Year 12 Chemists Take on Independent Investigation
Building IA Confidence
Year 12 Higher Level Chemistry students have been developing the skills needed for one of the most important components of the IB Diploma Programme: the Internal Assessment (IA).
The Chemistry IA is an independent, student-led investigation that contributes 20% of the final IB grade. Each student designs their own research question based on topics studied in class, plans and carries out an experiment, collects and processes data, and writes a scientific report including analysis, conclusions, and evaluation. It is a valuable opportunity for students to think and work like real scientists, developing independence, problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
To prepare for this, students have been completing a “practice IA” focused on redox titrations. This allowed them to experience the full process in a supported environment before beginning their own investigations. Students chose between two experimental pathways: determining the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in a commercial hair bleach, or investigating ethane dioic acid to determine the relative formula mass of a hydrated compound. Both tasks required careful laboratory technique, precise data collection and thoughtful analysis.
Following their experiments, students processed their results, carried out calculations and reported their findings in the style required by the IB. They then received detailed feedback based on the official IA criteria, helping them to understand exactly what is expected in each section of the report.
Importantly, this work builds on skills developed throughout the course. From early in Year 12, students have been learning how to design research questions and plan investigations, and this recent project has brought together all four key components of the IA. As a result, they are now well-prepared to begin their own independent investigations with confidence.
It has been fantastic to see students engaging so thoughtfully with their work, and we look forward to seeing the wide range of ideas they will explore in their final IAs.
