Overview
The best IB Geography IA question is one you can answer with primary data you collect yourself, in a place you can actually get to, that links clearly to the syllabus. The IA is a fieldwork report (around 2,500 words) built on your own data collection, analysis, and evaluation. This post shows what makes a strong fieldwork question and gives examples by theme, plus how to sharpen a vague idea into a measurable investigation. For the full write-up on structure and criteria, see the [IB Geography IA guide](/blog/ib-geography-ia-guide).
What the IB Geography IA actually is
The Internal Assessment is a written fieldwork report worth a significant share of your grade (confirm the exact weighting for SL and HL in your current *Geography guide*). You choose a fieldwork question, collect primary data in the field, present and analyse it, and evaluate your methods and conclusion. This article covers the first, hardest step — turning a location and a theme into a question that can score across every criterion. For everything after that, read the [IB Geography IA guide](/blog/ib-geography-ia-guide).
What makes a strong fieldwork question
For the IB Diploma Programme, a good question does five things:
- Geographic — it is about space and place: how something changes across distance, location, or environment. Not "is this river polluted" but "how does channel width change downstream along the River X".
- Primary-data driven — you can measure it yourself in the field (readings, counts, surveys), not just download it.
- Manageable — reachable location, safe access, and data you can collect in the time you have.
- Linked to theory — you can explain the expected pattern using syllabus concepts (fluvial processes, urban models, microclimates).
- Testable — enough data points along a gradient or between sites to show a trend and, ideally, run a simple statistical test.
How to turn an idea into a fieldwork question
For the IB Diploma Programme, start from a place you can reach, then narrow: pick a geographic gradient or contrast (downstream, distance from the city centre, across a transect); choose what to measure (width, velocity, temperature, pedestrian count, land use); and frame it spatially — so "the high street is busy" becomes "how does pedestrian density change with distance from the central crossroads". Now you have a testable question.
Example fieldwork questions by theme
For the IB Diploma Programme, treat these as starting points, not copy-paste questions — your location and data must be your own.
Rivers and drainage basins
- How do channel characteristics (width, depth, velocity) change with distance downstream along the River X? A textbook link to fluvial processes, with clear measurable variables.
- How does bedload size change downstream? Simple to measure with a ruler and sampling, and easy to connect to attrition and transport.
Safety: rivers require risk assessment, appropriate footwear, and supervision — never work alone near water.
Urban environments
- How does pedestrian density change with distance from the CBD? Systematic counts along a transect, linked to urban land-use models.
- How does environmental quality vary between the CBD and the rural–urban fringe? An environmental quality index gives quantitative data from qualitative observation.
- How does land use change along a transect out of the town centre? Straightforward mapping with a strong link to urban structure theory.
Microclimates
- How does temperature (or wind speed) vary between green space and built-up areas? A neat urban heat-island investigation using cheap equipment and multiple readings.
- How does light intensity change with canopy cover across a park transect? Links an abiotic gradient to vegetation.
Coasts
- How does beach profile (gradient, sediment size) change along a stretch of coast? Classic coastal fieldwork with clear measurable variables.
- How does sediment size change with distance along a beach? Links longshore drift to a measurable pattern.
Safety: check tides and access, and follow your school's coastal risk assessment.
Tourism and economic activity
- How does the impact of tourism vary with distance from a honeypot site? Surveys plus environmental observations, linked to carrying capacity.
- How does footfall or spending vary between two contrasting shopping areas? Counts and short surveys give comparable quantitative data.
Planning your fieldwork on MarkScheme
Lock in your question and data-collection method before you go into the field — the criteria reward a focused question and a justified method. Use the free [Geography HL](/ib/courses/geography-hl) and [SL](/ib/courses/geography-sl) lessons to connect your fieldwork to syllabus theory, review [Geography past papers](/ib/past-papers/geography-hl) for the written-paper skills, and [get an answer marked](/mark) to keep exam technique sharp.
Frequently asked questions
This section covers Frequently asked questions — what IB examiners reward most often in past papers and coursework.
Does the IA have to use primary data?
Yes — the IA is built on data you collect yourself in the field. Secondary data can support your analysis, but primary collection is the core requirement.
How long should the Geography IA be?
Around 2,500 words. Going well over the limit is penalised, so a focused question that needs fewer words to answer well is an advantage.
Can I do human geography instead of physical?
Yes — urban, tourism, and economic fieldwork are all strong, as long as the question is spatial and driven by primary data you collect.