IB Economics IA: Structure and Research Guidance for Students in Dubai
The Internal Assessment (IA) is an essential component of all IB subjects, including Economics. For IB Economics students in Dubai, it accounts for 20% of the grade at a Higher Level and 30% of the grade at a Standard Level.
It assesses the students' research and academic writing skills and their ability to apply economic theory to the real-world context using recent data and relevant examples. As it is primarily a research assignment, the structure and quality of the research in terms of the academic writing, citation, analysis, etc., are important factors in meeting the IB assessment criteria effectively.
FAQs about Economics IA: Answered by IBDP mentor, Dr Anil Khare
What Is the IB Economics IA?
Dr Anil Khare:
The IB Economics IA includes three written commentaries, one each on:
Microeconomics
Macroeconomics
The Global Economy
Each commentary, limited to a maximum of 800 words, must be based on a recent real-world news article that was published within the last year. IB Economics tutors in Dubai must show how economic concepts work in the real world rather than just describing economic theory.
What is the correct structure of IB Economics IA?
Dr Anil Khare:
IB Economics students in Dubai must include the following sections to write a well-structured Economics IA:
Introduction and article summary
A brief outline of the issue discussed in the article, where the main economic concepts being analysed are identified.
Economic analysis
In the analysis, IB economics students in Dubai must apply relevant theory and use correctly labelled diagrams. The cause-and-effect relationships should be clearly explained.
Evaluation
In this section, students must critically evaluate how effective policies are by considering what their short- and long-term impacts will be, the stakeholders involved, the assumptions and limitations of the analysis.
Conclusion
All good IB Economics IAs must end with a final paragraph summing up the student's judgement and linking it to the analysis and evaluation presented.
Throughout the commentary, IB Economics students in Dubai will be assessed on the clarity of their writing and the alignment of their work with IB command terms.
How to research and select the right article?
Dr Anil Khare:
Choosing the right article is absolutely critical if students want to score well in their IA. IB Economics tutors in Dubai can guide students in selecting strong articles that:
Focus on a particular economic issue
Allow for clear diagrammatic analysis
Contain data or policy discussion that supports evaluation
Students must take care to avoid articles that are too descriptive, outdated, or broad, which often limit the depth of analysis and evaluation, regardless of writing quality.
Common Mistakes Students Make in Economic IAs: How IB Scholars Can Help
Students frequently lose marks due to:
Over-describing the article instead of analysing it
Incorrect or poorly labelled diagrams
Weak or generic evaluation
Exceeding the word limit or misinterpreting assessment criteria
Even accurate economic knowledge can score poorly if it is not presented in a way that directly addresses IB marking descriptors. At IB Scholars, powered by Amourion Group, specialized tutors with several years of experience teaching IB help students avoid these common pitfalls and meet all the required IB criteria.
To avail these services, students can contact us over:
Call or WhatsApp: +971 55 956 4344
Website: www.ibscholars.com
