Do I still run an experiment for the IB Psychology IA?

Not from the May 2027 session onward. The new IA is a research proposal marked out of 24 — you design a study, justify methodology and data collection, and discuss anticipated outcomes, but no experiment is conducted.

Is the new Psychology IA different for SL and HL?

No — SL and HL students write the same research proposal and are assessed against the same four criteria of 6 marks each.

What is the word limit for the Psychology IA research proposal?

2,200 words. Material beyond the limit is not read or credited.

IB Psychology IA Changes 2027 — The Research Proposal, Explained

From the May 2027 session the IB Psychology Internal Assessment changes format completely: instead of conducting an experiment, you write a research proposal for a study that is never carried out. It is marked out of 24 (up from 22 for the experimental report). Sessions through November 2026 keep the current report (Introduction 6, Exploration 4, Analysis 6, Evaluation 6 = 22).

The new criteria (marked out of 24)

Criterion	Marks
A: Introduction — research question, background theory and rationale	6
B: Research methodology — method, design and participant considerations	6
C: Data collection — planned materials, procedure and ethics	6
D: Discussion — anticipated outcomes, limitations and implications	6

Word limit 2,200 — examiners stop reading beyond it. SL and HL write the same proposal against the same criteria. No experiment is conducted, so analysis of collected data disappears as a criterion; the discussion is forward-looking — what your design could and could not show.

IBLens is session-aware: choose Internal Assessment, Psychology, and set Exam session to May 2027 to have a proposal graded out of 24 against these criteria, with a free preview. Check your Psychology IA · EE New Criteria 2027