Mark Bands

IB Geography Mark Bands

Introduction to Markbands

Markbands are a comprehensive statement of expected performance against which responses are judged. They represent a single holistic criterion divided into level descriptors. Each level descriptor corresponds to a range of marks to differentiate student performance. A best-fit approach is used to ascertain which particular mark to use from the possible range for each level descriptor.

Paper 1 & 2 Long Response Markbands

These mark bands will be used to mark the part B options in paper 1 & 2 in both in the HL and SL courses. These markbands will also be used to mark most homework long response answers, only HL homework will be marked using a different markband.

Paper 1 & 2 Markband Summary

Paper 1 & 2 Full Mark Bands: Mark Bands P1 &2

Paper 3 Markbands

In paper 3, the HL only paper, all assessment will take the form of long responses. In the final exam for P3 you will be required to write 2 long responses The first part, part A will be marked out of 12 and the second part, part B will be marked out of 16..

P3 Part A Markband Summary: Maximum 12 marks

P3 Part B Markband Summary: Maximum 16 marks

Paper 3 Part A Full Markband: Markband P3 part A
Paper 3 Part B: Full Markband: Markband P3 part B

Internal Assessment Marking Criteria HL & SL

The purpose of this assessment, which is common to SL and HL, is to assess students’ ability to demonstrate the following in relation to the fieldwork research question.

Knowledge and understanding (assessment objective 1)—criteria A and D
Application and analysis (assessment objective 2)—criteria A and D
Synthesis and evaluation (assessment objective 3)—criteria D, E and F
Select, use and apply a variety of appropriate skills and techniques (assessment objective 4)—criteria B and C

There are six internal assessment criteria for the fieldwork written report. The criteria should be applied systematically against the relevant parts of the written report using a best-fit approach.

Geography Internal Assessment: Geography I.A. Full Mark Scheme

NIST Summative Assessment

Summative assessments will take the form of long response essays or tests/ exams. Essays will be marked according to the mark bands and the grade will be converted to a grade out of 7. Test and exams will be marked and the grade converted into firstly % and then a final grade out of 7.

The tables below show how grades for long responses and tests/ exams will be converted into final grades out of 7.