Criterion B is about running an investigation well, not just writing about a topic. The marks follow the process: a focused question, a plan you follow, varied evidence, and an honest evaluation.
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.
Improve this research question: How did war affect people?
How did war affect people?
To what extent did rationing during the Second World War change the daily diet of working-class families in Britain between 1940 and 1945?
Criterion B is Investigating. It is marked out of 8 across 4 strands (B.i, B.ii, B.iii, B.iv). Criterion B is about running an investigation well, not just writing about a topic. The marks follow the process: a focused question, a plan you follow, varied evidence, and an honest evaluation.
Make the question narrow enough to answer, with a clear place, period or group. Write an action plan with steps and dates, and record where you changed it and why. Gather different kinds of source: primary and secondary, quantitative and qualitative.
A research question so broad that no answer is possible in the time. A plan written at the end instead of followed along the way. Evaluating only the topic, not how well the investigation was carried out.
Written by CritABCD for study and revision, in our own words. The official MYP Individuals & Societies (Humanities) guide and assessment criteria are published by the International Baccalaureate. Official IB guide ↗