InternalassessmentSL,sampleA

Assessmentcriteria Marksawarded Marksavailable

CriterionA 4 4

CriterionB 5 5

CriterionC 5 5

CriterionD 3 3

CriterionE 4 4

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

Total 25 25

Examinercomments

CriterionASupportingdocuments

The5supportingdocuments(clearlyidentifiedinthebeginning)arerelevantandsufficientindepth.
Theyprovidearangeofviewsandideas.Thestudentusesvarioustypesofdocuments(balancesheet,
reliablenewswebsite,companysofficialwebsite,specialisedwebsitearticle).Itisgoodtoseethat,in
thesupportingdocuments,thekeypassagesarehighlighted,asrequiredbythetask.

CriterionBChoiceandapplicationoftools,techniquesandtheories

Thecandidatechoosesandappliesawiderangeofappropriatebusinessmanagementtools,techniques
andtheories(stakeholdersmap,SWOT)andusesappropriateterminologyallalong(workingcapital,
liquidityratiosetc).Theapplicationsareskilful:thestudentclearlyunderstandsthemodels(SWOT,
stakeholdersmap).

CriterionCUseandanalysisofdataandintegrationofideas

Thecandidateusesthedatafromthesupportingdocumentsverywell.Thecommentaryiscoherent,
withasolidintegrationoftheideaspresented.
CriterionDConclusions

Theconclusionisclear(Appleshouldinitiateitsdividendandsharebuybackprogramme)answering
thecommentaryquestion,basedontheevidenceprovided.

CriterionEEvaluation

Thereisthoroughevidenceofevaluationallalong,asillustratedbycommentssuchasthemain
problemoftheprogramsisthewaythat...(page5)orthiswouldbegoodif...(page6).The
judgementsaresubstantiatedandbackedupbyevidence(especiallythroughfootnotes).

CriterionFStructure

Thecommentaryiswellorganizedandstructured;theargumentationflowsclearlyandlogically.

CriterionGPresentation

Theoverallpresentationisverygood,fromthesubheadingstothefootnotesandfromthetableof
contentstothesupportingdocumentsthatareproperlylabelledandeasilyidentifiable.

Internal assessment SL, sample B

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 4 4

CriterionB 5 5

CriterionC 4 5

CriterionD 3 3

CriterionE 4 4

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

Total 24 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Supporting documents
The5supportingdocuments(clearlyidentifiedinthetableofcontentsandalldulylabelledand
includedattheendoftheIA)arerelevantandsufficientindepth.Theyprovidearangeofviewsand
ideas.Thecandidateusesvarioustypesofdocuments(e.g.extractfromtheannualreportofthe
organisationforfinancialstatements,extractfromagovernmentreport,extractfromaconsumer
website).

Criterion B Choice and application of tools, techniques and

theories
Thecandidatechoosesandappliesarangeofbusinessmanagementtools,techniquesandtheories,on
threetopics:finance(e.g.ratios),marketingstrategy(e.g.Portersgenericstrategies),globalization
(e.g.referencestointernationalstrategicalliances).Theselectionisbroadandappropriateandthe
applicationisskilful.

Criterion C Use and analysis of data and integration of ideas

Thecandidateusesthedatafromthesupportingdocumentsverywell,withappropriateanalysis,
especiallyaboutthefinancialratios.Thereissomeintegrationofideas:however,thediscussionofthe
threebroadthemesoffinance,marketingstrategyandglobalisation,meansthatitwasnotpossible,
withinthewordlimit,toanalysetheminmuchdepthandtointegratealltheideasoptimally(whichis
whythecandidatecannotscoreevenhigherforcriterionC).

Criterion D Conclusions
Theconclusionislogicallybasedontheevidenceprovidedonthepreviouspages.Theverylast
sentenceoftheconclusion(ultimately,USCshouldincreaseoverseasmarketing)showsthatthe
commentaryanswersthequestionsharplyandunambiguously.

Criterion E Evaluation
Thereisthoroughevidenceofevaluationallalong,asillustratedbycommentssuchasremainsoneof
thesmallest...(page1),USCslowlevelofgearingsuggeststhat...(page2)ortherefore,this
marketingstrategyisespeciallyapplicableto...(page4).Judgmentsaresubstantiatedwith
justifications,asmuchascanbeexpectedwithinthewordlimit.

Criterion F Structure
Thecommentaryiswellorganizedandstructured.

Criterion G Presentation
Theoverallpresentationisveryclear.Itwasparticularlygoodtoseehow/where/whenthesupporting
documentswereusedinthecommentary(e.g.page4:Insupportingdocument4,itisstatedthat...,
page4:Asisevidentinsupportingdocument1...)

Internal assessment SL, sample C

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 4

CriterionB 4 5

CriterionC 4 5

CriterionD 2 3

CriterionE 3 4

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

Total 20 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Supporting documents
The3supportingdocumentsarerelevantandsufficientindepth:however,theydonotprovidethe
rangeofviewsneededtoscore4marks(asisoftenthecasewhenSLcandidateschooseonly3
documents,asthatminimumquantitymakesitmoredifficult,althoughnotimpossible,toscorefull
marks).

Criterion B Choice and application of tools, techniques and

theories
Thereisanappropriateselectionofbusinessmanagementtools,techniquesandtheories,suchasthe
eightPsandSWOTanalysis.Theyaresuitablyapplied,thoughasthecandidatecoverssomuch(e.g.
Starbucksmissionstatementanditsethos)themodelsarenotalwaysappliedwithenoughdepth(e.g.
intheSWOTanalysisonpage5,theoneopportunityandtheonethreatarevagueandgeneric).

Criterion C Use and analysis of data and integration of ideas

Thereisanappropriateselectionofdatafromthesupportingdocumentswithgoodanalysis.Datafrom
thethreedocumentsiswellintegratedinthecommentary.Foranevenhighermark,thecandidate
shouldhavebetterselectedwhichdataisusefulandimportant,ornot:forexample,onpage3,isthe
historicalbackgroundreallyneededtoanswerthecommentaryquestion?

Criterion D Conclusions
Theconclusionsareconsistentwiththeevidencepresented;however,theydonotfullyanswerthe
commentaryquestion(asthequestionishowhavethey...andthecandidateonlyconcludesyes,
theyhave...)Giventhatintermsofwordcount,thecandidatecouldstillwrite150morewords,the
conclusionscouldhavebeenmoredeveloped,closingthelooponthecommentaryquestionand
scoring1moremark.

Criterion E Evaluation
Thereisevidenceofevaluation,judgementsaresubstantiated(seefootnotesforsourcesand
references),yetnotthoroughlyandsystematically.

Criterion F Structure
Thecommentaryiswellorganizedandstructured.Theuseofboldanditalicsaddstotheclarityofthe
commentary.

Criterion G Presentation
Thecommentaryisverywellpresentedinallrespects(especiallythelistofappendicesandthe
appendicesthemselves).

Internal assessment SL, sample D

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 4

CriterionB 4 5

CriterionC 4 5

CriterionD 3 3

CriterionE 2 4

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 1 2
Total 19 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Supporting documents
The4supportingdocumentsarerelevantandsufficientindepth.Theyarefromdifferentsources(e.g.
onefromtheNokiawebsiteandtwofromtheGuardiannewspaper),howeverawiderrangeofviews
andideascouldhavebeenprovidedforanevenhighermark.Itwouldalsobegoodtohavethekey
passagesofthesupportingdocumentsusedinthecommentaryhighlighted.

Criterion B Choice and application of tools, techniques and

theories
Thereisanappropriateselectionofbusinessmanagementtools,techniquesandtheories,especiallyon
marketing(notonlyusingkeyelementsofthemarketingmix,suchasPromotion,butalsousingcorrect
subjectterminologyallalong,forexampleonmarketanalysis).Themodelsaresuitablyapplied(see
SWOTinappendix)thoughminoraspectscouldbebetterforanevenhighermark(someofthe
opportunitiesintheSWOTanalysisareinternalratherthanexternal).

Criterion C Use and analysis of data and integration of ideas

Thereisanappropriateselectionofdatafromthesupportingdocumentswithappropriateanalysis.For
anevenhighermark,asharperfocusonthecommentaryquestion(aboutthestrategicalliance)would
benecessary(ratherthanjustNokiaitself);thedifferentpointsmade(e.g.aboutthedifferentPs)are
onlypartlyintegrated.

Criterion D Conclusions
Theconclusionsareconsistentwiththeevidencepresentedandexplicitlyanswerthecommentary
questionaboutthestrategicallianceofMicrosoftandNokia.

Criterion E Evaluation
Thereisevidenceofevaluation,forexampleofthestrengthsandweaknessesofNokia:however,not
alljudgmentsaresubstantiated.Morereferencestosources,forexamplethroughfootnotes,wouldhave
helped.

Criterion F Structure
Thecommentaryiswellorganizedandstructured;theargumentationflowsclearlyandlogically.

Criterion G Presentation
Becauseofseveralminorflaws(e.g.thepagenumbersinthetableofcontentsarenotcorrect;theexact
sourceofSupportingDocument1isnotclear;thebibliographydoesnotdistinguishbetweenthe
SupportingDocumentsandotherreferences;thebibliographyshouldbebeforetheappendices),the
commentarycanonlyscore1(although,atfirstsight,itseemsratherwellpresented).

Internal assessment HL, sample E

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 3

CriterionB 3 3

CriterionC 2 3
CriterionD 6 6

CriterionE 1 2

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

CriterionH 2 2

CriterionI 1 2

Total 22 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Research proposal
Afocusedandforwardlookingresearchquestionisprovided.Thereisarationaleforthestudy.Key
areasofthesyllabusarenoted,themethodologyisexplained;anticipateddifficultiesareevident
togetherwithadetailedactionplan.

Criterion B Sources used and data collected

Threedifferentprimarysourcesareused.AninterviewwiththeScrapTherapyownerwascarriedout;
asurveywasconductedaswellasfocusgroupdiscussionswerenoted.Theinformationobtainedfrom
theseprimarysourcesisappropriateandsufficient.

Criterion C Use of tools, techniques and theories

Thereissomeevidenceofunderstandingandapplicationofrelevantbusinessmanagementtools,
techniquesandtheoriesincludingSWOTanalysisandAnsoffmatrix.However,therewasstillmore
roomforanindepthapplicationofthese.

Criterion D Analysis and evaluation

Thereisconsistentlyverygoodevidenceofevaluationthatiswellsubstantiated.Analysisofthe
findingsisappropriateandtoalargeextentindepth.

Criterion E Conclusions
Conclusionsprovidedareconsistentwiththeevidencepresentedinthemainbodyofthereport.
However,theconclusionsneededmoresubstantiation.Areasforfurtherstudyhavenotbeenidentified.

Criterion F Recommendations
Therecommendationsarewellsubstantiated,consistentwiththeconclusionsandanswertheresearch
question.

Criterion G Structure
Awellwrittenreportwithideaswellstructuredandanargumentthatiseasytofollow.

Criterion H Presentation
Thereportincludesalltherequiredcomponentsinthecorrectorderandformat.

Criterion I Reflective thinking

SomereflectivethinkingnotedintheAnalysisanddiscussionsection.However,limitationslacking.
Internal assessment HL, sample F
Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 3

CriterionB 3 3

CriterionC 2 3

CriterionD 5 6

CriterionE 1 2

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

CriterionH 2 2

CriterionI 2 2

Total 22 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Research proposal
Aclearandforwardlookingresearchquestionisprovided.Thereisarationaleforthestudy.Keyareas
ofthesyllabusarenotedunderthetheoreticalframework,themethodologyisexplained;anticipated
difficultiesareevidenttogetherwithadetailedactionplan.

Criterion B Sources used and data collected

Twointerviewswereconducted,onewiththeManagingDirectorofRexelandtheotherwiththe
LogisticsManagerwhoisinchargeofImpel.Asurveywasalsoconductedtoaskcustomersonwhat
theywouldliketoseeimprovedbyRexel.Theinformationobtainedfromtheseprimarysourcesis
appropriateandsufficientasseenintheAppendicesonpages2022.

Criterion C Use of tools, techniques and theories

Thereissomeevidenceofunderstandingandapplicationofrelevantbusinessmanagementtools,
techniquesandtheoriesincludingSWOTanalysis,forcefieldanalysis,Ansoffmatrixanddecision
trees.However,thereisstillmoreroomforanindepthapplicationofthese.

Criterion D Analysis and evaluation

Theanalysisofthefindingsisappropriatewithconsistentevidenceofsubstantiatedevaluation.There
isacoherentintegrationofideasfromthedatacollectedandbusinessmanagementtheoriesused.

Criterion E Conclusions
Conclusionsprovidedareconsistentwiththeevidencepresentedinthemainbodyofthereport.
However,theconclusionsneedmoresubstantiationtoscoreahighermark.

Criterion F Recommendations
Therecommendationsarewellsubstantiated,consistentwiththeconclusionsandanswertheresearch
question.
Criterion G Structure
Awellwrittenreportwithideaswellstructuredandanargumentthatiseasytofollow.

Criterion H Presentation
Thereportincludesalltherequiredcomponentsinthecorrectorderandformat.

Criterion I Reflective thinking

Thereisevidenceofappropriatereflectivethinkinginthereportwithcriticalthinkingnoted.Thisis
seenintheMethodology,AnalysisanddiscussionandRecommendationssections.

Internal assessment HL, sample G

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 3

CriterionB 2 3

CriterionC 3 3

CriterionD 5 6

CriterionE 2 2

CriterionF 1 2

CriterionG 2 2

CriterionH 2 2

CriterionI 1 2

Total 21 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Research proposal
Afocusedandforwardlookingresearchquestionisprovided.Thereisawellexplainedrationalefor
thestudy.Keyareasofthesyllabusnoted,methodologyisexplained,anticipateddifficultiesand
possiblesolutionsareevidenttogetherwithadetailedactionplan.

Criterion B Sources used and data collected

OneinterviewwasconductedwiththeHeadofHumanresourcesatthecompanyandanelectronic
questionnairewasdistributedtostaffmembers.However,theprimarysourcescouldhavebeenmore
variedtoscorehighermarks.

Criterion C Use of tools, techniques and theories

Therewasadequateevidenceofanindepthunderstandingandapplicationofrelevantbusiness
managementtools,techniquesandtheoriesincludingHofstedesculturaldimensionsmodel,Charles
HandystheoryaswellasMotivationandLeadershipandManagementtheoriesamongothers.

Criterion D Analysis and evaluation

Thereisacoherentintegrationofideasnotedwithappropriateanalysisofthefindings.Thereissome
evidenceofsubstantiatedevaluation.
Criterion E Conclusions
Conclusionsprovidedareconsistentwiththeevidencepresentedinthemainbodyofthereportandare
substantiated.Thereisanattemptatproposinganareaforfurtherstudy.

Criterion F Recommendations
Recommendationsareprovided,whichanswertheresearchquestion.However,thesearelackingin
substantiationandcouldbefurtherexplored.

Criterion G Structure
Awellwrittenreportwithideaswellstructuredandanargumentthatiseasytofollow.

Criterion H Presentation
Thereportincludesalltherequiredcomponentsinthecorrectorderandformat.

Criterion I Reflective thinking

SomereflectivethinkingandlimitationsnotedintheProcedureandmethodologysectionandsome
alsonotedintheAnalysisanddiscussionsection.However,theselimitationslackinginadequacy.

Internal assessment HL, sample H

Assessment criteria Marks awarded Marks available
CriterionA 3 3

CriterionB 3 3

CriterionC 2 3

CriterionD 4 6

CriterionE 2 2

CriterionF 2 2

CriterionG 2 2

CriterionH 1 2

CriterionI 1 2

Total 20 25

Examiner comments
Criterion A Research proposal
Aforwardlookingresearchquestionisprovided.Thereisawellexplainedrationaleforthestudy.Key
areasofthesyllabusarenoted,themethodologyisexplained;anticipateddifficultiesandpossible
solutionsareevidenttogetherwithadetailedactionplan.

Criterion B Sources used and data collected

Twointerviewswereconducted,onewiththeownerofHoangHaPteLtdandtheotherwiththeHead
ofMarketinginthesamecompany.Asurveyandfieldobservationwasalsoconductedtoresearchon
themarketdemand,competitorsandopportunitiesforgrowthinthemarket.Theinformationobtained
fromtheseprimarysourcesisappropriateandsufficient.
Criterion C Use of tools, techniques and theories
Thereissomeevidenceofunderstandingandapplicationofrelevantbusinessmanagementtools,
techniquesandtheoriesincludingpaybackperiod,breakevenanalysis,productpositionmapsand
Lewinsforcefieldanalysis.However,therewasstillmoreroomforanindepthapplicationofthese.

Criterion D Analysis and evaluation

Theanalysisofthefindingsisappropriate.Generallyacoherentintegrationofideas.Thereissome
evidenceofevaluation,howeveritislimited.

Criterion E Conclusions
Conclusionsareconsistentwiththeevidencepresentedandaddresstheresearchquestiononwhether
HoangHaPteLtdshouldsetupanewoutletinHanoi.However,areasforfurtherstudycouldhave
beenprovided.Abestfitmarkawarded.

Criterion F Recommendations
Goodrecommendationsareprovidedthatareconsistentwiththeconclusionsandanswertheresearch
question.

Criterion G Structure
Awellwrittenreportwithideaswellstructuredandanargumentthatiseasytofollow.

Criterion H Presentation
MostcomponentsofthereportareinthecorrectorderandformatexceptforMainresultsandfindings
whichshouldhavebeenseparatedfromAnalysisanddiscussion.Theresearchquestionshouldalso
havefollowedimmediatelyaftertheintroduction.Theresearchproposalshouldalsobeplacedatthe
beginningoftheresearchprojectpage.

Criterion I Reflective thinking

Someevidenceofreflectivethinkingnotedinthereportwithlimitations.