The IB History IA is a crucial piece of coursework where you conduct an independent historical investigation into a topic of your choice. It's designed to assess your skills in historical inquiry, source analysis, and critical thinking, contributing significantly to your final IB History grade.

Choosing a strong research question is paramount. It should be specific, debatable, and allow for in-depth historical analysis using available sources. The guide emphasizes picking something you find genuinely interesting. Lanterna's tutors can help you refine your ideas into a focused, high-scoring question.

The History IA is divided into three main sections: the Identification and Evaluation of Sources (6 marks), the Investigation (15 marks), and the Reflection (4 marks). Each section has specific requirements and word count recommendations to ensure a comprehensive historical inquiry.

In this section, you must select two relevant sources (primary or secondary) and critically analyse their origin, purpose, and content. Crucially, you need to explain their relevance to your research question and evaluate their values and limitations for your investigation. This section is worth 6 out of 25 marks.

The Investigation (15 marks) requires a critical analysis clearly focused on your research question. Structure it like an essay with topic sentences, support points with detailed historical evidence, and refer to different perspectives or schools of thought. A strong conclusion summarising your argument and making a definitive judgment is also essential.

The Reflection (4 marks) is your opportunity to critically consider the methods historians use and how your perspective on these methods has evolved through your investigation. It has a philosophical, TOK-like element, focusing on the values and limitations of historical inquiry.

Absolutely. Lanterna specialises in supporting students with their IAs across all IB subjects, including History. Our expert tutors, many of whom scored 40+ in the IB or have examiner experience, can guide you through every stage, from selecting a topic to refining your final draft, ensuring you meet all IB criteria.

Our tutors provide personalised support to help you craft a precise and engaging research question. They can also assist with structuring your IA, ensuring logical flow, effective source integration, and comprehensive analysis in line with IB expectations, helping you maximise your marks.

The Lanterna free IB consultation is a no-pressure, 20-30 minute conversation with one of our expert IB Student Success Experts. It's designed to help you gain clarity on your IB journey, whether you're struggling with your History IA, exam preparation, or overall study strategy.

Yes, it's completely free with no obligation to book tutoring. During the 20-30 minute consultation, you'll discuss your specific challenges and goals with a Student Success Expert. They'll help you identify priorities, clarify doubts, and walk away with a personalised, actionable plan for your next steps.

Our Student Success Experts are highly experienced professionals with deep knowledge of the IB programme. They've supported thousands of IB students and parents, offering guidance, insights, and strategic advice to help students achieve their academic potential and navigate the IB with confidence.

After your consultation, you'll have a clear, personalised plan to tackle your IB challenges, whether it's your History IA or other aspects of the programme. There's zero obligation to continue with tutoring, but if you feel Lanterna's expert support is right for you, your Student Success Expert can discuss how our tutors can further assist.