IB MYP Assessment and Exams: Everything You Need to Know

The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) is a key part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) education framework, and it’s for students aged 11 to 16.

Spanning five years, the program helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to think critically and creatively while solving real-world problems. The MYP also lays the groundwork for the IB Diploma Program. However, taking the MYP isn’t a requirement to enroll in the IB Diploma Program.

This post is about IB MYP assessments and exams. It specifically focuses on the assessment criteria used for each subject.

IB MYP School Assessment and Exams

MYP assessments and exams are for the eight subject groups, which are language acquisition, language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design.

The assessment in the MYP focuses on tasks created and evaluated by qualified teachers who have the expertise to measure student achievements. These tasks are challenging and they involve a variety of assessment strategies.

MYP educators assess the objectives set for each subject group using specific assessment criteria throughout the program.

Language Acquisition

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Comprehending Visual and Spoken Texts	Identify information, recognize conventions, and engage with the content.
B	Comprehending Visual and Written Texts	Identify information, recognize format and style, and engage with the content.
C	Communicating in Response to Texts	Provide appropriate responses, engage in interactive exchanges, use basic phrases, and consider the audience.
D	Using Language	Utilize basic vocabulary, grammar, and conventions; ensure clear speech and organization; use cohesive devices; and adapt to the context.

Language and Literature

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Using Language	Identify significant aspects of texts, comment on the creator’s choices, justify opinions, and highlight similarities and differences within and between texts.
B	Using Language	Employ suitable organizational structures, logically organize ideas, and effectively utilize referencing and formatting tools.
C	Using Language	Demonstrate thought and imagination, explore new perspectives, make stylistic choices, and select relevant details to support ideas.
D	Using Language	Utilize appropriate vocabulary, grammar, syntax, and forms of expression; write and speak in the correct register and style; ensure accuracy in spelling and pronunciation; and employ suitable non-verbal communication techniques.

Individuals and Societies

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Knowledge and Understanding	Use appropriate vocabulary and demonstrate knowledge of subject-specific content.
B	Investigation	Explain the choice of the research question, follow an action plan, collect relevant information, and reflect on the investigation process and results.
C	Communication	Communicate clearly, organize information effectively, and properly cite sources.
D	Critical Thinking	Identify main points, use information to justify opinions, analyze sources, and recognize different perspectives and their implications.

Sciences

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Knowing and Understanding	Outline scientific knowledge, comment on the creator’s choices, and make scientifically supported judgments.
B	Inquiring and Designing	Formulate research questions, make testable predictions, outline experimental procedures, and design scientific investigations.
C	Processing and Evaluating	Present and interpret data, discuss the validity of predictions and reliability of methods, and suggest improvements.
D	Reflecting on the Impacts of Science	Summarize scientific applications, discuss implications, use scientific language effectively, and document findings.

Mathematics

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Knowing and Understanding	Select and apply appropriate mathematical concepts to solve problems across various contexts.
B	Investigating Patterns	Recognize and describe patterns using mathematical problem-solving techniques, and verify their applicability.
C	Communicating	Utilize proper mathematical language and representations while organizing information coherently.
D	Applying Mathematical Reasoning in Real-Life Contexts	Identify relevant elements, select suitable strategies, apply them effectively, explain their accuracy, and assess the coherence of the solution in real-life situations.

Arts

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Knowing and Understanding	Demonstrate awareness of the studied art form and its relationship to its context. Establish connections between acquired knowledge and the artwork created.
B	Developing Skills	Focus on acquiring, applying, and developing the skills and techniques relevant to the studied art form.
C	Thinking Creatively	Identify artistic intentions, explore alternatives and perspectives, and demonstrate an exploration of ideas.
D	Responding	Recognize connections between different art forms, as well as between art and context or prior learning. Understand that the world offers inspiration and influence for artistic creation.

Physical and Health Education

Criterion	Description	Components
A	Knowing and Understanding	Outline knowledge related to physical education and health. Identify relevant information to describe and solve problems, utilizing appropriate terminology.
B	Planning for Performance	Set specific goals and develop a plan to enhance physical activity and health.
C	Applying and Performing	Effectively apply skills, techniques, strategies, and movement concepts in practice.
D	Reflecting and Improving Performance	Enhance interpersonal skills, evaluate the effectiveness of the plan, and summarize overall performance.

Design

Criterion	Description	Instructions
A	Inquiring and Analyzing	Articulate and justify the need for a solution to the identified problem. Detail the significant features of an existing product that serves as inspiration for the proposed solution.
B	Developing Ideas	Establish a set of success criteria for the solution. Select a design from the proposed ideas. Create a drawing or diagram and outline the essential details necessary for constructing the selected solution.
C	Creating the Solution	Implement the chosen design in practice. Demonstrate exceptional technical skills throughout the solution-making process. Document any modifications made to the original design and plan during development.
D	Evaluating	Outline straightforward and relevant testing methods to gather data for assessing the solution’s success. Evaluate the solution’s effectiveness against the design specification. Analyze the solution’s impact on the client or target audience.