Overview
The IB History Internal Assessment is worth 25% of your final History 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, four criteria: Identification and evaluation of sources, Investigation, Reflection, and Structure (word limit 2,200). External moderation applies.
Recommended structure
For the IB Diploma Programme, section A: plan + summary of evidence + evaluation of sources. Section B: investigation (argument with footnoted evidence). Section C: reflection on methods and challenges.
Workflow for a top-band IA
For the IB Diploma Programme, choose a narrow, debatable question answerable with available primary/secondary sources. Footnote as you draft. Reflection must discuss historians' methods, not just "I worked hard".
Common pitfalls
For the IB Diploma Programme, narrative not argument; too broad a question; weak source evaluation; reflection generic; over word limit.
Criterion practice on MarkScheme
Draft sections can be checked against IB assessment language — [get feedback on your IA writing](/mark?subject=ib-history-sl) where supported, and use syllabus [lessons](/ib/courses/history-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.
Overlap with EE?
Cannot duplicate — different scope and supervision rules.
Paper 1 skills?
OPVL practice in Paper 1 feeds IA source evaluation — see History past papers.
SL vs HL?
Same IA requirements for History SL and HL.