How To Choose the Perfect IB IA Topic

Choosing your Internal Assessment (IA) topic can feel daunting. Many IB students spend weeks agonising over their topic, worrying they'll pick something that's either too difficult, too boring, or impossible to research properly. 

What you need is a focused, feasible topic that aligns with your subject's assessment criteria. In this article, we'll help you work out how to choose the perfect IB IA topic with a clear, step-by-step process to follow. We'll show you exactly how to turn your interests into workable research questions, with real examples from different subjects and practical tips to help you avoid the most common pitfalls.

Key Takeaways

• Pick something manageable, not groundbreaking. Your IA doesn't need to solve world hunger or discover a new scientific law. It needs to be focused, researchable, and completed within your time and resource constraints.

• Align with assessment criteria from the start. Every subject has specific requirements for what makes a successful IA. Understanding these before you choose your topic will save you from costly mistakes later.

• Use subject-specific approaches. What works for a Biology IA won't work for a History IA. Each subject needs a different type of question and investigation method.

• Test your idea early. Before committing fully, check you can actually access the data, resources, or materials you need to complete your investigation.

Why Your IA Topic Matters

IAs are projects that you complete within each of your IB subjects, and they contribute 20-30% of your overall subject grade. That's enough to move you up or down an entire grade boundary. Get it right, and you could boost your university applications. Get it wrong, and you might find yourself scrambling to make up marks elsewhere.

You'll spend weeks, sometimes months, working on your IA. If you pick something that genuinely interests you, the process becomes infinitely more bearable. But, choose a topic just because you think it sounds impressive, and you could lose momentum halfway through.

The IA also serves different purposes across subjects. 

• In the sciences, it's about demonstrating your understanding of scientific methodology and analysis. 

• In History and English, it's about showing analytical depth and critical thinking. 

• In Maths, it's about applying mathematical concepts to real-world situations. 

Understanding what your subject islooking for will help you choose a topic that plays to those strengths. 

Step-by-Step Process for Choosing Your IB IA Topic

Let's break this down into manageable steps you can follow, no matter which subject you're tackling.

Step 1 – Identify Your Interests Within the Subject

Start by making a list of topics, themes, or questions within your subject that genuinely interest you.

Don't worry about whether they're "IA-worthy" yet. Just write down anything that makes you curious. 

• Maybe you loved the ecology unit in Biology

• Perhaps you're fascinated by the Cold War in History

• Maybe you enjoy statistics in Maths

• You might be curious about language and identity in your Language A course

Think about what you've enjoyed learning about so far, but also consider your hobbies and experiences outside school. 

Do you play sport? 

• That could link to Physics or Biology. 

Do you speak multiple languages? 

• This could make a perfect IA for a Language Acquisition IA. 

Are you interested in economics or politics? 

• These are great starting points for Geography or Economics IAs.

The key here is authenticity. Pick something that will keep you engaged when the going gets tough.

Step 2 – Check the Subject-Specific Criteria

It’s crucial to understand what your subject actually requires for a successful IA.

Every IB subject has published assessment criteria (opens in a new tab) that tell you exactly what examiners are looking for. 

For example:

• Biology IAs (opens in a new tab) need to demonstrate scientific investigation skills: 

  • Developing a research question

  • Designing an experiment

  • Collecting data

  • Analysing results

• History IAs (opens in a new tab) require you to: 

  • investigate a historical question using primary and secondary sources

  • Use clear analysis and evaluation 

  • Evaluate different perspectives

  • Generate cohesive arguments

• Maths IAs (opens in a new tab) need to show your: 

  • Problem-solving skills

  • Ability to construct mathematical arguments

  • Apply your maths knowledge to a real-life situation

Understanding these requirements before you choose your topic will help you narrow down your focus.

Step 3 – Brainstorm Focused Research Questions or Hypotheses

This is where you turn your general interest into a specific, assessable question.

Let's say you're interested in plant growth for your Biology IA. "Plant growth" is way too broad. 

But "How does varying light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis in spinach leaves?" is focused, testable, and manageable.

Or maybe you're interested in World War II for your History IA. "World War II" won't cut it. 

But "To what extent did propaganda influence public opinion in Britain during 1939-1945?" gives you a clear scope and something specific to investigate.

Your research question should be:

• Specific enough to answer thoroughly. Avoid questions that would require a PhD to properly address.

• Clear and unambiguous. Anyone reading your question should understand exactly what you're investigating.

• Linked to the subject's key concepts. Make sure your question allows you to demonstrate the skills your subject values.

• Interesting to you personally. Remember, you're going to spend a lot of time on this.

Step 4 – Test the Feasibility

Before you fall in love with an idea, check whether it's actually doable.

Ask yourself these five questions:

1. Do I have access to the resources I need? If your Chemistry IA requires specialised lab equipment your school doesn't have, you're stuck. 

2. Can I collect enough data? Science IAs need sufficient data for meaningful analysis. If your experiment would take six months to complete, or requires sample sizes you can't achieve, reconsider.

3. Is the scope manageable? Could you realistically complete this investigation within the word count and time limits?

4. Are there ethical considerations? Some topics, particularly in Psychology or Biology, might raise ethical issues. 

5. Will I be able to find sources? For essay-based IAs, check that there's enough published material on your topic.

If your idea fails the feasibility test, don't panic. Often, you just need to adjust your scope or approach rather than scrap the whole thing.

Step 5 – Get Feedback Early

Once you've got a shortlist of potential topics, talk to your teacher.

Your teacher has seen dozens of IAs. They know what works and what doesn't. They might also suggest ways to refine your question to make it stronger.

Come prepared with your research question, a brief explanation of how you'd approach the investigation, and any concerns you have about feasibility. Be open to their suggestions, even if it means adjusting your plans.

You can also run your ideas past classmates. Sometimes a fresh perspective helps you spot gaps in your thinking or realise your question isn't as clear as you thought.

The earlier you get feedback, the better. It's much easier to change direction at the planning stage than halfway through your write-up.

Examples of Strong IA Topics Across Subjects

Let's look at some solid IA topics across different subject groups to give you a sense of what works.

Biology: How does varying light wavelength affect the rate of photosynthesis in Elodea densa, measured by oxygen bubble production?

Why it works: It’s measurable, replicable, and ties directly to core IB Biology concepts on photosynthesis and plant physiology.

For further inspiration, explore our extensive Biology IA Topic Ideas article.

Chemistry: "Determining the activation energy of the reaction between sodium thiosulphate and hydrochloric acid at different temperatures." 

Why it works: It's focused, uses accessible materials, demonstrates understanding of kinetics, and produces clear numerical results.

Physics: "Investigating the relationship between the angle of release and the range of a projectile." 

Why it works: Simple to set up, allows for repeated trials, connects to theoretical concepts, and generates data suitable for analysis.

Mathematics: "Modelling the spread of viral videos using exponential and logistic functions." 

Why it works: It applies mathematical concepts to a real-world phenomenon, allows for personal engagement, and demonstrates various mathematical processes.

Economics: "Analysing the impact of minimum wage increases on youth unemployment rates in the UK, 2015-2020." 

Why it works: It's focused on a specific economic concept, uses real data, and allows for economic analysis.

Geography: "Investigating the relationship between distance from the central business district and housing prices in [your local city]." 

Why it works: It's locally focused (making data collection feasible), applies geographical concepts, and allows for fieldwork.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are the pitfalls that trip up IB students time and time again:

• Choosing a topic that's too broad. "The causes of World War I" or "Climate change" aren't IA topics. They're entire books. 

  • Narrow your focus until you have something specific enough to explore thoroughly within your word count.

• Going too niche. On the flip side, picking something so obscure that you can't find enough sources or data is equally problematic. 

  • You need enough material to work with.

• Ignoring feasibility. Brilliant ideas mean nothing if you can't actually carry them out.

  • Always check resources and access before committing.

• Choosing a topic to impress rather than one you care about. Your examiner can tell when a student is genuinely engaged versus just going through the motions. 

  • Authenticity matters.

• Not understanding the assessment criteria. If you don't know what your subject is looking for, you're shooting in the dark. 

  • Read the criteria. Understand them. Make sure your topic allows you to hit them.

• Waiting too long to start. The longer you put off choosing your topic, the more stressed you'll become and the less time you'll have for the actual investigation and writing.

How To Know If You've Chosen the Right Topic

Use this checklist to evaluate your potential IA topic:

If you can honestly answer "yes" to most of the questions in the left-hand column, you're probably on the right track. If you're hitting "no" on several of them, go back and refine your idea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my IA topic halfway through?

Technically, yes, but it's not ideal. Changing your topic midway through means starting from scratch, which costs you valuable time and adds stress. 

Talk to your teacher immediately if you're considering changing topics. They might be able to help you salvage your original idea or guide you towards a better alternative quickly.

Does my IA topic need to be original?

No. Your IA doesn't need to be groundbreaking research that's never been done before.

It's absolutely fine if other students have investigated similar topics. What matters is your individual approach, analysis, and the quality of your work. 

How narrow should my research question be?

Your research question should be narrow enough to investigate thoroughly within your word count and time constraints, but broad enough that you have sufficient material to work with.

A good rule of thumb: if you think you could write 4,000 words on your topic without struggling, but couldn't easily write 10,000 words, you've probably got the scope about right.

Final Thoughts

The perfect IA topic isn't the most impressive, complex, or ambitious one you can think of. It's the one that's focused, feasible, aligned with your subject's criteria, and interesting enough to keep you motivated. That's it.

Thousands of IB students successfully complete strong IAs every year. You can too. Use the strategies we've covered here to move from vague ideas to a concrete, workable topic. Then get started on the actual investigation. Your future self will thank you for putting in the groundwork now.

References

IBO - IBDP Subject Briefs (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Biology Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - SL History Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - HL History Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Maths Applications and Interpretation Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)

IBO - Maths Analysis and Approaches Subject Brief (opens in a new tab)