At a glance
- Ages
- About 11 to 16
- Criteria
- A Knowing and understanding, B Investigating, C Communicating, D Thinking critically
- Final grade
- 1 to 7
- eAssessment
- Optional 2-hour on-screen exam in year 5
- Leads to
- Diploma Group 3 subjects
The four I&S criteria
| Criterion | What it assesses | Typical task |
|---|---|---|
| A: Knowing and understanding | Subject terminology and knowledge, with examples and explanation | Tests and structured questions |
| B: Investigating | Formulating a research question, planning an investigation and using sources | Research project with an action plan |
| C: Communicating | Clear, organised communication in an appropriate format, with sources cited | Report, presentation or essay |
| D: Thinking critically | Analysing concepts and sources, evaluating perspectives and reaching justified conclusions | Source analysis or argument essay |
Each criterion is scored 0 to 8; the total out of 32 converts to a grade from 1 to 7 using the standard MYP boundaries.
What the course looks like
Units are built around key concepts such as change, systems, time, place and space, and global interactions, and each sits in a global context. A year might include a history unit on a revolution, a geography unit on urbanisation, and an economics unit on trade. Schools choose the topics, so two MYP schools in the same city can teach quite different content.
What is common is the skill set: investigating with a research question, using and evaluating sources, and arguing a position. These are exactly the skills the Diploma's historical investigation, geography fieldwork and economics commentaries reward.
Where students lose marks
- Research questions that are too broad to investigate in the time available (criterion B).
- Sources listed but not evaluated for origin, purpose or reliability (criterion D).
- Bibliographies and citations missing or inconsistent (criterion C).
- Description instead of explanation: saying what happened without why or with what effect (criterion A).
- Conclusions that do not answer the question or ignore other perspectives (criterion D).
How one-to-one I&S lessons work
A tutor who teaches MYP I&S starts from your child's current unit and task sheet. Lessons might narrow a research question, practise analysing a source together on the shared whiteboard, or plan an essay with a clear argument. The tutor marks practice pieces against the criteria so your child knows exactly what moves them up a band.
Because content varies by school, the tutor follows the school's unit rather than a fixed syllabus. For year 5 students, lessons can include practice in the on-screen exam style, with timed source and extended-response questions.
Keep a research log
Criterion B rewards the planning process as well as the product. A simple log of questions, sources found and decisions made helps your child show their investigation clearly.
Common questions
Which subjects are in MYP Individuals and Societies?
History, geography, economics and sometimes other social sciences, either as an integrated course or as separate subjects. The school decides.
How are I&S grades worked out?
Each of the four criteria is scored from 0 to 8, added to a total out of 32 and converted to a grade from 1 to 7 using the IB's boundaries.
Is there an exam?
Only if the school enters year 5 students for the optional 2-hour on-screen eAssessment. Otherwise, grades come from teacher-assessed tasks.
Which Diploma subjects does I&S prepare for?
Mainly Group 3 subjects such as History, Geography, Economics and Business Management, and the research skills used in the Extended Essay.
How much do MYP I&S lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is free.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.