Economics IB

IA for ECON IBDP

Internal Assessment

Internally Assessed Economics Guide - DP

Purpose of Internal Assessment Portfolio - DP

The IA in IBDP Economics is an integral part of the course for both SL and HL students and it enables students to demonstrate the application of their skills and knowledge, and to pursue their personal interests, without the time limitations and other constraints that are associated with written examinations. Internal assessment in economics enables students to demonstrate the application of their knowledge and understanding of economic theory to real-world situations.

Time Allocation, Weighting and Word Count for IA Economics - DP

Internal Assessment Portfolio A portfolio of four commentaries

Time: 20 hours

Weighting: 20%

Word Count: Students must produce a portfolio of three commentaries. Each commentary must not exceed 750 words.

It is recommended that a total of approximately 20 hours should be allocated to the portfolio at both SL and HL. This should include:

time for the teacher to explain to students the requirements of the internal assessment
class time for students to work on the internal assessment component
time for consultation between the teacher and each student
time to review and monitor progress and to check authenticity

Econ Portfolio Requirements - DP

Both SL and HL economics students produce a portfolio of three commentaries based on articles from published news media. Each article must be based on a different section of the Econ Course:

microeconomics
macroeconomics
international economics
development economics

The articles can be a newspaper, a journal or the internet, but must not be from television or radio broadcasts. If a student includes a relatively lengthy article, which is very much discouraged, the student must highlight the section(s) of the article upon which the commentary is based. The article on which the commentary is based should, where possible, be in the same language as the commentary. If an extract in another language is used, the student must provide an accurate translation of the whole article. Students must also include the original article in their portfolio. Students must use a different source for each commentary and also, contemporary articles. Students need to look for articles relating to current events and these must be published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary.

Students must select their own articles to discuss. It may happen that more than one student bases his or her commentary on the same article, but the article must not be given to the class by the teacher, and the production of the commentary must be each student’s individual work.

Structure of Econ Portfolio - DP

Each commentary must:

explain the linkages between the article and economic theory taken from the section of the syllabus on which the article is based
demonstrate economic insights into the implications of the article (that is, it should provide evidence of the student’s ability to discuss current events from the point of view of an economist).

Each commentary must record:

the title of the article
the source of the article (including date of access to the site if from the internet)
the date the article was published
the date the commentary was written
the word count of the commentary
the section of the syllabus to which the article relates.

Each portfolio must contain:

a summary portfolio coversheet
a commentary coversheet for each commentary
three commentaries, accompanied in each case by the relevant article

Each commentary must address five internal assessment criteria

Criterion A Diagrams
Criterion B Terminology
Criterion C Application
Criterion D Analysis
Criterion E Evaluation

Mark Allocation and Assessment for Economics IA - DP

Theses assessment criterion applies to each of the 3 commentaries:

Criterion A Diagrams 3 marks
Criterion B Terminology 2 marks
Criterion C Application 2 marks
Criterion D Analysis 3 marks
Criterion E Evaluation 4 marks

Also there is one internal assessment criterion for the whole portfolio.

Criterion F Rubric requirements 3 marks

Each commentary is assessed individually for the first five assessment criteria (criteria A–E) and then criterion F is applied to the whole portfolio. The maximum for the portfolio is 45 marks: (14 marks x 3 commentaries) + 3 marks = 42 + 3 marks.

Internal Assessment Criteria and Mark Bands for Economics - DP

Criterion A

Criterion A: Diagrams - Aim

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student is able to construct and use diagrams.

Criterion A: Diagrams - Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ Relevant diagram(s) are included but not explained, or the explanations are incorrect.
2 ~ Relevant, accurate and correctly labelled diagram(s) are included, with a limited explanation.
3 ~ Relevant, accurate and correctly labelled diagram(s) are included, with a full explanation.

Criterion B

Criterion B: Terminology - Aim

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student uses appropriate economic terminology.

Criterion B: Terminology - Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ Terminology relevant to the article is included in the commentary.
2 ~ Terminology relevant to the article is used appropriately throughout the commentary

Criterion C

Criterion C: Application - Aim
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student recognizes, understands and applies economic information in the context of the article.

Criterion C: Application - Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ Relevant economic concepts and/or theories are applied to the article.
2 ~ Relevant economic concepts and/or theories are applied to the article appropriately throughout the commentary.

Criterion D
Criterion D: Analysis - Aim
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student can explain and develop appropriate economic theories and/or concepts in the context of the article.

Criterion D: Analysis - Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ There is limited economic analysis relating to the article.
2 ~ There is appropriate economic analysis relating to the article.
3 ~ There is effective economic analysis relating to the article.

Criterion E

Criterion E: Evaluation - Aim
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student synthesizes his or her analysis in order to make judgments that are supported by reasoned arguments.

Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ Judgments are made that are unsupported, or supported, by incorrect reasoning.
2 ~ Judgments are made that are supported by limited reasoning.
3 ~ Judgments are made that are supported by appropriate reasoning.
4 ~ Judgments are made that are supported by effective and balanced reasoning.

Criterion F

Criterion F: The Completed Portfolio - Aim
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student meets the five rubric requirements for the complete portfolio.

Each commentary does not exceed 750 words.
Each article is based on a different section of the syllabus.
Each article is taken from a different and appropriate source.
Each article was published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary.
The summary portfolio coversheet, three commentary coversheets and the article for each commentary are included.

Criterion E: Evaluation - Level Descriptor
0 ~ The work does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1 ~ Three rubric requirements are met.
2 ~ Four rubric requirements are met.
3 ~ All five rubric requirements are met.

Economic Resources

IB Guide Economics https://goo.gl/DseBhp
Economics Overveiw IB https://goo.gl/UNPkye
B Economics Internal Assessment - guides and tips http://ibeconomist.com/internal-assessment/
IB Survival https://goo.gl/crE8wi
IB economics Suject Brief https://goo.gl/UAvPFe