The IBDP Economics Internal Assessment
Internal assessment in economics enables students to demonstrate the application of their knowledge and understanding of economic theory in relation to real-world situations.
Both SL and HL economics students produce a portfolio of three commentaries based on articles from published news media. Each article must be based on a different unit of the syllabus (excluding Unit 1: Introduction to economics): Unit 2: Microeconomics, Unit 3: Macroeconomics and Unit 4: The global economy.
The articles may be from a newspaper, a journal or the internet, but must not be from television or radio broadcasts. If a student includes a relatively lengthy article, which is discouraged, the student must highlight the section(s) of the article upon which the commentary is based. Articles used must have been published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary.
The article on which the commentary is based should, where possible, be in the same language as the commentary. If an extract in another language is used, the student must provide an accurate translation of the whole article. Students must also include the original article in their portfolio.
Key Concept:
Each of the three commentaries must use a different key concept as a lens through which to analyze the published extracts. Students will risk losing 3 marks in criterion D if you use the same key concept in two commentaries and up to 6 marks if the same key concept is used in three commentaries.
Each commentary MUST:
For each commentary, do not forget to include:
Word Limit
Students must produce a portfolio of three commentaries. Each commentary must not exceed 800 words. [NOTE: Moderators will not read beyond 800 words for each commentary]
The following are not included in the word count.
Format and Proper Heading of Internal Assessment Final Draft
On each commentary students must record:
*The articles may be from a newspaper, a journal or the internet, but must not be from television or radio broadcasts. If a student includes a relatively lengthy article, which is discouraged, the student must highlight the section(s) of the article upon which the commentary is based. Articles used must have been published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary. The article on which the commentary is based should, where possible, be in the same language as the commentary. If an extract in another language is used, the student must provide an accurate translation of the whole article.
Students must also include the original article in their portfolio. ‘print’ your article as a pdf and ‘attach’ it to the beginning of your written commentary. Be sure that the source of the article is clearly identified in the original article that is attached to your written commentary.
Both SL and HL economics students produce a portfolio of three commentaries based on articles from published news media. Each article must be based on a different unit of the syllabus (excluding Unit 1: Introduction to economics): Unit 2: Microeconomics, Unit 3: Macroeconomics and Unit 4: The global economy.
The articles may be from a newspaper, a journal or the internet, but must not be from television or radio broadcasts. If a student includes a relatively lengthy article, which is discouraged, the student must highlight the section(s) of the article upon which the commentary is based. Articles used must have been published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary.
The article on which the commentary is based should, where possible, be in the same language as the commentary. If an extract in another language is used, the student must provide an accurate translation of the whole article. Students must also include the original article in their portfolio.
Key Concept:
Each of the three commentaries must use a different key concept as a lens through which to analyze the published extracts. Students will risk losing 3 marks in criterion D if you use the same key concept in two commentaries and up to 6 marks if the same key concept is used in three commentaries.
Each commentary MUST:
- explain the links between the article, a key concept and economic theory taken from the unit of the syllabus on which the article is based
- demonstrate economic insights into the implications of the article (that is, it should provide evidence of the student’s ability to discuss current events from the point of view of an economist).
For each commentary, do not forget to include:
- the title of the article
- the source of the article (including date of access to the site if from the internet)
- the date the article was published
- the date the commentary was written
- the word count of the commentary
- the unit of the syllabus to which the article relates
- the key concept being used
Word Limit
Students must produce a portfolio of three commentaries. Each commentary must not exceed 800 words. [NOTE: Moderators will not read beyond 800 words for each commentary]
The following are not included in the word count.
- Acknowledgments
- Contents page
- Diagrams
- Labels—of five words or fewer
- Headings on diagrams—of 10 words or fewer
- Tables of statistical data
- Equations, formulae and calculations
- Citations (which, if used, must be in the body of the commentary)
- References (which, if used, must be in the footnotes/endnotes)
Format and Proper Heading of Internal Assessment Final Draft
On each commentary students must record:
- the title of the article
- the source of the article (including date of access to the site if from the internet)
- the date the article was published
- the date the commentary was written
- the word count of the commentary
- the unit/section of the syllabus to which the article relates
- the key concept being used
*The articles may be from a newspaper, a journal or the internet, but must not be from television or radio broadcasts. If a student includes a relatively lengthy article, which is discouraged, the student must highlight the section(s) of the article upon which the commentary is based. Articles used must have been published no earlier than one year before the writing of the commentary. The article on which the commentary is based should, where possible, be in the same language as the commentary. If an extract in another language is used, the student must provide an accurate translation of the whole article.
Students must also include the original article in their portfolio. ‘print’ your article as a pdf and ‘attach’ it to the beginning of your written commentary. Be sure that the source of the article is clearly identified in the original article that is attached to your written commentary.