Overview
The IB Geography Internal Assessment is worth 20% of your final Geography grade — often the difference between a 5 and a 7 when exams go wrong. Unlike past papers, the IA is coursework you control months before exams. This guide explains criteria, structure, and the mistakes moderators see every year.
What examiners mark
For the IB Diploma Programme, criteria cover fieldwork question and geographic context, planning, data collection, presentation/analysis, and evaluation — linking to syllabus themes and geographic theory.
Recommended structure
For the IB Diploma Programme, introduction and geographic context → methodology (sampling, ethics, risks) → data presentation (maps, graphs, photos) → analysis linked to theory → conclusion → evaluation of reliability and next steps.
Workflow for a top-band IA
Align fieldwork with a taught theme. Use maps and GIS where possible. Every graph needs interpretation, not just description.
Common pitfalls
For the IB Diploma Programme, no clear geographic theory; convenience sampling without acknowledgement; figures without titles/units; evaluation that ignores weather or sample size.
Criterion practice on MarkScheme
Draft sections can be checked against IB assessment language — [get feedback on your IA writing](/mark?subject=ib-geography-sl) where supported, and use syllabus [lessons](/ib/courses/geography-sl) to strengthen methodology and subject vocabulary.
Frequently asked questions
This section covers Frequently asked questions — what IB examiners reward most often in past papers and coursework.
Can fieldwork be local?
Yes — urban or river studies near school are common if methodology is rigorous.
HL extra?
HL IA uses the same criteria — depth and geographic sophistication should reflect HL.
Revision link?
Geography past papers reinforce essay and skills questions.