Business Management · Business Research Project (IA)
IB Business Management Internal Assessment
Upload your Business Research Project (IA) and get examiner-level feedback on every criterion — scored against the official IB Business Management internal assessment (business research project) criteria (first assessment 2024). Free to try, no account required.
Assessment criteria — 25 marks total
Your Business Research Project (IA) is graded against 7 criteria. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Integration of a Key Concept
One of the four key concepts (change, creativity, ethics or sustainability) used as a lens, with the analysis of the connection between the concept and the organization effectively integrated throughout the project — introduction, body and conclusion — not just name-dropped.
Supporting Documents
Three to five relevant supporting documents that address the research question in appropriate depth and breadth, providing a range of ideas and views. Documents must be contemporary (published within three years of submission) and the majority of the project's information should come from them.
Selection and Application of Tools and Theories
Business management tools and theories effectively selected and applied with clear relevance to the research question — the right analytical frameworks (e.g. SWOT, STEEPLE, ratio analysis, decision trees) chosen for the issue, and actually applied to the organization's data rather than described in the abstract.
Analysis and Evaluation
Data from the supporting documents effectively selected and used, leading to a thorough analysis and evaluation of the research question — a sustained integration of ideas that also considers the assumptions underpinning the arguments and their implications.
Conclusions
Conclusions consistent with the evidence presented in the project that explicitly answer the research question — without introducing new facts or arguments that were not discussed in the body.
Structure
The research project is organized using an appropriate structure: an introduction that sets the context (organization, issue, methodology), a main body that presents and analyses findings, and a conclusion that answers the research question.
Presentation
The project is effectively presented with all required elements: a title page, an accurate table of contents, appropriate headings and sub-headings, and numbered pages — within the 1,800-word limit.
Common mistakes to avoid
Integration of a Key Concept
Key concept named on the title page but absent from the analysisUsing more than one key concept, or one outside the four allowedConcept described in general terms, never connected to the organizationConcept appears in the introduction and conclusion but not the body
Supporting Documents
Fewer than three or more than five supporting documentsAll documents from a single source or perspective (no range of views)Documents older than three years before submissionDocuments attached but barely used in the analysis
Selection and Application of Tools and Theories
Tools listed or defined but never applied to the organization's dataTools chosen that don't fit the research questionOnly one tool used where the question needs several perspectivesTheory applied generically, not in the context of the chosen organization
Analysis and Evaluation
Describing the documents instead of analysing their dataAnalysis disconnected from the supporting documentsOne-sided argument with no evaluation of strengths and weaknessesAssumptions behind the arguments never questioned
Conclusions
Conclusion introduces new evidence or arguments not in the bodyResearch question never explicitly answeredConclusion contradicts or ignores parts of the evidence presentedUnanswered aspects of the question not acknowledged
Structure
No clear introduction–body–conclusion sequenceMethodology never outlined in the introductionFindings scattered rather than organized around the argument
Presentation
Missing title page or table of contentsTable of contents that doesn't match the actual page numbersNo headings/sub-headings, or unnumbered pagesExceeding the 1,800-word limit (examiners stop reading there)
Common questions
How is the IB Business Management Business Research Project (IA) marked?
Your Business Research Project (IA) is marked against 7 criteria totalling 25 marks using the official IB Business Management internal assessment (business research project) criteria (first assessment 2024). Your teacher marks first, then the IBO moderates a random sample from your school — so your mark may be adjusted up or down if the moderator consistently disagrees with your teacher.
What is the most important criterion in the IB Business Management IA?
All criteria matter, but the highest-weighted criterion — worth the most marks — is "Integration of a Key Concept". Focus on what the mark band descriptor says for the top score and make sure every element it mentions is present in your submission.
Can I use AI to help with my Business Management IA?
The IBO allows AI for feedback and research support, but the submitted work must be entirely your own. iBacalao gives criterion-by-criterion feedback on your draft — the same kind of comment your teacher would give — without generating any text for your IA.