Criterion C marks how well you communicate: the right tone for the audience, a structure that suits the format, and sources documented in a convention you stick with.
Tone, vocabulary and detail suit who you are writing for and why.
The layout and order of ideas match the task: report, essay, presentation.
Citations and a reference list in one recognised convention, used consistently.
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.
Cite a source in the text and the reference list.
Source: internet.
In text: (Smith, 2021). Reference list: Smith, A. (2021) Rationing in wartime Britain. Available at: https://example.org/rationing (Accessed: 3 March 2025).
Criterion C is Communicating. It is marked out of 8 across 3 strands (C.i, C.ii, C.iii). Criterion C marks how well you communicate: the right tone for the audience, a structure that suits the format, and sources documented in a convention you stick with.
Check the task: who is the audience and what is the purpose? Adjust tone and detail to match. Plan the structure before writing: a clear introduction, paragraphs each with one point, and a conclusion that answers the question. Pick one citation convention and use it for every source, including images.
Writing a presentation script when the task asked for a report. References listed at the end that are never cited in the text. Switching citation styles part-way through.
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 ↗