IB Computer Science IA Guide: How to Score a Top Grade

The IB Computer Science Internal Assessment (IA) is crucial to your final grade, allowing you to demonstrate your problem-solving, programming, and algorithmic thinking skills. You’ll apply the knowledge you’ve gained throughout the course to create a real-world solution to a problem, which can be both exciting and challenging.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the IA, including its structure, assessment criteria, how to choose a topic, how to structure your report, and practical tips for achieving top marks. It’s specifically for students whose final assessments will happen in May and November 2026. If your assessment occurs after this date, the new IB Computer Science IA course starting in September 2025 (with the first assessment in May 2027) will still find the tips here useful.

What Is the IB Computer Science Internal Assessment (IA)?

The IB Computer Science IA contributes 20% to 30% of your final grade, depending on whether you’re in Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). It’s a practical project where you apply your course skills to develop a real-world computational solution for a client’s problem.

Purpose and Weight in Final Grade

The IA assesses your ability to apply computational thinking, problem-solving, and programming skills in a practical setting. You’ll be required to:

Define a problem
Design and develop a computational solution
Test your solution to make sure it works as expected
Evaluate your solution and reflect on how it could be improved or extended

The IA is essential because it’s your chance to show that you can think critically and solve problems. The IA accounts for 30% of the final grade for SL students, making it a significant part of your overall assessment. For HL students, it contributes 20%, reflecting the added complexity and depth of the content at the higher level.

What HL and SL Students Need to Submit

Whether in SL or HL, you must submit a functional computational solution. Here’s what you’ll need to include:

A fully functional product: This could be a software application, a program, or a system that solves a specific problem.
Documentation: This will explain how your solution works, how you developed it, and how it meets the defined problem and success criteria.
A video demonstration: HL students must submit a video showing how their product works in real-world use.

Now that you understand the basics, let’s dive into how your IA will be assessed.

Understanding the IA Criteria

The IB Computer Science IA is assessed based on five key criteria. Let’s break them down to help you understand exactly what’s expected in each area.

Criterion A: Planning

The planning stage is your opportunity to define the problem you’re solving and justify your chosen solution. It should include a problem statement outlining the issue your client faces, its significance, and a justification for why your solution is the best approach.

Additionally, set clear success criteria to guide the evaluation of your product. This foundation will help ensure your IA is focused and well-structured.

Criterion B: Solution Overview

This section focuses on the design of your solution. You’ll need to explain how it works and justify your design choices.

Your solution overview should include a record of tasks, showing the steps you took during development, a design overview with visual aids (e.g., diagrams, flowcharts, and tables), and a test plan for assessing its functionality. This criterion evaluates how effectively you can plan and design a solution before starting development.

Criterion C: Development

In this section, you’ll demonstrate how you developed your solution and showcase your programming skills. Include detailed descriptions of the techniques, tools, and methods, along with annotated screenshots or code snippets highlighting your program’s key parts.

Be sure to justify your choice of programming languages, tools, and algorithms, explaining how these decisions support the functionality of your solution and contribute to its technical success.

Criterion D: Functionality

This criterion evaluates whether your product works as intended. A video demonstration is required for HL students to show how the product addresses the problem.

You must also provide testing evidence, including logs and results, to confirm the product functions properly and meets the success criteria. Testing is a crucial part of development to ensure your solution achieves the planned goals.

Criterion E: Evaluation

The final step is evaluating your solution. You need to assess how well it meets the problem and suggest potential improvements.

Your evaluation should include a self-assessment based on the success criteria, feedback from your client or advisor, and recommendations for future enhancements. This demonstrates your ability to reflect critically and identify areas for improvement.

How to Choose a Great IA Project

Choosing the right project is key to success. It should be challenging enough to showcase your skills but not overwhelming. Here are factors to consider when selecting your IA topic.

Feasibility and Scope

Make sure your project is manageable within the available time and resources. Choose a problem that can be solved within the given time frame, typically a few months, and ensure it’s complex enough to showcase your skills without being overwhelming.

Ideas for Real-World Applications

Here are some ideas that make for strong IA projects:

Task management app: Create an app that helps users track tasks and deadlines.
Inventory management system: Build a system to track stock levels for a small business.
Fitness tracking app: Develop an app that logs and tracks fitness activities.

The key is to choose a project that is both interesting and feasible to complete.

IB CS IA Examples & Inspiration

If you’re looking for inspiration, here are some IA projects that have scored top marks.

Sample IA Topics That Scored a 7

Budget tracking app: Users can track their income and expenses, with visual reports to help manage finances.
Library management system: Tracks books, members, and due dates, with a user-friendly interface.
Personalised fitness tracker: Integrates with wearable devices to log activity and provide insights.

Inspiration from Real-Life Apps and Systems

You can draw inspiration from existing successful applications:

Trello (task management) – a popular tool for organising projects and tasks with a user-friendly interface
Spotify (music recommendation system) – a music streaming platform that personalises playlists based on user preferences
Fitbit (activity tracking) – a wearable device that tracks physical activity and provides insights into health and fitness goals

Look at how these apps solve real-world problems and think about how you can apply similar concepts in your project.

Structuring Your IA Report

A well-organised IA report is essential for demonstrating your understanding of the development process. Here’s how to structure your report:

Cover Page, Table of Contents, and Introduction

The cover page should include:

The title of your project.
Your name, candidate number, and the name of your supervisor.
The submission date.

The table of contents should list all the sections of your report, and the introduction should provide context for your project, the problem you’re solving, and an overview of your solution.

Development: Technical Explanation and Annotated Screenshots

This section should explain how your solution works, with annotated screenshots of your code and the user interface. Explain the key techniques and algorithms you used in the development process.

Evaluation and Future Improvements

In this section, reflect on your solution’s effectiveness based on the success criteria. Discuss what worked well, what didn’t, and how you can improve the product in the future.

Bibliography and Appendices

Include a bibliography of all sources you used during your research, and any appendices that contain additional information, such as code listings or user manuals.

Using Pseudocode and Flowcharts

Including pseudocode and flowcharts can help explain your solution and demonstrate your understanding of algorithms. They make your thought process clear and show that you’ve considered different approaches to solving the problem.

Tips to Maximise Your Score

Here are some practical tips to help you achieve a top score for your IA:

Use Version Control (e.g., Git)

Using version control allows you to track changes to your code and manage the development process more effectively. It also shows good programming practices.

Follow Consistent Code Formatting and Commenting

Consistent code formatting makes your work easier to read and understand. Comment your code to explain the purpose of each section and the choices you made.

Include Annotated Screenshots and Testing Evidence

Provide evidence that your product works. This can include screenshots of your code, test cases, or test logs showing that your product meets the success criteria.

Align Your Explanations with the Criteria

Make sure that everything you write ties back to the assessment criteria. This ensures that your work meets the examiners’ expectations and is easier to assess.

Start Early and Revise Iteratively

Starting early gives you plenty of time to refine your IA. Regularly review your work and seek your supervisor’s feedback to ensure you’re on the right track.

Final Thoughts: Time Management and Review Strategy

Effective time management is key to completing a successful IA. Here’s how to stay on top of it:

Creating an IA Timeline

Set clear deadlines for each part of your project (planning, design, development, testing, evaluation). This will help you manage your time and avoid rushing at the last minute.

Self-Review and Peer Feedback Before Submission

Before submitting your IA, review it thoroughly. Consider asking a peer or teacher to give you feedback so you can catch any issues you might have missed.

Need help with your IB Computer Science IA?

If you’re finding it challenging to complete your IA, don’t worry! Our experienced IB Computer Science tutors are here to help. TutorsPlus provides personalised lessons tailored to your needs, ensuring you receive the support needed to succeed. Our dedicated tutors are eager to assist you with your internal assessment.

Reach out to us today at +41 22 731 8148 or email .