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Maximum marks: 6
What it is about: Criterion C assesses how effectively you analyse your research and how clearly you build a line of argument that links your question, findings and conclusion. It is about breaking down information, making relevant findings and connecting ideas logically.
Criterion C is where you show your ability to think critically and argue with clarity.
At a glance
At a glance
By the time you submit your essay, you should be able to say “yes” to both:
I analyse my research effectively and produce relevant findings.
I build a clear, sustained line of argument that links my question, findings and conclusion.
If your writing is mainly descriptive, or if your argument does not flow logically, you will not score well in Criterion C.
Strand 1: Analysis
Strand 1: Analysis
Guiding question: Do you analyse the information in your essay to produce relevant findings?
What analysis means (according to the guide)
Analysis means breaking down your topic to reveal its essential elements or structure.
You analyse when you:
examine evidence closely
look for patterns, relationships and significance
explain how or why something matters in your context
use your research to make meaningful findings
What examiners look for
Effective analysis that supports your argument
Findings that come from your research, not from assumptions
Evidence that moves beyond description or narrative
What weak performance looks like
Mostly descriptive writing
Summary of what your sources say without interpretation
Analysis that is disconnected from the research question
Ask yourself
Am I explaining the significance of my evidence, not just presenting it?
Do my findings clearly help answer my research question?
Strand 2: Line of Argument
Strand 2: Line of Argument
Guiding question: Do you build a coherent and sustained line of argument?
What a line of argument is
A line of argument is a reasoned thread that connects all parts of your essay.
The IB describes it as:
a set of logical connections
explicit signposting
a clear pathway from research question to findings to conclusion
What examiners look for
A clear and sustained line of argument
Logical links between sections
Explicit connections between your research question, research findings and your conclusion
What weak performance looks like
A partial or inconsistent line of argument
A collection of ideas without clear connections
A reader who has to guess how parts fit together
Ask yourself
Can a reader see the “thread” of my argument from start to finish?
Do I make clear why each section is there?
Are my conclusions supported by my findings?
Criterion C checklist
Criterion C checklist
Analysis
I break down ideas to show their essential elements.
I explain why evidence matters, not just what it is.
My analysis produces relevant findings that help answer my research question.
I avoid descriptive or narrative writing unless it directly supports my argument.
Line of argument
My argument has a clear overall direction.
Each section links logically to the next.
I explicitly connect my research question, findings and conclusion.
My conclusion follows naturally from the argument I have developed.
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