry jelly – Not fully focused.
3. Analysis of red dyes in strawberry jelly crystal using chromatography – getting better; nearly there.
4. The analysis of the red dye in different brands of strawberry jelly crystals using paper
chromatography – Topic is relevant and fully focused
EXPLORATION

• After the research question comes:

1. Background Information
2. Methodology
3. Environmental, ethical and safety concerns
ANALYSIS

• To score the maximum of six marks for Analysis the Individual Scientific Investigation needs to:

1. Include sufficient relevant quantitative and qualitative raw data that is able to support a
detailed and valid conclusion to the research question.
2. Show that the recorded data has been sufficiently processed in an appropriate and accurate
manner so that a conclusion can be drawn which is fully consistent with the experimental data.
3. Show clearly the impact of the uncertainties associated with measured data on the processed
results and how they affect the conclusion.
ANALYSIS

• Quantitative and qualitative data

• Processing of data
• Overall uncertainty
EVALUATION

• To score the maximum of six marks for Evaluation the Individual Scientific Investigation needs to:
1. Present a detailed conclusion that is consistent with the facts presented and is completely
relevant to the research question.
2. Justify the conclusion by relevant comparison to the accepted scientific context.
3. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the investigation and the methodology used. This
should include limitations associated with the data and sources of error and show a clear
understanding of the factors affecting the validity of the conclusion.
4. Discuss relevant and realistic ways in which the investigation might be improved and extended.
EVALUATION

• Conclusion
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Improvements and extensions
COMMUNICATION

• To score the maximum of four marks for Communication the Individual Scientific Investigation needs
to:
1. Be written and presented clearly so that any errors do not hinder the understanding of the focus,
process and outcomes.
2. Be well structured so that the necessary information relating to focus, process and outcomes is
presented coherently.
3. Be concise and relevant so that the focus, process and outcomes can be readily understood.
4. Use correct chemical terminology and conventions and attribute all sources in a recognized manner.