Understanding the IB Geography Field Report
The IB Geography Course at a Glance
The IB geography course seeks to challenge IB learners through an examination of a wide range of issues relating to both human and physical geography, on local and international levels.
Both Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) IB geography will engage with the core component Geographic perspectives—global change, and, within it, population distribution—changing population; global climate—vulnerability and resilience; and global resource consumption and security.
Additionally, both SL and HL learners will explore a number of optional themes. These are as follows:
• Freshwater
• Oceans and coastal margins
• Extreme environments
• Geophysical hazards
• Leisure, tourism and sport
• Food and health
• Urban environments
For SL students, they must select two out of the seven seven optional themes, while HL students study three of seven.
It should also be noted that those studying IB geography at Higher Level will complete an additional component, this being Geographic perspectives—global interactions, in which they will examine concepts related to power, places and networks; human development and diversity; and global risks and resilience.
How Is IB Geography Assessed?
The IB geography course is assessed via a mixture of exam papers and coursework.
Regarding the exams, those sitting SL geography will complete two papers, while those taking IB geography at Higher Level will be tasked with three papers. IB geography Paper 1 is concerned with the seven optional themes listed above, from which SL learners examine two and HL candidates three. The second exam paper for IB geography is focused on the aforementioned core component of the course and all that it entails. Finally, for HL students, Paper 3 is centred on the completion of two critical essays that respond to questions on global interactions
For coursework, whether a student is sitting IB SL or HL geography, a Field Report must be completed. This piece of coursework amounts to 25% of a Standard Level student's entire grade, as well as 20% for HL students.
What Is the IB Geography Field Report?
The IB geography Field Report, also known as the Fieldwork Investigation or Internal Assessment (IA), is a cornerstone of the wider course. It is an internally assessed, i.e. marked by a student's teacher, report of no more than 2,500 words. The Field Report should make extensive use of primary data to examine a research question that is local in scale and concerned with some aspect of the IB geography course. As previously noted, the Field Report accounts for either 20% or 25% of an IB geography student’s final grade, depending on their level. So, considerable attention must be paid to this task. Ultimately, the purpose of the Field Report is to allow students to apply their skills and understanding in the subject as well as explore an area of interest for them.
Where to Start
All IB geography Field Reports should begin with a well formulated research question. The research question, or RQ, functions as a guide to wider study. The RQ needs to be clear, concise, and focused on a particular subject area from which primary data can be collected. For this reason, students must situate their research locally.
When developing the Field Report, IB geography students should also pay close attention to how their information is structured. One way to organise the report can be seen below:
Fieldwork question and geographic context – 300 words
Methods of investigation - 300 words
Quality and treatment of information collected - 500 words
Written analysis - 850 words
Conclusion - 200 words
Evaluation - 300 words
Following this structure will result in a Field Report of about 2450 words.
Challenges for Students
The first challenge for students is always the research question. As previously mentioned, care should be taken when selecting the research question as it represents the anchor point of the entire IB geography Field Report. Other challenges that often stump IB geography students are related to data. For example, incorrect data collection or poor data analysis can result in a poorly marked Field Report. Lastly, IB geography candidates must be aware of how they present their work. The Field Report must be well-structured, clean, and written in a comprehensive and accessible manner.
IB Support with BartyED
At BartyED, we understand the difficulties inherent in the IB geography Field Report. It is indeed a challenging piece of coursework that requires careful planning, development, and execution. Over the years, our team of expert IB geography tutors have guided innumerable students through the IB geography Field Report, from arriving on a research question, to collecting and analysing data, and proof reading drafts. It is a lot to take on alone as a young learner and, so, the experience of a tutor can mean all the difference.
If you think that you or your child could benefit from the assistance of a BartyED IB tutor, contact us today by phone (+852 2882 1017), by email (enquiries@bartyed.com), or through our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Paper 1 is weighted at 35% for both SL and HL. Paper 2, on the other hand, differs between levels. For SL students, it is valued at 40% of their total grade, while at HL Paper 2 is valued at 25%. Those taking HL must also complete a Paper 3 worth 20%.
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At SL, the Field Report is worth 25% of their total grade. However, for HL students, the task is valued at 20%.
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Yes, the IB geography Field Report is a challenging piece of coursework. It requires students to utilise their knowledge and skills in the subject up to that point, to develop a workable research question and collect and analyse data, before writing up the report itself.
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Finding an experienced and knowledgeable IB geography tutor can often prove all the difference for those working on their Field Report.