Understanding the IB Business IA

The IB Business Internal Assessment (IA) is an essential component of the Business course at IBDP. It comprises a significant portion of the final grade for both SL and HL students (30% and 20% respectively), and is a great opportunity for Business students to show their understanding and passion for the subject. Ultimately, the Business IA is a research project where students choose to examine an aspect of their course through real world examples of businesses. As it is internally assessed, and takes place over a number of weeks, the IB Business IA is a great opportunity for IB students to exert control over their performance, as they have a chance to redraft in response to feedback, and ensure that they achieve their potential in the assessment.

Business IA title examples

The IB Business IA asks students to apply one of four key concepts to the real-life business world: change, creativity, ethics or sustainability. These concepts can, of course, be interpreted in a wide range of contexts, so much of the success of a Business IA is based around the research question devised by the student. This is why the planning stage of any IA is so essential. Choosing a topic that has a clearly defined research question and publicly available data is an essential part of succeeding at the Business IA.

It is also important to remember to be specific in your title. Rather than thinking about the “Impact of brand loyalty in the beauty industry”, consider a specific policy. This could be something like “What is the impact of anti-animal testing policies on brand loyalty in the beauty industry?” Alternatively, a student might wish to cite a specific business and investigate actions within that business. For example, “How has the Discovery-Warner Bros. merger impacted public perception of the brands?”

Acing the Business IA and avoiding pitfalls

Success in the IB Business IA is dependent on careful planning and rigorous attention to detail throughout the process. The Business IA should not be longer than 1,800 words, not including footnotes and bibliography, which does not leave room for waffle, if a candidate is aiming high on the assessment. Students should also recognise that they are being assessed on their ability to explore concepts from the syllabus, and on the effective selection of tools and ideas to help in the analysis of their research question. A clear and definitive conclusion is also required to score highly on the Business IA.

On the other hand, there are areas that could prove problematic for students without effective guidance. The selection of sources is a key area where students often require additional support. While the Business IA is a great opportunity for students to develop their research skills, this can be difficult without someone more experienced to guide them to the most effective research methods. What’s more, the report itself needs to be both concise, and insightful. This means that careful attention must be paid throughout the drafting process, in order to score highly on the Business IA.

The importance of rigorous support in the Business IA

All IBDP courses present their own unique challenges, and Business is no different. When it comes to the IA, it is best for Business students to reach out for assistance so that experienced tutors can help support them throughout the process. This enables students to focus on producing the best possible content for their IA, and know that they are developing their research skills with effective and thorough support. To find out more about how our team of highly-qualified and experienced IBDP Business tutors can offer unparalleled support throughout your Business IA, and the rest of your IBDP course, get in touch via email at enquiries@bartyed.com, or via phone at +852 2882 1017.