Internal
Assessments,
every subject.
Every IB subject has an Internal Assessment worth 20–30% of the final grade. A strong IA can add 2 full grade points; a weak one can sink an otherwise excellent exam performance. We coach IAs across every IB subject — from Maths Explorations to Science experiments to Economics commentaries.
20–30% of every IB subject grade. Maths Exploration, Science experiments, Economics commentaries, History investigations, English IO — we coach them all.
The IA is 20–30% of every subject grade.
The Internal Assessment is the coursework component of every IB Diploma subject. It takes different forms depending on the subject — a mathematical exploration in Maths, an experimental investigation in Sciences, a commentary portfolio in Economics, a historical investigation in History, an Individual Oral in Languages — but in every case it is worth 20–30% of the final grade and is marked against specific IB criteria.
Why classroom IA support is never enough
IB teachers supervise 25+ students per class, each writing a different IA. The teacher can provide general guidance but cannot offer the intensive, criterion-by-criterion, draft-by-draft coaching that turns a grade 4 IA into a grade 7 IA. That is exactly what Times Edu provides.
Our IA coaching model
Each IA is coached as a 4–6 session mini-programme: topic selection → methodology/design → first draft → criterion-by-criterion review → final draft → pre-submission check. Every draft is marked against the real IB criteria with specific, actionable feedback — not "good work, keep going."
The full scope of our coaching.
We coach IAs across every IB subject group. Each IA type has its own coaching pathway.
Maths IA (Exploration)
12–20 page mathematical investigation. Topic selection, personal engagement, mathematical communication.
Science IA (Experiment)
Individual experimental investigation. Design, data collection, analysis with uncertainties, evaluation.
Economics IA (Commentary)
Three 800-word commentaries on real news articles applying economic theory.
History IA (Investigation)
2,200-word historical investigation with primary/secondary source analysis.
Psychology IA (Replication)
Experimental replication of a published study with inferential statistics.
Business Management IA (BRP)
HL 2,000-word Business Research Project on a real business question — 25% of grade.
English IO (Individual Oral)
15-minute oral on a global issue through two texts — 20–25% of grade.
Criterion-by-Criterion Review
Every IA draft marked against the exact IB criteria with specific improvement notes.
Different formats. Same coaching precision.
Each subject's IA is assessed against specific criteria. We know every one of them.
Exploration
12–20 page investigation. Criteria: Presentation, Mathematical Communication, Personal Engagement, Reflection, Use of Mathematics.
Experimental Investigation
Lab-based investigation. Criteria: Personal Engagement, Exploration, Analysis, Evaluation, Communication.
Commentary Portfolio
Three 800-word commentaries. Criteria: Diagrams, Terminology, Application, Analysis, Evaluation.
Individual Oral
15-minute oral presentation + discussion. Criteria: Knowledge, Analysis, Focus, Language.
Why students lose marks here.
The three traps we see most often — every one is fixable with focused coaching.
Recycled Maths IA topics
"Fibonacci in nature" and "golden ratio in architecture" have been done thousands of times. Examiners spot recycled topics instantly and mark Personal Engagement at 0/3. We coach original, genuinely interesting topics.
Science IA without uncertainties
The Analysis criterion specifically requires uncertainty propagation, error bars and statistical treatment. Students who skip this lose 4/6 marks on Analysis alone.
Economics commentary without diagrams
Every Economics IA commentary must include at least one fully-labelled diagram applying theory to the article. Missing diagrams = 0 on the Diagrams criterion.
From draft to final grade.
Times Edu coached three of my IAs — Maths, Chemistry and Economics. Every one scored in the top band. That IA performance alone added 4 points to my final IB score. Without coaching, those IAs would have been my weakest component.
What families always ask.
Can you coach IAs in any subject?
Yes — we have specialist coaches for every IB subject group. Maths, all three sciences, Economics, Business Management, Psychology, History, English (IO), and more. Each coach knows the specific IA criteria for their subject.
When should my child start IA coaching?
Ideally when the school introduces the IA (usually mid-DP1 for most subjects). Starting early gives time for topic exploration, methodology refinement and multiple draft reviews. Students who start in DP2 can still improve, but the outcome is always better with an early start.
Can you help if the IA has already been drafted and scored low?
Yes — this is our most common IA intervention. We review the draft against each criterion, identify exactly where marks were lost, and rebuild those sections. We have taken many IAs from grade 3 to grade 6/7 in 4–6 sessions.
How many sessions does a typical IA need?
4–6 sessions per IA: topic selection (1), methodology/design (1), first draft review (1–2), final draft review (1), pre-submission check (1). Complex IAs (Maths Exploration, Science experiment) may need 2 additional sessions.
Ready to turn your IAs into top-band marks?
Book a free diagnostic. Bring your current IA draft (or just your topic idea) and our specialist will show you exactly where the marks are hiding — criterion by criterion.