This approach blends the safety of a proven model with the creativity and personal touch that make your IA stand out. It’s a balanced strategy that reduces risks while maximizing your potential for a high-scoring, meaningful Internal Assessment.
Why Are Sample Reports Helpful?
1. Proven Structure and Clear Expectations:
- Sample reports offer a tested framework and show what examiners expect.
2. Time Efficiency and Reduced Stress:
- They save time by avoiding trial-and-error in structuring your IA. A clear model also lowers anxiety.
3. Enhanced Creativity and Personal Touch:
- With a solid foundation, you can focus on adding unique, engaging elements. You can balance syllabus content with advanced concepts, tailoring the IA to your strengths.
4. Avoiding Pitfalls While Staying Original:
- Learn from successful examples to avoid common mistakes. Add personal engagement and mathematical depth to ensure originality and potentially surpass the benchmark.
What Do Good Sample Reports Look Like?
Websites like Clastify provide many high-scoring IA examples. When choosing benchmark reports, consider these factors:
1. Source & Credibility
- Does the platform (e.g., Clastify) confirm if scores are verified or self-reported?
- Is the report from the past 1-3 years to align with current IB criteria?
- Avoid 2020-2021 reports, as Covid-19 may have inflated scores relative to quality.
2. Content & Topic Selection
- Is the topic simple and clear, avoiding overly complex or vague themes that hinder mathematical exploration?
- Does it mainly use IB math syllabus concepts (e.g., calculus, probability, linear algebra) with a few “beyond syllabus” ideas?
3. Structure & Engagement Quality
- Is the report easy to follow, with a logical structure (e.g., introduction → exploration → conclusion) and smooth transitions?
4. Red Flags to Avoid
- Scores without verified feedback
- Overly niche topics requiring specialized knowledge
- Reports using math far beyond the syllabus without explanation.
- Poorly structured or overly wordy writing.