Instruction of IA

8/10/2019 Instruction of IA

1/5

These instructions must be read in conjunction with:

theInternalassessmentsection of these instructions

theBusiness and management guide(March 2007)

theFurther clarifications to the Business and management guide(March 2007)

any additional advice from the principal moderator or team leader.

The SL IA is a written commentary where candidates need to demonstrate the application of business

and management tools, techniques and theories to a real business issue or problem.

Choice of topic

The organization selected by the candidate should have the following characteristics:

it must be an actual organization

it must be related to the SL syllabus.

The candidate must attach to the commentary three to five supporting documents from which the

majority of the information for the commentary has been obtained. The documents should becontemporary in nature and written a maximum of two years before the submission of the written

commentary

The commentary may be based on primary / or secondary sources.

SL written commentary word limit

The word limit is 1,500 words.

This word limit is a requirement and must be applied.

What is included in the word count?

Annotations that are not strictly related to the associated illustrations, or that are extensions of the

general text, must be included in the word count. Moderators should note too that deliberate attempts

to avoid the word limit by placing text in boxes, to give the impression of a table, are not acceptable.

This may happen, for example, when candidates attempt to present their analysis of the arguments for

and against a particular course of action for the organization in a table with headings of benefits and

drawbacks.

Diagrams, graphs, statistical tables, annotations to graphs and other supplementary information such

as the title page, the contents page and a references section are not included in the word limit.

Imaginative attempts to present information in alternative forms, such as through charts and diagrams,

are encouraged. However, moderators should be mindful of candidates who include explanation andanalysis.

If this guidance on the word limit is not applied it will penalize those candidates who have worked

hard to achieve the word count. Moderators are reminded to contact the team leader if in doubt.

Words not included in the word count

Title page

Acknowledgments

Contents page

Titles and subtitles

Citations, references and bibliography
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Footnotesup to a maximum of 15 words

Appendices

Photographs

Labelsof 10 words or less

Tablesof statistical or numerical data, or categories

Calculations.

Words included in the word count

Introduction (including methodology)

Findings (based on supporting documents)

Analysis of the findings

Conclusion(s)

Annotations (every word).

The word count advice to moderators

Moderators should carry out an initial rough estimate of the number of words in the main text.

Moderators must note that on single spaced typewritten work, using 12 point Times New Roman font,

approximately 500 words fill one page of A4.

If the word limit clearly has been exceeded, as accurately as possible using the above guidance,

moderators should judge the length, including annotations.

At the point at which the word limit has been exceeded, i.e. 1,500 words, moderators must cease

reading and awarding marks.

In the feedback to individual schools on form 3/IAF, it should be noted if the school respected the

word count or, if not, how it was breached.

It is essential that this advice is followed to maintain consistency of treatment and comparability of

marks.

SL commentary: completing form 3/IAF

Teachers welcome feedback. Moderators should complete each feedback form after moderating the

sample of work from that school (not at the end of the marking process). Feedback is important but

should be concise. Comments should be positive and constructive. They should also be made on the

sample as a whole and not on the work of individual candidates. Feedback should be formal, written

in sentences and grammatically correct. Moderators should not give one word answers as these are not

useful to teachers. It is particularly important that moderators provide a brief explanation if substantial

adjustments to the original marking are made. Detailed references to the standard of marking of the

teacher should be avoided (moderators' own standard may be subject to moderation).

Some areas for consideration when completing part A of the 3/IAF:

Did the work submitted meet the component requirements? (Where the answer given is "no",

moderators must explain where the component requirements were not met.)

What are the strengths of the work?

Which aspects of the work need improvement?


3/5

Moderators should comment on:

the suitability or relevance of topics chosen

the relevance and use of supporting material and examples

referencing and acknowledgement of sources

application of the criteria

compliance with requirements.

The above list should not be regarded as exhaustive; any comments that would be helpful to teachers

should be included.

Commentary assessment criteria SL

These criteria must be used in conjunction with

theInternalassessmentsection of these instructions.

A printable version of these criteria may be viewed by clickinghere.

A: Supporting documents

If fewer than three supporting documents are presented, a maximum of three marks can be awarded. If

more than five documents are presented, consider only the first five.

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 There are no documents presented in support of the commentary.

1 The supporting documents are irrelevant.

2 The supporting documents are generally relevant but some lack depth.

3 The supporting documents are relevant and sufficient in depth.

4 The supporting documents are relevant, sufficient in depth and provide a range ofideas and views.

B: Choice and application of business tools, techniques and theory

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 There is no use of business tools, techniques or theory.

1 There is a limited selection of business tools, techniques and theory.

2 There is a limited selection of business tools, techniques and theory, and these are

superficially applied.

3 There is appropriate selection of business tools, techniques and theory, but these

are superficially applied.

4 There is appropriate selection of business tools, techniques and theory, and theseare suitably applied.

5 There is appropriate selection of business tools, techniques and theory, and theseare competently applied.

6 There is a broad and appropriate selection of business tools, techniques and
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4/5

Achievement

level

Descriptor

theory, and these are skillfully applied.

C: Use, analysis and synthesis of data

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 There is no use of data from the supporting documents.

1 There is inappropriate selection of data from the supporting documents.

2 There is appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents.

3 There is appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents withsuperficial analysis.

4 There is appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents with

appropriate analysis.

5 There is appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents withappropriate analysis. There is some integration of ideas.

6 There is appropriate selection of data from the supporting documents withappropriate and detailed analysis. There is coherent integration of ideas.

D: Conclusions

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 There are no conclusions.

1 Conclusions are inconsistent with the evidence presented.

2 Some of the conclusions are consistent with the evidence presented.

3 The conclusions are consistent with the evidence presented and answer thecommentary question.

E: Evaluation and critical thinking

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 There is no evidence of evaluation.

1 There is limited evidence of evaluation.

2 There is evidence of evaluation, but not all judgments are substantiated.

3 There is evidence of evaluation, and judgments are substantiated. Critical and

reflective thinking occurs in the commentary.


5/5

F: Presentation

Achievement

level

Descriptor

0 The commentary exceeds 1,500 words.

1 The commentary is disorganized and lacks structure. Sources are not appropriatelyreferenced.

2 The commentary is sufficiently organized and structured with some use of

appropriate business terminology. Sources are appropriately referenced.

3 The commentary is well organized and structured, with consistent use ofappropriate business terminology. Sources are appropriately referenced and anappropriate bibliography is provided.

Documents

Instruction of IA