The internally assessed work should
be an in-depth study of any historical subject, and does not have to be
syllabus related. It constitutes 25% of the total assessment.
The internally assessed study in
history allows for flexibility and should encourage candidates to use their own
initiative.
Some suggested types of study are:
The internally assessed study is
compulsory for higher level IB history, and is an integral component of the
history programme. The teacher's role is to discuss and give advice to each
candidate about the area of study, title, sources, exact focus, format and
structure, but the actual assignment must be the candidate's own work.
As well as the research/essay many
of the above examples will be in written format. The maximum word limit
for a written study is 3,000 words. Candidates who exceed this limit will be
penalised. This maximum word limit does not include supplementary information
such as contents page, references, bibliography and appendices.
Some candidates may prefer to submit
a shorter written paper plus a short audiotaped oral component. In these
instances the length of the written component must not exceed 2000 words and
the duration of the tape must not exceed 15 minutes.
Not all internal assessment will be
in the form of an extended piece of writing, but every study must include some written
component of about 500 words explaining the non-written element and the
evidence upon which it is based. Alternative formats such as videos,computer
presentations and oral exercises must not exceed 45 minutes.
If two or more candidates work
together on a joint assignment, each one must submit his/her own individual
written component of about 500 words explaining his/her method and
participation, as well as the joint report or other form of assignment. If the
joint study is in a non-written format, the candidate's individual
participation should be included within the 500 word component. Each candidate
who takes part in a group project will be assessed separately.
The weighting (25%) of the internal
assessment should be reflected in the time given to internal assessment during
the course itself. The internal assessment should be undertaken during
the course, and not be treated as an afterthought. It is recommended that
higher level candidates devote up to 30 hours of their IB history time to their
internal assessment.
The
method of assessment used by the IBO is criterion-referenced, not
norm-referenced. That is, candidates are judged by their performance in
relation to identified assessment criteria and not in relation to the rest of
the population being assessed.
The
history study submitted for internal assessment is assessed against four
assessment criteria which are related to the objectives established for the
programme. The assessment criteria are as follows:
Criterion
A Historical explanation and understanding (11 marks)
Criterion B Analysis
and evaluation of sources and evidence (11 marks)
Criterion C Technical
requirement - length of study (1 mark)
Criterion D Technical
requirement - referencing and bibliography (2 marks)
For each
assessment criterion, achievement level descriptors are defined. Teachers are
required to judge each candidate's work against these criteria using the
descriptors. Criteria A and B comprise four progressive levels. Some levels are
subdivided into a and b; these represent alternative descriptors
at the same level. Criteria C and D are technical criteria and are not
progressive and candidate's work may gain up to 3 marks for meeting the
technical requirements.
The
descriptors concentrate on positive achievement, although if a candidate does
not achieve a standard described by any of the descriptors, then 0 should be
recorded. The aim is to find for each criterion, the descriptor which conveys
most adequately the achievement level attained by the candidate. Having read
the work to be assessed, read the descriptors for each criterion, starting with
level 1, until you reach one which describes a level of achievement that the
work being assessed has not reached. The work is therefore best described by
the preceding achievement level descriptor and you should record this level.
If,
however, a piece of work seems to fall between two descriptors, only partially
fulfilling the requirements of the higher descriptor, then you should re-read
both of the descriptors in question and choose the one which more appropriately
describes the candidate's work. Only whole numbers should be recorded; partial
marks, fractions and decimals are not acceptable.
Teachers/examiners
should not consider the descriptors as marks or percentages, although the
descriptor levels are ultimately added together to obtain a score out of 25.
Nor should they assume that there are other arithmetic relationships, for
example a level 4 performance is not necessarily twice as good as a level 2
performance and so on.
Similarly,
teachers/examiners should not think in terms of a pass/fail boundary or make
comparisons with the IBO 1-7 grade scale, but should concentrate on identifying
the appropriate descriptor for each assessment criterion.
The
highest descriptors do not imply faultless performance, but should be
achievable. Teachers/examiners should not hesitate to use the extremes if they
are appropriate descriptions of the work being assessed.
A
candidate who attains a high level of achievement in relation to one criterion
will not necessarily attain high levels of achievement in relation to the
others. Conversely, a candidate who attains a low level of achievement in
relation to one criterion will not necessarily attain only low levels of
achievement in relation to other criteria.
Teachers/examiners
should not assume that the overall assessment of the candidates will produce
any particular distribution of scores.
Although
the subject of the study and its format are flexible the same criteria and
descriptors are applied to all studies. Teachers are required to use the
descriptors and place the study at one of the five levels. Initially the study
should be placed at the middle level of a mark band. The mark band is
determined by the achievement level outlined in the descriptors. If the depth
of supporting argument/knowledge is high teachers should place the mark at the
top of the mark band; if the depth is lacking, the mark should be placed at the
bottom of the mark band. High marks are awarded for depth of analysis and
critical evaluation of sources and evidence. In cases where two descriptors are
given at one level, for example 1a or 1b, either of these descriptors
may be used.
Candidates'
studies must be of an appropriate length. One mark will be awarded if the study
does not exceed the following:
|
Type of
study |
Maximum
limit |
|
|
Written |
3000
words |
|
|
Written
and oral debate |
2000
words/15 minutes audio recording |
|
|
Video |
45
minutes |
|
|
Audio
recording |
45
minutes |
|
All
studies must have a bibliography and all sources must be referenced and
candidates may gain up to two marks.
It is
recommended that the assessment criteria and their descriptors be available to
candidates at all times.
The descriptors concentrate on positive achievement,
although if a candidate does not achieve a standard described by any of the
descriptors, then 0 should be recorded.
Criterion
A Historical explanation and understanding
|
||
|
Achievement |
|
Mark
band |
|
0 |
The
candidate has not achieved a standard described by of the descriptors below. |
0 |
|
1a |
The candidate demonstrates a limited range of
relevant knowledge. |
1 – 3 |
|
1b |
The
candidate writes narrative or descriptive material which lacks analysis. |
|
|
2a |
The candidate shows some understanding and/or a
limited range of analytical skill. |
4 – 6 |
|
2b |
The work
is predominantly narrative/descriptive with limited evidence of analytical
ability. |
|
|
3 |
The work
is mainly analytical, demonstrating understanding and reinforced by relevant
knowledge. |
7 – 9 |
|
4 |
The candidate demonstrates a consistently high
level of understanding and critical analysis. |
10 – 11 |
|
The
study is within the following limit: |
1 |
|
|
Format |
Maximum limit |
|
|
Written |
3000 words |
|
|
Written and oral debate |
2000 words/15 minutes audio recording |
|
|
Video |
45 minutes |
|
|
Audio recording |
45 minutes |
|
|
Referencing
is included where appropriate, and a bibliography is provided of all sources
used in the preparation and completion of the internal assessment. |
1 - 2 |