Should I use ChatGPT or iBacalao for my Internal Assessment?

Use iBacalao when you need feedback scored against the official IB rubric for your subject. Use ChatGPT for general brainstorming only — it does not apply verbatim mark-band descriptors and may generate text that breaches academic integrity.

Can ChatGPT score IB criteria accurately?

No. ChatGPT gives general advice without referencing the specific mark-band descriptors for your subject and criterion. iBacalao loads the official rubric for all 25 subjects and scores each criterion individually.

Is using ChatGPT for an Internal Assessment academic misconduct?

Using ChatGPT to generate analysis, conclusions, or rewritten paragraphs is academic misconduct under IBO rules. Using it for formative feedback on your own writing is a grey area — iBacalao is designed explicitly as a formative comment tool, not a text generator.

Which is cheaper for IB students?

ChatGPT has a free tier; Plus is ~$20/month. iBacalao gives 3 free IA reviews with no card, then plans from $27.99/month. iBacalao includes IB-specific rubric scoring that ChatGPT does not offer.

Does either tool submit my IA to Turnitin?

Neither submits to Turnitin directly. iBacalao processes your draft for feedback and does not store it. Pasting into ChatGPT sends text to OpenAI's systems — check your school's AI policy for both.

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Comparison guide

ChatGPT vs iBacalao for IB IA feedback

Last updated: June 2026

Students often ask whether ChatGPT or a dedicated IB tool is better for Internal Assessment revision. ChatGPT is a general assistant; iBacalao is built only for IB Diploma work — it scores every criterion against official rubrics for all 25 subjects and never generates draft text for you.

The right choice depends on what you need: brainstorming and general writing help versus rubric-grounded, criterion-level comments tied to your subject guide. This comparison focuses on the revision use case most students care about before teacher submission.

Feature	ChatGPT	iBacalao
Rubric accuracy	Generic advice — no official IB descriptors	Verbatim mark-band descriptors per subject
Criterion scoring	Unstructured paragraphs	Per-criterion scores with ranked fixes
Academic integrity	Can generate draft text — high risk	Feedback only — never writes your IA
Pricing	Free / ~$20/mo Plus	3 free reviews; from $27.99/mo
Subjects covered	Any (no IB rubrics built in)	All 25 IB subjects + EE + TOK
Turnitin risk	Text sent to OpenAI	No storage, no submission record

Frequently asked questions

Should I use ChatGPT or iBacalao for my Internal Assessment?: Use iBacalao when you need feedback scored against the official IB rubric for your subject. Use ChatGPT for general brainstorming only — it does not apply verbatim mark-band descriptors and may generate text that breaches academic integrity.
Can ChatGPT score IB criteria accurately?: No. ChatGPT gives general advice without referencing the specific mark-band descriptors for your subject and criterion. iBacalao loads the official rubric for all 25 subjects and scores each criterion individually.
Is using ChatGPT for an Internal Assessment academic misconduct?: Using ChatGPT to generate analysis, conclusions, or rewritten paragraphs is academic misconduct under IBO rules. Using it for formative feedback on your own writing is a grey area — iBacalao is designed explicitly as a formative comment tool, not a text generator.
Which is cheaper for IB students?: ChatGPT has a free tier; Plus is ~$20/month. iBacalao gives 3 free IA reviews with no card, then plans from $27.99/month. iBacalao includes IB-specific rubric scoring that ChatGPT does not offer.
Does either tool submit my IA to Turnitin?: Neither submits to Turnitin directly. iBacalao processes your draft for feedback and does not store it. Pasting into ChatGPT sends text to OpenAI's systems — check your school's AI policy for both.

Try criterion-by-criterion feedback on your subject at iBacalao subject feedback or see our full Internal Assessment feedback tools comparison.