History IA Examples and Structure: Feedback Guide for IB Teachers

History IA examples help students understand the difference between a topic summary and a focused historical investigation. Teacher feedback should keep source evaluation, argument, and reflection separate.

What useful History IA examples show

• A focused historical question that can be investigated with available sources.
• Source evaluation that explains value and limitation for this investigation.
• An investigation section organized around argument, not chronology alone.
• Reflection on method and the challenges of historical knowledge.

Teacher feedback checklist

1. Check whether the question invites analysis rather than description.
2. Ask whether each source evaluation is specific to the investigation.
3. Look for historical argument after source evidence.
4. Require reflection on what the method revealed or limited.

Reusable comments

• "Make the value and limitation specific to your research question."
• "This paragraph summarizes events; add analysis of why the evidence supports your claim."
• "Use the reflection to discuss the challenge of working with these sources."
• "Connect this evidence to the historical debate or interpretation you are evaluating."

Next steps

Use the IB Internal Assessment Grader with your History IA criteria and revise the draft feedback before sharing.