This document provides guidance on creating an excellent Internal Assessment (IA) for the IB Physics course. The IA involves a 10-hour scientific investigation and 6-12 page write-up. It counts for 20% of the overall IB grade. Acceptable formats include hands-on labs, spreadsheet analysis, database extraction, or simulations. The IA is evaluated based on personal engagement, exploration, analysis, evaluation, and communication. Sample investigation topics are provided such as studying the effect of string tension on fundamental frequency or sugar concentration on refractive index. Students are instructed to submit their sample IA in two weeks.

1. INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
PHYSICS

2. HOW TO MAKE YOUR IA
UNIQUE AND BRILLIANT.

3. WHAT IS AN IA FOR
PHYSICS(G4).
• One scientific investigation taking about 10
hours and the write-up should be about 6 to 12
pages long. Investigations exceeding this length
will be penalized in the communications criterion
as lacking in conciseness.
• The task produced should be complex and
commensurate with the level of the course. It
should require a purposeful research question
and the scientific rationale for it.
 Internal Assessments (the labs / practical work) count as
20% of a candidate's overall IB grade.

4. These are the possible IAs.
 a hands-on laboratory investigation.
 using a spread sheet for analysis and
modelling.
 extracting data from a database and analysing it
graphically.
 producing a hybrid of spread sheet/database
work with a traditional hands-on investigation.
 using a simulation, provided it is interactive and
open-ended.

5. CRITERIA FOR PHYSICS IA
Personal engagement: 2 Marks
Exploration: 6 Marks
Analysis: 6 Marks
Evaluation: 6 Marks
Communication: 4 Marks
TOTAL: 24

6. PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT(2M)
• This criterion assesses the extent to which the
student engages with the exploration and makes
it their own. Personal engagement may be
recognized in different attributes and skills.
These could include addressing personal
interests or showing evidence of independent
thinking, creativity or initiative in the designing,
implementation or presentation of the
investigation.

7. EXPLORATION (6 M)
• This criterion assesses the extent to which
the student establishes the scientific
context for the work, states a clear and
focused research question and uses
concepts and techniques appropriate to
the Diploma Programme level. Where
appropriate, this criterion also assesses
awareness of safety, environmental, and
ethical considerations

8. Different aspects which have
been analysed in exploration:
 Whether the research question is well focussed or have
any relevance.
 Appropriate background information which completely
enhances the understanding of the context of research.
 Relevant methodology.
 Well defined variables.
 shows evidence of full awareness of the significant
safety, ethical or environmental issues that are relevant
to the methodology of the investigation.

9. ANALYSIS(6 M)
 This criterion assesses the extent to which
the student’s report provides evidence that
the student has selected, recorded,
processed and interpreted the data in
ways that are relevant to the research
question and can support a conclusion.

10. DIFFERENT ASPECTS FOR
THIS CRITERIA
• Sufficient relevant quantitative and qualitative raw data
that could support a detailed and valid conclusion to the
research question.
• Appropriate and sufficient data processing is carried out
with the accuracy required to enable a conclusion to the
research question to be drawn that is fully consistent
with the experimental data.
• Evidence of full and appropriate consideration of the
impact of measurement uncertainty on the analysis.
• The processed data is correctly interpreted so that a
completely valid and detailed conclusion to the research
question can be deduced.

11. EVALUATION(6M)
• This criterion assesses the extent to which
the student’s report provides evidence of
evaluation of the investigation and the
results with regard to the research
question and the accepted scientific
context.

12. DIFFERENT ASPECTS FOR
THIS CRITERIA
• A conclusion is described and justified which is relevant to
the research question and is supported by the data presented.
• A conclusion is correctly described and justified through
relevant comparison to the accepted scientific context.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the investigation, such as
limitations of the data and sources of error, are discussed
and provide evidence of a clear understanding of the
methodological issues involved in establishing the
conclusion.
• Discussed realistic and relevant suggestions for the
improvement and extension of the investigation.

13. COMMUNICATION (4M)
• This criterion assesses whether the
investigation is presented and reported in
a way that supports effective
communication of the focus, process and
outcomes.

14. MORE ON COMMUNICATION
• The presentation of the investigation is clear. Any
errors do not hamper the understanding of the
focus, process and outcomes.
• Well-structured and clear report: the necessary
information on focus, process and outcomes is present
and is presented in a coherent way.
• Relevant and concise report which facilitates a ready
understanding of the focus, process and outcomes of the
investigation.
• Uses subject-specific terminology and conventions is
appropriate and correct. Any errors do not hamper
understanding.

15. NOW IT’S TIME FOR A SAMPLE IA.
• Try out any of this or any of your choice ;
Investigation title Area of research
How does the tension and
diameter of the string
(guitar/ violin) effects the
fundamental frequency?
Standing waves/ sound
How does sugar
concentration effects the
refractive index of water?
Refraction/ light
How does the temperature
effect the viscosity of the
liquid ?
Viscosity/ properties of
matter
Investigate the young’s
modulus of the wire.
Elastic modulus/properties
of matter

16. Your sample IA due in two
weeks time.
For more sample IAs contact me.
All the best.
Thank you
Saraswathy Anoop