Unveiling the relationship between internal assessment and external assessment in the international baccalaureate diploma program

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the relationship between internal assessment (IA) and external assessment (EA) scores of the high school students in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP). Methods: Simple linear regression analysis was conducted to explore to what extent the IA scores predict the EA scores in the Turkish, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics courses. Findings: The quantitative analysis revealed that only a small percentage of the variation in IBDP EA scores can be explained by the model containing only IA scores in the IBDP standard level (SL) and high level (HL) courses. Furthermore, the correlation coefficient was utilized to explain the degree to which the IA scores are associated with the EA scores. This analysis revealed that there is a moderate relationship between IA and EA in HL English and SL biology course, but a weak relationship between IA and EA in SL and HL biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, English (only SL) and Turkish courses. Value: This research highlights some important implications for educators about the consistency and reliability of IA as a tool for forming a final mark in the IBDP assessment and the role the IA plays in predicting the students’ general academic achievement.