During the COVID-19 pandemic, students could not go to the Science lab and undertake experiments themselves as it was locked down. Instead, students could only base their Internal Assessment Scientific Investigation on secondary data. Using secondary data needs to be done carefully – students need to choose the sources of secondary data well. Students may take secondary data from many different sources or even generate it themselves. Some of the acceptable sources of secondary data could come from databases and simulations.
The reality of using secondary data in your Chemistry IA
It is more difficult to score higher marks if the student uses secondary data as opposed to primary data obtained via experimentation. It would naturally be more difficult to assess how valid the methodology is as well as account for uncertainties. Moreover, it would also be hard to ensure all the control variables have been properly identified and monitored.
However, students should remember – as long as they manipulate the data in an acceptable manner and make comparisons between data from different sources instead of a single source, they are on the right track. Students should avoid arriving at the same conclusion as the researchers generating the data themselves or other researchers who have analysed the same data.
The easiest research question for the Chemistry IA would be those which follow the format: “How does changing the value of X influence the value of Y when all the other variables are constant?” Students should find data from a number of different sources about how the independent variable influences the dependent variable and provide information about the constant variables. The dependent variable should be able to be measured directly.
Sources of Databases
There are a number of good databases on the Internet, here are some starting points:
· CHEMnetBase
· 64 different free chemistry databases
· ChemSpider
· Royal Society of Chemistry
· National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (NIST)
· NASA Eyes on the Earth
· NASA James Webb Telescope
· WebMO
Sources of Simulations
· Virtual Lab at ChemCollective
· KScience
· Explorelearning
· eduMedia
· Model ChemLab (needs students to pay a small fee)
· ChemreaX
It should be noted that if a student is using a simulation to obtain their data for their IA, the IB expects these students to take screenshots as evidence. The examiner should have a clear understanding of how the simulation works, and how much input the student gives. The simulation evidence provided should show that the student can control and manipulate variables, so that the teacher’s marking of the coursework can be clearly justified.
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As the name suggests, the IB Chemistry Clinic does not only fix a student’s grades - it helps students with critical components of the IB Programme, namely the Internal Assessment (IA) which is worth at least 20% of a student’s grade and their Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry.
The IA and EE are a non-negotiable part of the Chemistry curriculum - without them, students will not be able to graduate with an IB Diploma. However, there are many difficulties associated with conducting experiments for the IA and EE - many replications are required and the standard for the final deliverable - the research report - is high. Students need to undertake statistical testing and present their final results coherently and concisely.
Although the IB school provides mentors for the EE and teachers at school can guide students through their IA, attention to each student is often limited in a classroom setting and many students are left to figure things out by themselves. This results in difficulty completing internal deadlines on time, especially when a student needs to juggle all their 6 subjects and the additional components of the IB, along with their CCAs and other commitments.
The IB Chemistry Clinic is here to answer all your questions - whether it is about content knowledge or fixing errors in your experimental setup as you undertake your IA journey, our skilled tutors with a strong background in Chemistry research and 30 years of experience teaching Chemistry are here to help!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How to study for IB Chemistry?
Firstly, knowing the syllabus for IB Chemistry (either HL or SL) will help the student revise. Next, try practising with past year IB papers to get used to the exam format. If there are questions students do not know how to answer, they can revise the concepts regarding the question to help them answer them or clarify with a tutor or teacher.