What the Best IB Global Politics IA Examples Get Right

What Is the IB Global Politics IA?

The IB Global Politics Internal Assessment (IA), also known as the Engagement Project, is a key component of the IB Global Politics course. For Higher Level and Standard Level students it is weighted at 20% and 30%, respectfully, of their final grade. To receive the highest possible mark it is important that those taking IB Global Politics understand that the IA is not a desk-based literature review or a research essay. Rather, it is a task that requires students to engage actively with a political issue.  

This blog looks at what strong Global Politics IA examples do well, with real topic examples and a breakdown of where marks are won and lost.

What the IB Global Politics Engagement Project Requires

The IB Global Politics IA requires students to produce a written report of maximum 2,000 words on a political issue of their choice. Crucially, it is one in which they have some involvement with and be at the community or local level. What this means practically is that IB Global Politics learners must engage with the issue in the real world. This can be done through interviews with related parties, participation in a campaign, or attendance to local meetings, for example. What is crucial to keep in mind is that the IA is driven by the engagement activity, not by research. Research is a support for the task, not the crux of the project. 

It is also important to note that there are some key differences between the Global Politics IA at Higher Level and Standard Level. As previously mentioned, the task is weighted differently, amounting to 20% of Higher Level Global Politics students’ final grade and 30% for those at Standard Level. Additionally, those taking IB Global Politics at HL must produce a 400-word recommendation at the end of their IA. This recommendation is a separate section and is, therefore, an addition to the 2,000 word report itself. 

Lastly, Global Politics learners should be aware that the Internal Assessment is marked against five criteria (A to E), with an additional sixth for HL students (F):

A. Explanation and Justification (4 Marks)

B. Process (3 Marks)

C. Analysis and Synthesis (8 Marks)

D. Evaluation and Reflection (6 Marks)

E. Communication (3 Marks)

F. Recommendation (6 Marks)

How the Best IB Global Politics IA Examples Choose Their Topic

A highly marked IB Global Politics IA begins with a well formulated research question, or RQ. Without a carefully composed RQ, IB learners are beginning their IA on weak footing. From the very start, students should seek to avoid broad topics. Writing an IA on wide ranging topics like climate change or women’s rights would be impossible as even the most skilled IB Global Politics student would be unable to engage with these issues meaningfully at a local level. Rather, IB candidates should ground their RQ in a particular place or community, aiming for specificity. Below are examples of IA research questions that meet the criteria for a well-developed RQ. Each one is tied to a specific place, group, or event and opens up a realistic path to primary engagement.

Example 1 To what extent are non-violent resistance and social movements successful in limiting the logging of old-growth forests and protecting Indigenous land rights in British Columbia?

This RQ stands out due to its focus on local actors. Additionally, the research questions present a specific legal and environmental context as well as clear avenues for engagement with advocacy organisations.

Example 2 How significant is the role of the media in encouraging voters during the 2024 local election campaign in Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Here, the IA research question is related to a real, time-bound event and a specific location. In doing so, the candidate has made their primary sources and engagement activities concrete rather than speculative.

Example 3 To what extent does limited knowledge about the European Parliament influence conscious political participation among youth in the EU?

In this case, the RQ allows for the opportunity for the Global Politics student to design and conduct a survey or focus group within their own school or community as a direct and manageable form of engagement.

Example 4 To what extent are NGOs able to effectively support the disadvantaged population of migrant workers in Singapore?

This RQ allows for the possibility of a substantial engagement activity, with the student interviewing workers within a related NGO.

The IB Global Politics Engagement Activity

IB Global Politics learners should be aware that, regarding their engagement activity, marks go for the process, too, and not just the outcome. Well-developed engagement activities that translate into highly marked Internal Assessments demonstrate four key points: 

  1. A clear rationale for why a particular form of engagement was chosen.

  2. Evidence that the student prepared thoroughly, including prior research and considered questions before conducting interviews.

  3. Critical reflection on what the engagement revealed and where its limitations lay.

  4. Integration of engagement findings with complementary secondary research throughout the report, not confined to one dedicated section.

Conversely, the engagement activities of IB Global Politics Internal Assessments that receive lower scores tend only to describe what happened (‘I met with and interviewed several people’)  rather than interrogating what those activities revealed or why that matters to the research question.

What Strong IB Global Politics IA Reports Actually Look Like

Often, highly marked IB Global Politics Internal Assessments have a number of features in common. For example, IB candidates should ensure that their chosen political issue is identified and explained early on in the project. Similarly, the engagement activities should be explained and their relevance justified. A strong Global Politics IA also clearly analyses the political issue and demonstrates effective synthesis of the perspectives of stakeholders and the sources that a student utilises. IB Global Politics students aiming for the higher end of the mark band should demonstrate a good understanding and application of relevant course content and concepts and work to develop a project that is clear and concise in its expression.

How to Use IB Global Politics IA Examples

For guidance, students might turn to online examples of Global Politics Internal Assessments. When reviewing a sample IA, there are a few questions that an IB Global Politics learner should ask: 

  • Is the RQ specific enough to allow meaningful local engagement?

  • Does the IA critically evaluate the engagement, or simply describe it?

  • Are multiple perspectives present throughout the report, or grouped into separate sections?

  • Does the student acknowledge their own positionality to the issue?

  • Is political theory integrated into the analysis, or added as an afterthought?

Ultimately, online examples can often vary wildly in quality and may not carry any mark. Consequently, IB Global Politics learners should seek out only examples with examiner commentary attached. This way, with feedback present and a score clearly visible, students can decide whether a particular IA is worth looking over.   

Work With a BartyED IB Global Politics Tutor

The IB Global Politics IA, or Engagement Project, rewards students who plan carefully, engage genuinely, and write analytically. Yet, it can be hard to know where to start and, as mentioned early, a strong start with a well-formulated RQ can make all the difference. At BartyED, our team of experienced IB Global Politics tutors are available to support students in those early decisions right through to drafting the final IA. 


So, if you think that you or your child could benefit from the expert guidance of a BartyED IB Global Politics tutor, contact us today. You can reach us by phone +852 2882 1017, WhatsApp at +852 57215837, email at enquiries@bartyed.com, or through the form below.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Global Politics IA is a roughly 2,000 word project that offers students the space to examine a political issue at the local or community level.

  • There is no set topic or topics for the IA. Rather, students develop a research question based on an area of personal interest.

  • The Global Politics IA is worth 20% for HL learners and 30% at SL.

  • Yes, there is a slight difference: HL students must include a recommendations section in their Global Politics IA, while SL students do not.

See more posts on BartyED

History & Politics, IB DiplomaKathryn Ealand