IB Theatre research presentation: structure and script steps
The research presentation is an externally assessed Theatre task at SL and HL. It is a recorded presentation of at most 15 minutes in 3 parts, with a list of sources, marked on 3 criteria for 24 marks. This structure has 4 sections: the unfamiliar tradition, the practical exploration, the reflection and the list of sources.
At a glance
| Task | Research presentation (recorded) |
|---|---|
| Guide | Theatre guide, first assessment 2024 |
| Sessions | May 2027, November 2027 and May 2028 |
| Levels | SL and HL |
| Assessment | External |
| Weighting | 30% at SL and 20% at HL |
| Limit | A video of at most 15 minutes in 3 parts of at most 5 minutes each, plus a list of sources; time over the limit is not assessed. Examiners stop reading at the limit. |
| Criteria | A The unfamiliar theatre tradition (8), B Practical exploration of the performance convention (8), C Reflection on learning (8): 24 marks. |
| What is changing | No new Theatre course is announced, so one structure covers all 3 sessions. |
The structure, section by section
1. The unfamiliar theatre tradition
Required by the IB (spoken: use the 3 timed parts to plan the script) · Criterion: The unfamiliar theatre tradition
The tradition the student researched, in at most 5 minutes.
- Plan what you will say about the tradition.
- Note each source you will cite aloud or on a slide.
- Time this part at 5 minutes or less.
2. Practical exploration of a performance convention
Required by the IB · Criterion: Practical exploration of the performance convention
The student exploring the convention in practice, in at most 5 minutes.
- Choose the convention you will explore.
- Plan what you will show in the space.
- Time this part at 5 minutes or less.
3. Reflection on learning
Required by the IB · Criterion: Reflection on learning
What the student learned, in at most 5 minutes.
- Plan your reflection on what you learned.
- Time this part at 5 minutes or less.
4. List of sources
Required by the IB · Outside the word count
Every source cited in the presentation.
- Log each source when you first use it.
What counts toward the limit
The workspace turns the words of your script into minutes at 130 words a minute as a planning estimate, spoken citations included; the list of sources is outside the timing. Check the real recording against the 15-minute limit.
The limit: A video of at most 15 minutes in 3 parts of at most 5 minutes each, plus a list of sources; time over the limit is not assessed. Examiners stop reading at the limit.
Graphs and visuals
- Slides Image, common
Allowed in the research presentation. Most of the screen time should show the student, every slide goes into the upload, and visuals have to be physically present in the space, with none added in editing.
The frequencies are our estimates, from what the IB guide expects and what teachers advise. We did not count them in marked work.
Citations
The IB prescribes no style and your school chooses; MLA and Chicago are both common in theatre writing. Citations are spoken, or shown on a visible slide, at the point of use.
The workspace keeps your sources and writes the bibliography in MLA 9th to start with. You can switch to APA 7th, Chicago author-date, Chicago notes (footnotes) or Harvard at any point.
Pitfalls
- A video over 15 minutes: time over the limit is not assessed.
- Citations left out of the spoken text and the slides at the point of use.
- Visuals added in editing: they have to be physically present in the space.
- Leaving slides out of the upload: all slides go in.
- Slides that take most of the screen time: most of it should show you.
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
- Theatre guide, first assessment 2024 (published Feb 2022, updated May 2022)
- IB, Theatre subject brief
- IB, "Theatre updates" (last updated 6 March 2025)
- IB, "Read curriculum updates" (page last updated 24 March 2026)
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 →