IB History IA: Structure,
Criteria & How to Score Full Marks
The IB History IA is worth 25% of your final grade. It's a 2,200-word historical investigation with three sections, each with its own marking rubric. Here's exactly what examiners look for in each section.
Grade my History IA →What each section is worth
| Section | Marks | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| A — Identification & Evaluation of Sources | 6 marks | Can you evaluate two primary sources using OPCVL? Do you analyse their value and limitations for a historian investigating your RQ? |
| B — Investigation | 15 marks | Is your historical investigation clearly structured, evidence-based, and explicitly analytical? Does it directly answer the RQ? |
| C — Reflection | 4 marks | Do you reflect on the methods of historians and what this investigation revealed about the challenges of studying history? |
OPCVL: The framework that gets 6/6
Section A asks you to evaluate two primary sources. Most students describe the sources instead of evaluating them. Examiners want analysis of value and limitation specifically for a historian investigating your research question.
| Component | What to write | Marks impact |
|---|---|---|
| O — Origin | Who created it? When? In what context? What type of source is it? | Baseline — needed but not sufficient alone |
| P — Purpose | Why was it created? Who was the intended audience? Was it meant to persuade, record, or inform? | Medium — sets up the Value/Limitation analysis |
| C — Content | Brief summary of what the source says. Do not over-describe — 2–3 sentences max. | Low — don't spend marks here |
| V — Value | Why is this source useful FOR A HISTORIAN studying your RQ? Link the value to the origin/purpose. | High — examiners focus here |
| L — Limitation | What does the source NOT tell us? What biases or gaps does it have FOR A HISTORIAN studying your RQ? | High — examiners focus here |
Writing "this source is limited because it is biased" without explaining what the bias IS and why it matters for YOUR research question. Bias that is irrelevant to your RQ is not a limitation worth mentioning in an IB IA.
How to structure your historical argument
Research Question requirements
Must be specific, debatable, and answerable in 2,200 words. "Why did the Cuban Missile Crisis occur?" is too broad. "To what extent did Soviet domestic policy pressure Khrushchev's decision to withdraw missiles in October 1962?" is appropriate scope.
Evidence requirements
Use at least 4–6 sources (primary + secondary). Each piece of evidence should be linked explicitly to your argument — not just quoted. Examiners look for "this demonstrates that..." or "this challenges the view that..."
Counter-argument
A Section B that presents only one perspective scores in the 8–10 range at best. To reach 13–15, you must engage seriously with an alternative interpretation and explain why yours is more convincing.
Conclusion requirements
Must directly and explicitly answer the research question. "In conclusion, there were many factors..." scores low. "To the extent that X was the primary cause, evidence from Y demonstrates Z, though historians such as [Name] argue..." scores high.
Get AI feedback on your History IA before submission
Paste your draft. The essay grader checks Section A source evaluation, Section B argumentation, and Section C reflection against the IB marking criteria.
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