IB Chemistry IA – From Initial Idea to Chemical Investigation
Every year, during week 45, IB Chemistry students work on experiments they have designed themselves for their IA (Internal Assessment) project. The project bridges practical laboratory work with theoretical knowledge, allowing students to explore chemistry through their own choices, measurements, and reflections.
The objective goes beyond simply conducting an experiment and obtaining a result. Students must also be able to justify their chosen experimental design and evaluate the insights their investigation yields. In this way, the process becomes an exercise in establishing a coherent link between the research question, the methodology, and the conclusion. The core focus lies in both chemical understanding and the ability to critically evaluate one’s own results.
In the laboratory, the students’ plans are put into practice. Week 45 can be a chaotic time for both teachers and students, with so many independent investigations taking place simultaneously. Nevertheless, everyone manages to complete their work and obtain usable results, which serve as the foundation for the next stages of the project.
The experiment, therefore, is not the end of the project, but rather the starting point for a thorough analysis. Students process their data and discuss their findings in the context of chemical theory. At the same time, they must examine how uncertainties and potential sources of error affect their ability to draw conclusions.
The work culminates in a substantial written assignment, in which students describe their experimental design, present their data analysis, and discuss and evaluate the investigation. The assignment must demonstrate the connection between the work performed, the results obtained, and the theory used to interpret them.
The IA project accounts for 20% of the final grade in the subject. The assignment is assessed by the student’s teacher and subsequently moderated externally by IB examiners. For the students, the project thus serves as both a significant component of the assessment and an opportunity to engage in independent work in chemistry.
Text and images by Mette Lützen Hoff Sørensen (Ed. Michael K. Salbo)