IBEC Assessment & Evaluation in IB Context 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the IB Diploma Programme, what is the primary purpose of the Internal Assessment (IA)?
- To replace the final external examination
- To allow students to demonstrate skills and knowledge through coursework assessed by their teacher (Correct answer)
- To provide a standardized test administered by the IB Organization
- To evaluate teacher performance across schools
Correct answer: To allow students to demonstrate skills and knowledge through coursework assessed by their teacher
IA allows students to demonstrate subject-specific skills through teacher-assessed coursework, which is then moderated externally by the IB.
Question 2: Which IB assessment term refers to evaluation that occurs at the end of a unit or course to measure learning outcomes?
- Formative assessment
- Diagnostic assessment
- Summative assessment (Correct answer)
- Peer assessment
Correct answer: Summative assessment
Summative assessment measures student achievement at the conclusion of a learning period, such as end-of-unit tests or final examinations.
Question 3: In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), what are the four assessment criteria used across most subject groups?
- Knowing, Understanding, Applying, Evaluating
- Inquiring, Acting, Reflecting, Thinking
- A, B, C, D (subject-specific descriptors) (Correct answer)
- Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes, Values
Correct answer: A, B, C, D (subject-specific descriptors)
MYP subjects use four criteria labeled A, B, C, and D with descriptors specific to each subject group, each worth up to 8 marks.
Question 4: What does 'moderation' mean in the context of IB assessment?
- A teacher reducing student scores to maintain grade distribution
- The IB externally reviewing and adjusting teacher-awarded marks to ensure global consistency (Correct answer)
- Students self-assessing their own work against a rubric
- A process where two teachers independently grade the same work
Correct answer: The IB externally reviewing and adjusting teacher-awarded marks to ensure global consistency
IB moderation is the external process by which the IB Organization reviews samples of internally assessed work to ensure marking standards are consistent worldwide.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'criterion-referenced assessment' as used in IB programmes?
- Student performance is ranked against peers in the same class
- Student achievement is measured against pre-defined performance standards (Correct answer)
- Grades are assigned based on a fixed percentage curve
- Assessment is compared to national averages
Correct answer: Student achievement is measured against pre-defined performance standards
Criterion-referenced assessment evaluates student work against defined criteria and descriptors, not against the performance of other students.
Question 6: In IB assessment, what is the role of 'grade descriptors'?
- They list the topics students must study in each subject
- They define the level of knowledge and skills expected at each final grade boundary (Correct answer)
- They provide marking schemes for individual exam questions
- They describe the personality traits of successful IB students
Correct answer: They define the level of knowledge and skills expected at each final grade boundary
Grade descriptors articulate what a student achieving a particular final grade (1–7) is expected to know, understand, and be able to do.
Question 7: A DP teacher notices that her IA marking is consistently 2 marks higher than the IB moderator's marks. What should she do going forward?
- File a complaint with the IB about the moderator's standards
- Adjust her marking to better align with IB assessment standards and anchor papers (Correct answer)
- Add 2 marks to all future student work to compensate
- Ignore the difference as long as it is consistent
Correct answer: Adjust her marking to better align with IB assessment standards and anchor papers
When moderation reveals a systematic marking difference, teachers must recalibrate their marking using IB-provided anchor papers and exemplars to align with global standards.
IBEC Assessment & Evaluation in IB Context 2
In the IB Diploma Programme, what is the primary purpose of the Internal Assessment (IA)?