How many marks is IB Economics Paper 1 Part (b)?
Under the current course and 2026 examiner instructions, each Paper 1 question has a 10-mark Part (a) and a 15-mark Part (b). Students answer one complete question from a choice of three. Confirm the applicable course and session with the school.
Is IB Economics Paper 1 the same at SL and HL?
The current SL and HL Paper 1 has the same one-hour-15-minute structure and excludes HL extension content, but its final-grade weighting differs: 30% at SL and 20% at HL. Students should still confirm the assessment outline for their session.
Does Paper 1 Part (b) need a separate evaluation paragraph?
No. Current examiner guidance says synthesis and evaluation should be supported throughout by the analysis, relevant diagrams and real-world examples. A final judgement can synthesize the argument, but evaluation should not be confined to one detached paragraph.
How many real-world examples should an Economics Paper 1 answer use?
The public guidance does not set a universal number. Use one or more accurate and relevant examples deeply enough to support explanation, analysis and evaluation; several named examples without application are not automatically stronger.
Does every IB Economics evaluation need PED, stakeholders and a time horizon?
No. These can be useful only when they are relevant to the policy, market or issue in the question. Select the conditions, assumptions, distributional effects, time frames, evidence or alternatives that materially change the judgement.
Can an IB Economics Paper 1 response receive a guaranteed 15 out of 15?
No formula guarantees a mark. Examiners apply the markband and question-specific markscheme using best fit. A student should practise addressing the exact demand with accurate theory, relevant diagrams, real-world application and supported, balanced evaluation.