IB Chemistry IA Tips with Examples for May 2025 Exams

Introduction to Your Chemistry IA

Your Internal Assessment (IA) in IB Chemistry is a great opportunity to showcase your understanding of chemical principles through a hands-on experiment. This project allows you to dive deep into an area of interest within chemistry, apply your knowledge practically, and demonstrate your ability to plan, execute, and analyze an experiment. To ace this component, you need a well-structured report that presents your experiment clearly and concisely. This guide will help you achieve that with practical tips and examples for each section of your IA.

The IA not only assesses your understanding of chemistry but also your skills in experimental design, data collection, analysis, and evaluation. By following the guidelines below, you can ensure your report is comprehensive, well-supported, and meets the standards expected by the IB examiners. Each section of your IA should be meticulously crafted to provide a clear, logical, and insightful overview of your work, from the introduction to the conclusion.

1. Title Page

2. Introduction

The introduction should provide an overview of your experiment, including:

3. Background Information

Provide the scientific context:

4. Research Question

Formulate a clear research question that defines your aim. Your research question should specify the independent and dependent variables and be phrased concisely.

A well-constructed research question provides a focused framework for the entire investigation. It should leave no ambiguity about what you are trying to discover.

5. Variables

Identify your variables clearly:

6. Methodology (Procedure)

Detail the procedure to ensure repeatability and reliability of the experiment:

7. Data Collection

Differentiate between raw data and processed data, and ensure that your data is presented clearly and accurately:

8. Data Processing

Present your data effectively using various methods such as calculations, tables, and graphs:

9. Analysis

Interpret your findings comprehensively:

10. Evaluation

Reflect on the strengths, limitations, and potential improvements for your experiment:

11. Conclusion

Summarize the outcome of your experiment clearly:

12. References

Cite all the sources used, such as IB textbooks, scientific articles, and websites, ensuring you follow the appropriate citation format. Proper referencing adds credibility to your work and acknowledges the sources that informed your experiment.

Examples to Inspire Your IA