Biology IA Checklist for HL & SL

The International Baccalaureate Biology Internal Assessment makes up 20% of the final
grade achieved by Biology HL and Biology SL students. Therefore, it’s super important that
your IB Biology IA gets as high a mark as possible. In this post, we outline the different
necessary components. This checklist discusses the following assessment criteria:

Section 1: Personal Engagement

Section 2: Exploration

Section 3: Analysis

Section 4: Evaluation

Section 5: Communication

Use this checklist to make sure you have everything you need!

Section 1: Personal Engagement (8%)

□ The IA is somehow related to my own life

□ Experimental design or presentation shows personal insight or adaptation

Section 2: Exploration (25%)

Research Question

□ A title is given which is descriptive yet concise

□ A precise and grammatically correct question about a relationship is asked

□ Question is sufficiently detailed so it can stand alone and can be self-explanatory

□ A precise, measurable dependent variable is detailled

□ A precise independent variable to be manipulated is included

□ Exact locations, measurements and Genus species names are given

Variables

□ Independent Variable, Dependent Variable, and Controlled Variables are given

□ Independent and dependent variables are expressed just as in the question

□ A brief description of how the independent variable is altered is included

□ A brief description of how the dependent variable is measured is included

□ Controlled variables include all significant factors with the potential to affect the dependent
variable

□ A description of why each controlled variable must be kept constant is given

Hypothesis

□ A correct answer to the research question is described

□ The hypothesis is supported by scientific reasoning and research

□ A predicted relationship between the independent and dependent variables is described

□ The independent and dependent variables are described as in the question

Background

□ The essay is organized into paragraphs and includes an introduction, body and

conclusion

□ The introduction includes an observation/ story that leads to the research question

□ The hypothesis is stated as a scientifically justified answer to the research question

□ The hypothesis is justified and supported by scientific literature review

□ All variables relevant to the experiment are appropriately investigated

□References are used where appropriate

□ At least 5 external sources with authors have been used and described

□ There is no plagiarism (this leads to a zero)

Methodology: Control of the Variables

□ Introduction justifies the method as a fair test of the hypothesis

□ If modification of procedures are done, they are referenced

□ All materials are listed with details (type, amount, size, volume, concentration…)

□ Diagrams and/or photographs clearly showing the setup of the apparatus is included

□ Diagrams and photographs are referenced using MLA

□ What was done and an explanation of why is given for each step

□ How the independent variable was manipulated is clearly described

□ How the listed controlled variables were kept controlled in the experiment is described

□ The use and method of random sampling is described where relevant

Methodology: Data Collection

□ The introduction establishes the data collected is valid for answering the research question

□ The reliability of the methodology is established with enough trials (5)

□ How the dependent variable measurements are taken is precisely explained

□ The size of the increments between data point and why this was acceptable is explained

□ Use of minimum 5 repeats to calculate standard deviation for error analysis is outlined

□ The sample size is at least 10 when the T-test was used

□ Data collection from other students or sources is clearly explained and referenced

Section 3: Analysis (25%)

Data Collection

□ An introduction is given to establish what data was collected and why it is appropriate

□ Appropriate raw quantitative data is recorded in a clearly designed and drawn table

□ A descriptive title with the variables is given for the data table

□ Column headings include the quantity, units and uncertainties

□ Data is recorded to an appropriate degree of precision and consistency with uncertainties

□ How the uncertainties were determined for measurements is stated below the data table

□ Every data table has a paragraph describing its relevance

□ Qualitative data is recorded separately in the data table

Data Analysis: Processing Data

□ A short introduction and description of the data processing is included

□ The relevance of the data processing’s ability to answer the research question included

□ Calculations are carried out correctly

□ Calculations are included in a table of calculations

□ Data table from appendix is copied and pasted and modified to include calculations

□ Sample calculations are illustrated

□ Uncertainties are calculated and explained

Data Analysis: Presenting Data

□ The dependent variable is appropriately graphed vs the independent variable

□ Graphs include appropriate titles with a description of the variables

□ Axis are labeled including units

□ Error bars showing the uncertainties are included on the graph

□ Uncertainty calculations are included below the graph and explained if not included

□ Maximum and minimum trend lines are drawn if appropriate

□ Each graph has an accompanying paragraph correctly describing the features and trends.

Conclusion

□ A conclusion is clearly stated, “In conclusion…”

□ The conclusion arises from a correct interpretation of the data

□ Important data from the analysis is outlined and trends in the data are explained

□ The degree to which the data supports the hypothesis is discussed and explained

□ The variation in results is reported, depicting the conclusion’s strength.

□ Scientific reasoning is employed to illustrate the validity of the relationship

□ The generalisability of the conclusion is discussed

Section 4: Evaluation (25%)

Evaluation

□ The apparatus’ ability to obtain relevant data is discussed

□ Weaknesses in the methodology are commented on

□ The data reliability is discussed

□ The quantity of the data is discussed

□ The precision and accuracy of the data is appreciated and described

□ Outliers or irregularities in the data are discussed

□ The uncertainties’ significance within the line of best 􀂇t is determined

Suggested Improvements

□ If limitations are identified as significant, improvements are proposed

□ Improvements address the limitations

□ Realistic improvements are given (must be possible within the context of school)

Further Research Questions

□ 2+ research questions are included with independent and dependent variables

□ The research questions are extensions of the conclusion and evaluation

□ An explanation for each question is given and it’s related to its importance and relevance

Section 5: Communication (17%)

References (formatting)

□ In-text references/citations are given (MLA format)

□ Works Cited List with MLA formatting is included at the end of the report

□ Sources are ordered alphabetically by author’s last name

Overall Presentation

□ No spelling or grammar mistakes are present

□ There are easy to read headings for every section

□ Arial or Helvetica font size 12 font

Methodology

□ The methodology is written in past tense with good paragraph structure

What’s Next?
□ Stuck for Biology IA Ideas? Make sure you check out our Top 50 Ideas here

□ Want to learn how to answer Data Based Questions? Make sure you check out our
command terms post here