Flashcards · IB Middle Years Programme Design (MYP) · Topic 4

Assessment criteria flashcards

23 cards on Topic 4, subtopics A to D. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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What are the four MYP Design criteria and how are they marked?: A: Inquiring and analysing. B: Developing ideas. C: Creating the solution. D: Evaluating. They are equally weighted; each has eight achievement levels in four bands (0–8 with level 0), giving a total of 0–32. There is no SL/HL split.
How does the design cycle map onto the criteria?: Inquiring and analysing (A) → developing ideas (B) → creating the solution (C) → evaluating (D). The cycle is repeated for every project; skipping a stage loses marks on the criterion tied to it.
What does criterion A require?: From a given design situation: explain and justify the need for a solution for a client or target audience; identify and prioritise research; analyse existing products; develop a design brief that summarises the analysis.
Explain versus justify in criterion A: Explain says what the need is. Justify gives evidence that it is worth solving, with sample sizes ("9 of 12 coaches, 75%") and the consequence of leaving it unsolved.
Client versus target audience: The client is one person or organisation you design for and can consult. The target audience is the wider user group.
Primary versus secondary research: The difference is who collected it, not where you found it. Primary: collected first-hand for this project (your own questionnaire, interview, observation). Secondary: already collected or published by someone else.

What does criterion B require?: Develop a design specification; develop a range of feasible design ideas; present the chosen design and justify it against the specification; develop planning drawings or diagrams accurate enough to make the solution from.
Design brief versus design specification: The brief states what is needed and why (end of criterion A). The specification is a list of measurable requirements that drives development (criterion B) and is tested against in criterion D.
What makes a good specification point?: Requirement + measurable target + reason from research + test method. "Holds a bag" is weak; "holds a 5 kg bag without slipping for 8 hours" is measurable.
What is a decision matrix?: A table scoring each design idea against the specification points, often weighted, used with user feedback to justify the choice of design.
What is a feasible range of ideas?: Ideas that solve the problem in genuinely different ways, each makeable with the skills, tools, materials, time and budget available.
What is a tolerance?: The allowed variation from a stated size: 150 ± 2 mm means anything from 148 mm to 152 mm is acceptable.

What does criterion C require?: Construct a logical plan (steps, time, resources); demonstrate technical skills; follow the plan to create a prototype sufficient for testing and evaluation; justify any changes made to the design or the plan.
What makes a plan logical?: Steps in a workable order, one action each, with time, materials (size and quantity), tools, safety and a quality check — clear enough for someone else to follow.
How do you check whether a time plan fits?: Available time = lessons × minutes; contingency = available − planned; contingency % = contingency ÷ available × 100. Example: 4 × 45 = 180 min; planned 150 → 30 min, 16.7%. Negative contingency means the plan does not fit.
Production log versus Gantt chart: A production log is a dated record of what was actually done, how long it took and any problems. A Gantt chart plans steps against lessons or weeks, showing order, overlap and waiting time.
What is a prototype sufficient for testing?: One complete enough that your criterion D tests can be run on it. A solution can be a model, prototype, product or system.

What does criterion D require?: Design tests to evaluate the solution; carry them out and objectively evaluate its success against the specification; identify how it could be improved; explain its impact on the client or target audience.
How do you write a test plan?: For every specification point choose a test type, write a repeatable method (equipment, steps, repeats), copy the success measure from the specification, state the data and units to record, and say who tests it and where (real users, real conditions).
What is an objective evaluation?: A judgement that follows the evidence, including results that fall short of the specification, rather than claiming the solution is a success.
What makes an improvement specific?: It is a specific change linked to a test result, with an explanation of how it would help — not a general wish to "make it better".
User trial versus expert appraisal: User trial: real users do set tasks while you time and observe them (do not help them). Expert appraisal: an expert judges safety, construction or code quality; it does not replace user testing.
How is MYP Design externally assessed?: By ePortfolio, not an on-screen exam: a complete design folder (brief, research, specification, development, solution, evaluation) starting from a design situation, marked by the teacher against year 5 criteria and moderated by the IB on a sample.