Criterion B in geography is about fieldwork and research: a focused question, a method that collects the right evidence at the right places, and a plan you follow and evaluate.
A focused question, with a reason it is worth investigating.
A realistic plan with steps and dates, and evidence you followed it.
Relevant evidence from different kinds of source, recorded clearly.
You judge how well the investigation worked and what you would change.
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.
Explain a sampling method for a river fieldwork investigation into velocity.
We measured the river in a few places.
I will measure velocity at five sites, each 500 m apart from source to mouth, so that changes along the river’s long profile show up. At each site I will time a float over 10 m, repeat three times, and take the mean. Using the same method and the same people at every site makes the results comparable.
Criterion B is Investigating. It is marked out of 8 across 4 strands (B.i, B.ii, B.iii, B.iv). Criterion B in geography is about fieldwork and research: a focused question, a method that collects the right evidence at the right places, and a plan you follow and evaluate.
Link the question to a measurable variable, such as pebble size or pedestrian counts. Explain your sampling: where, when and how many, with reasons. Record data in a table designed before you go into the field.
Collecting data at convenient places without explaining the choice. Methods with no equipment, units or timing. An evaluation that lists generic problems rather than your own.
Written by CritABCD for study and revision, in our own words. The official MYP Geography guide and assessment criteria are published by the International Baccalaureate. Official IB guide ↗