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Scientific Investigation

Here you will find a comprehensive guide for completing the Scientific Investigation, the internal assessment for IB Physics.

Basics

Logistics

  • One 10-hour investigation
  • Presented as a scientific report
  • 3000-word maximum
  • Marked by teachers with school-wide internal moderation
  • Sample checked by an IB examiner for worldwide moderation

Success criteria

  • 6 marks for Research Design (question, methodology, reproducibility)
  • 6 marks for Data Analysis (recording and processing, uncertainties, appropriateness and accuracy)
  • 6 marks for Conclusion (justified, relevant and consistent, scientific context)
  • 6 marks for Evaluation (methodological weaknesses and limitations, and linked improvements)

This Internal Assessment represents 20% of the final grade at both Standard and Higher Level.

Our student to the Scientific Investigation

 

Before starting the Scientific Investigation

The Scientific Investigation is a major component of IB Physics, so don't start working on it until you are ready

 

Finding and honing a research question

Here's our advice on how to come up with a great research question for the Scientific Investigation

 

Designing and conducting an investigation

Once you've got your research question, it's time to design and carry out your Scientific Investigation. Here's a bit of general advice.

 

Analysis, conclusion, and evaluation

From calculation to evaluation, some advice on completing your Scientific Investigation

 

Other approaches

While we recommend that most Scientific Investigations be done as hands-on labwork, the IB accepts alternative approaches, including simulations, database-based work, and spreadsheets.

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