IB Internal vs. External Assessment 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What percentage of the total IB grade does the internal assessment typically contribute in most Higher Level subjects?
- 5–10%
- 20–30% (Correct answer)
- 50–60%
- 70–80%
Correct answer: 20–30%
In most HL subjects, the IA contributes roughly 20–30% of the final grade, with external exams making up the rest.
Question 2: In IB Group 3 (Individuals and Societies), which subject uses a historical investigation as its internal assessment?
- Psychology
- Geography
- History (Correct answer)
- Business Management
Correct answer: History
IB History requires students to complete an Internal Assessment consisting of a historical investigation on a topic of their choice.
Question 3: An IB examiner assessing an external exam paper does NOT know which school the student attends. This is an example of:
- Standardization
- Blind marking (Correct answer)
- Peer assessment
- Criterion-referenced grading
Correct answer: Blind marking
Blind marking ensures external examiners cannot identify the student's school, reducing potential bias.
Question 4: Which of the following is TRUE about the IB individual oral in Language A: Language & Literature?
- It is externally marked by an IB examiner who was not present (Correct answer)
- It is assessed solely by the student's teacher with no external review
- It contributes 0% to the final grade
- It must be conducted in a second language
Correct answer: It is externally marked by an IB examiner who was not present
The individual oral is recorded, submitted to IB, and externally marked by an examiner separate from the teacher.
Question 5: Which IB assessment component is most likely to be completed over several weeks rather than in a single sitting?
- Paper 1
- Paper 2
- Internal Assessment (Correct answer)
- Paper 3
Correct answer: Internal Assessment
IAs are extended pieces of work completed over time, unlike timed external exam papers taken in a single session.
Question 6: What is the main advantage of internal assessment over external exams in measuring student performance?
- It is cheaper to administer
- It allows assessment of skills that cannot be tested in timed exams (Correct answer)
- It eliminates the need for marking criteria
- It is graded anonymously
Correct answer: It allows assessment of skills that cannot be tested in timed exams
IAs can assess skills like experimental design, oral communication, and sustained inquiry that timed written exams cannot capture.
Question 7: In the IB Diploma, which body sets the criteria used for both internal and external assessment?
- Individual schools
- National education ministries
- The International Baccalaureate Organization (Correct answer)
- University admissions boards
Correct answer: The International Baccalaureate Organization
The IBO establishes all assessment criteria, ensuring global consistency regardless of where a student studies.
IB Internal vs. External Assessment 3
What percentage of the total IB grade does the internal assessment typically contribute in most Higher Level subjects?