Philosophy IA structure: sections, criteria and word count
The Philosophy IA is a philosophical analysis of a stimulus such as a painting, a film scene or a poem. It runs to 2,000 words and is marked out of 25 across 5 criteria, A to E. This structure has 6 sections, from the stimulus to the bibliography, each with writing steps.
Some details on this page are still being checked against the IB guide.
At a glance
| Task | The philosophical analysis of a stimulus |
|---|---|
| Guide | Philosophy guide, first assessment 2025 |
| Sessions | May 2027 onward |
| Levels | SL and HL |
| Assessment | Internal, moderated by the IB |
| Weighting | 25% at SL, 20% at HL |
| Hours | About 20 hours |
| Limit | 2,000 words. The rule for passing the limit was not found, so treat 2,000 as a hard cap. |
| Criteria | A Identification of issue and justification (3), B Clarity (4), C Knowledge and understanding (4), D Analysis (8), E Evaluation (6): 25 marks. The split of marks comes from a school course site, and criteria A, B and E agree with an older subject report. It has not yet been checked against the 2025 guide. |
| What is changing | No change found for May 2027 or later: Philosophy is absent from the IB's list of new courses (page updated 24 March 2026). |
The structure, section by section
1. Stimulus
Rewarded by a criterion · Criterion: A · Outside the word count
The stimulus as an image, a short text or a neutral description, with its full source; outside the word count.
- Insert the stimulus or describe it neutrally.
- Give its full source.
2. Introduction: issue and link
Rewarded by a criterion · Criterion: A
The philosophical issue, named explicitly, and how the stimulus raises it.
- State the issue as a philosophical question in your own words.
- Point to the features of the stimulus that raise it.
- Explain why the link holds.
- Outline the route of your analysis.
3. Concepts and positions
Rewarded by a criterion · Criterion: C
Key terms and the relevant philosophical approaches.
- Define the key terms precisely.
- Identify 2 or more relevant positions or thinkers.
- Check each attribution against a reliable source.
4. Analysis
Rewarded by a criterion · Criterion: D
Arguments, counter-arguments and examples.
- Set out each argument step by step.
- Test each one against counter-arguments.
- Tie each step back to the stimulus and the issue.
5. Evaluation and conclusion
Rewarded by a criterion · Criterion: E
The viewpoints weighed, and a justified position consistent with the analysis.
- Compare the strengths and weaknesses of each view.
- State and justify your own position.
- Check that the conclusion follows from the analysis.
6. Bibliography
Rewarded by a criterion · Outside the word count
Every source cited; outside the word count.
- List every source you cited.
- Use one style throughout.
What counts toward the limit
Counts: the analysis text. Does not count: the stimulus, references and the bibliography under pre-2025 IB documents, and, provisionally, the title and headings; these rules are still being checked against the 2025 guide.
The limit: 2,000 words. The rule for passing the limit was not found, so treat 2,000 as a hard cap.
Graphs and visuals
- Visual stimulus: painting, photo, cartoon, film still Image, common
Caption with the source. Keep it outside the word count. - Argument map Drawn, rare
A planning aid for the analysis; the IB does not mention it. - Table comparing positions Table, rare
Number and caption it.
The frequencies are our estimates, from what the IB guide expects and what teachers advise. We did not count them in marked work.
Citations
No subject-specific requirement was found. References and the bibliography sit outside the count under pre-2025 IB documents, and no source shows which style is common in Philosophy.
The workspace keeps your sources and writes the bibliography in APA 7th to start with. You can switch to MLA 9th, Chicago author-date, Chicago notes (footnotes) or Harvard at any point.
Pitfalls
- A philosophical text as the stimulus, which subject reports say usually loses marks (older guide).
- An issue that is implied and never named, which sits in the lowest band of criterion A (2021 instructions, pre-2025 guide).
- Exposition that crowds out argument: Analysis and Evaluation carry 14 of the 25 marks.
Write it in the workspace
These sections in order with their steps, a word counter that counts the way this page says, your sources and a bibliography, and graphs from your own data. Export to Word or PDF.
The workspace is free with an account, and it never writes or rewrites your text. What we will and will not do with your coursework →
Sources
- Philosophy guide, first assessment 2025 (IB, Feb 2023)
- Individuals and societies: Philosophy SL and HL (subject brief)
- IB instructions 2021, "Individuals and societies – Philosophy"
- Philosophy guide, older edition (HTML)
- IB, "Read curriculum updates" (page last updated 24 March 2026)
- IB, Examiner Instructions 2027: Psychology
- History guide, First assessment 2028 (IB, published Feb 2026)
- IB Philosophy subject report, November 2017
The IB documents behind this page, checked 29 October 2026. The linked ones are on ibo.org; the others are IB documents we read in copies hosted elsewhere, so we name them without a link. Everything above is in our own words: the official wording is in your subject guide, which your coordinator can give you. LimeAdmissions is independent of the International Baccalaureate Organization, which has not endorsed this page. Every coursework structure →