Overview
The IB Physics Internal Assessment is worth 20% of your final Physics 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, science IA criteria reward a focused physics question, controlled experiment, correct processing (including graphs and uncertainties), and critical evaluation of method and data quality.
Recommended structure
For the IB Diploma Programme, research question with measurable independent/dependent variables → theory from syllabus → method diagram → raw data table → processed graph (with error bars where appropriate) → conclusion → evaluation.
Workflow for a top-band IA
For the IB Diploma Programme, linearise relationships (e.g. log graphs) when the syllabus expects it. Propagate uncertainty for derived quantities. Video or photo evidence boosts engagement marks.
Common pitfalls
For the IB Diploma Programme, tiny range of data; no repeat readings; plotting without units; ignoring systematic errors; conclusion that does not reference uncertainty.
Criterion practice on MarkScheme
Draft sections can be checked against IB assessment language — [get feedback on your IA writing](/mark?subject=ib-physics-sl) where supported, and use syllabus [lessons](/ib/courses/physics-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.
Simulation IA?
Policy varies — physical data collection is standard; check your coordinator.
HL depth?
HL students often use more sophisticated analysis — but criteria are the same.
Exam overlap?
IA data skills directly help Paper 2 DBQs — see Physics past papers.