In MYP Design, Criterion A is where a project begins. You show that a real person has a real problem, plan research in order of importance, and learn from what already exists.
A specific client or audience, a clear problem, and evidence it matters.
A ranked plan of primary and secondary research, with reasons for the order.
A feature-by-feature comparison that shows what to keep, avoid or improve.
One page that summarises the research and says what the solution must do.
A little of the criterion is addressed. Ideas are basic, partly missing, or not linked to the task.
The main points are there but thin. Some explanations are correct; links to the task or evidence are incomplete.
Mostly accurate, well explained and consistently tied to the task, with only small gaps.
Detailed, precise and justified throughout, with ideas connected and applied to new situations or evidence.
A plain-language guide only. Your teacher marks against the official IB level descriptors.
Write a need statement for a design project.
Old people forget their medicine so I will make an app.
My neighbour, Mr Rao (78), takes five medicines at different times and twice last month missed a dose because the pill box lid hides the labels. A solution that reminds him and shows the right dose in large print would help him keep to his routine without relying on his family to call him.
Criterion A is Inquiring and analysing. It is marked out of 8 across 4 strands (A.i, A.ii, A.iii, A.iv). In MYP Design, Criterion A is where a project begins. You show that a real person has a real problem, plan research in order of importance, and learn from what already exists.
Name a specific client or group and explain the problem in their words, with evidence. Rank your research questions by importance and say why the top one comes first. Analyse at least two existing products feature by feature, not just describe them.
A problem described in general terms, such as people need better backpacks. A research plan that is a list with no priorities. Product analysis that only describes and never concludes what to keep or avoid.
Written by CritABCD for study and revision, in our own words. The official MYP Design guide and assessment criteria are published by the International Baccalaureate. Official IB guide ↗