A-IB Documentation

Criterion A - Planning

IB Documentation

Criterion A: Planning

The scenario

The following key questions should be considered.

Who is the client/adviser?
Is the choice of client/adviser appropriate?
Why is the product being developed?

Rationale for proposed solution

The rationale behind the choice of the proposed product must be in extended writing, with reference to the student’s consultations with the client and/or adviser, justifying how the choice of this particular product is an effective solution.

Before reaching a decision for the proposed product the student and/or computer science teacher must determine:

if the student has the technical skills and access to the software required to develop the product
whether the client’s hardware and software is compatible with the product
if the data required for the product can be obtained by either the student and/or appropriate third parties
how any security implications for the development and operation of the product can be resolved.

Success criteria

The success criteria (that are evaluated in criterion E) should be listed in the form of bullet points.

If the student is the client, they must have an adviser who can review the success criteria and provide the validation of the product.

Criterion A: Planning (6 marks)

The success criteria identified in criterion A will be used in criterion D to evaluate the effectiveness of the product.

Marks	Description
0	The response does not reach a standard described by the descriptors below.
1–2	An appropriate scenario for investigation for an identified client is stated. The rationale for choosing the proposed product is identified. The criteria for evaluating the success of the product are generally inappropriate.

3–4	An appropriate scenario for investigation for an identified client, providing evidence of consultation, is stated. The rationale for choosing the proposed product is partially explained and includes some appropriate criteria for evaluating the success of the product.
5–6	An appropriate scenario for investigation for an identified client, providing evidence of consultation, is described. The rationale for choosing the proposed product is justified and includes a range of appropriate criteria for evaluating the success of the product.

Word count and format

These word count figures in the table below are guidelines.

The overall word limit for the solution is 2,000; however, it is possible to complete the solution in 1,500 words without a significant loss of quality.

If students write extended prose in the sections where the word count does not apply, these words will be counted in the overall word count.

It is strongly recommended that the documentation is submitted in a commonly used format such as a PDF.

Prescribed format(s) of presentation are indicated in bold.

Criterion	Recommended word count	Comments—format of presentation
Planning
Defining the problem or unanswered question	175–250	Extended writing
Justification for the proposed product	175–250	Extended writing
Success criteria	n/a	Bulleted list