IB Paper 3

Paper 3

Duration: 1 hour
Weighting: 20%
The purpose of this paper is to assess HL students’ ability to demonstrate the following in relation to the HL extension—global interactions.

• Knowledge and understanding (assessment objective 1)
• Application and analysis (assessment objective 2)
• Synthesis and evaluation (assessment objective 3)
• The ability to use appropriate terminology and, if appropriate, use various skills in the response and produce well‑structured written material (assessment objective 4)

The questions draw on knowledge and understanding, application and analysis, and synthesis and evaluation from across and/or within the seven topics in the HL extension. Knowledge of the core theme is assumed. Students are required to answer one essay question from a choice of three.

• Each question is divided into two parts—part (a): 10 marks; part (b): 15 marks.
• Part (a) questions test knowledge and understanding, and application and analysis.
• Part (b) tests synthesis and evaluation, and writing skills in addition to knowledge and understanding, and application and analysis. Students are expected to demonstrate synthesis and evaluation by showing, wherever possible, the links and relationships between the sub‑topics/topics, and to demonstrate skill in producing a structured response.
• Students are advised to plan their response before writing.
• The depth of treatment required is reflected in the command terms used in the questions.
• The maximum for the paper is 25 marks.
• The responses for part (a) and part (b) are assessed with an analytic markscheme specific to the question paper, and paper 3 part (a) and part (b) markbands.