Master Your IB Economics IA: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Top-Scoring Commentaries (2026)

Hey there! As former IB grads and now expert tutors, we at Lanterna know the IB Economics IA can feel like a huge mountain to climb. It’s not just about knowing the theories; it's about using them skillfully to analyze real-world news, think critically, and present your ideas in a way that gets you the highest marks. This guide is your secret weapon, packed with insider knowledge and fully updated for the latest syllabus, to help you nail this IA.

Your Economics IA is a massive part of your final grade, making up 30% for SL students and 20% for HL students. It's your chance to show the examiners you can think like a real economist. This guide is your roadmap to mastering all three commentaries, focusing on a killer structure and using the new syllabus to your advantage.

Your Pathway to a 7: Guide Objectives

This comprehensive guide is designed to help you:

• Understand the Latest Syllabus Requirements: We'll walk you through the updated IB Economics syllabus (first examined in 2022) for your IA, including how to spread your commentaries across the units and focus on key concepts.
• Deconstruct the 'Commentary' Structure: You'll learn the perfect paragraph-by-paragraph structure to create a logical, powerful, and convincing argument within the 800-word limit.
• Master Article Selection: Discover how to find news articles that are perfect for deep economic analysis and evaluation.
• Excel in Every Assessment Criterion: Get a crystal-clear understanding of what examiners are looking for when they mark your Diagrams, Terminology, Application & Analysis, Key Concept integration, and Evaluation.
• Implement High-Scoring Strategies: We’ll share proven techniques, like the CLASPP evaluation method, to turn a good commentary into a great one.

Unpacking the IB Economics IA: The Essentials

Your IA portfolio is made up of three separate commentaries, each with a strict 800-word limit. Here are the non-negotiables for each one:

1. Cover a Different Syllabus Unit: You need to write one commentary for Microeconomics, one for Macroeconomics, and one for The Global Economy. (Unit 1: Introduction to Economics is off-limits for the IA).
2. Utilize a Different Key Concept: Each commentary must focus on one of the nine official key concepts: scarcity, choice, efficiency, equity, economic well-being, sustainability, change, interdependence, and intervention.
3. Be Based on a Recent Article: The news article for each commentary must have been published no more than one year before you write your analysis.
4. Come from a Different News Source: Your three articles must each be from a different, reputable news source.

And remember, the marking criteria are exactly the same for both SL and HL students, so everyone is on a level playing field.

The Blueprint for Success: Structuring Your Commentary

A clear structure is your best friend. It guides the examiner through your thinking and makes your arguments easy to follow. We recommend a 5-6 paragraph structure – it's a tried-and-tested formula for success.

1. Introduction (Approx. 75-100 words)

This is your hook. Get straight to the point and set the stage.

• Summarize the Article: In 2-3 sentences, briefly explain the real-world economic issue from your news article.
• Identify the Key Economic Concept: State the one key concept (e.g., sustainability, intervention) you will use as the lens for your analysis. It's a great idea to bold this concept every time you mention it.
• Define Key Terms (Contextually): Only define 1-2 essential economic terms if they are specific and central to your argument. Don't waste words defining "demand" unless the article's context makes it tricky.

2. The Underlying Problem & Initial Analysis (Approx. 100-150 words)

Here, you dig into the core economic problem.

• Explain the Problem: Clearly state the economic issue from the article (e.g., a market failure from pollution, rising unemployment).
• Introduce Your First Diagram: Draw a relevant, fully labelled, and accurate diagram that illustrates this problem. Make sure your axes and curves are perfect.
• Analyze the Diagram: Explain exactly what your diagram shows and how it connects to the article. Talk through any shifts or movements and what they mean, using specific data or quotes from the article to back it up.

3. Proposed Policy/Solution & Further Analysis (Approx. 150-250 words)

Now, you analyze the solution discussed in the article.

• Describe the Policy: Explain the specific policy or action being used to tackle the problem.
• Introduce Your Second Diagram (if applicable): If the policy has a clear, diagrammable effect (like a subsidy or a tax), this is the place for a second diagram. Explain it just as thoroughly as the first.
• Analyze Intended Effects: Explain the economic theory behind how the policy is supposed to work, linking it directly to the specifics of your article.

4. Evaluation: Critical Thinking in Action (Approx. 250-300 words)

This is where you earn the top marks. Go beyond just describing the situation and start thinking like a critical economist.

• Critically Assess the Policy: Don't just accept the policy at face value. Discuss its limitations, potential downsides, and who it might harm. This is your chance to show balanced judgment.
• Connect to the Key Concept: Keep weaving your chosen key concept (e.g., equity) into your evaluation to show how it shapes the entire issue.

5. Conclusion (Approx. 75 words)

End with a short, sharp summary.

• Summarize Main Ideas: Briefly restate the problem, the policy, and your most important evaluation point.
• Offer a Qualified Judgment: Give a final, balanced verdict on the policy's effectiveness. Don't introduce any new information here.

Key Strategies for Top Marks

Choose Your Article Wisely: Look for articles from reputable news sources like BBC News, The Guardian, or CNN. Avoid super-dense journals like The Economist because they often do the analysis for you. The best articles are recent, clearly about one economic issue, and give you plenty to evaluate.

Diagrams are Crucial: Your diagrams must be accurate, fully labelled, and woven into your explanation. Don't just drop them in. A neat, digitally drawn diagram often looks more professional and is easier for the examiner to read.

Precision in Terminology: Use economic language correctly and consistently. This shows the examiner you know what you're talking about.

Integrate the Key Concept: Don't just mention your key concept in the introduction. It should be a thread that runs through your entire commentary, from analysis to evaluation. Bolding the word helps the examiner see you're doing this consistently.

Word Count Management: Be ruthless. Examiners will stop reading at 800 words. The good news? Diagrams and their labels don't count. The bad news? Quotes and in-text definitions do. Be concise.

Academic Honesty: Cite your sources properly and make sure every word of the analysis is your own. It's fundamental.

By following this guide, you have a clear strategy to tackle the Economics IA with confidence. The goal is to show you can apply theory to the real world with depth and critical insight. Get the structure right, choose a great article, and focus on that evaluation, and you'll be on your way to a 7.