External assessment details—SL
Independent study
Weighting: 25%
This component is based on part 2 of the course (film theory and history), but also draws to some extent
on part 1 (textual analysis). The aim of the independent study is to encourage students to engage in some
depth with a cinematic tradition that is unfamiliar to their own culture.
Students must produce a script for a complete short documentary production exploring an aspect of film
theory or film history, based on the study of films from more than one country. The documentary should
be targeted at an audience of film students in the 14 to 18 years age range. Among the topics students may
choose to investigate are:
• genre
• theme
• direction
• use of sound
• colour
• editing
• lighting.
The topic should be discussed primarily in cinematic terms.
The prime voice of the documentary must clearly be that of the student, who will also act as the narrator, onscreen
host and/or voice-over. Students must ensure that any comments or ideas they attribute to celebrities
or others, such as experts, are fully supported by detailed references in the annotated list of sources.
Students at SL must make reference to a minimum of two films in their independent study. The chosen films
must originate from more than one country. At SL the study is not necessarily comparative.
The independent study must be presented in the form of a written dossier composed of the following three
items.
• Rationale
• Script
• Annotated list of sources
The rationale must offer a brief, reasoned explanation of the concerns of the topic in no more than
100 words.







External assessment criteria – Standard level

The method of assessment used by the IB is criterion-related, not norm-referenced: the method of assessment judges the students’ work by their performance in relation to identified assessment criteria and not in relation to the work of other students. For external assessment, the independent study and presentation are assessed using markband descriptors. These markband descriptors are used in a similar way for both pieces of work.

Independent study Markband Descriptor

0 Level 1 is not achieved.

1–5 There is little or no knowledge of the film history/film theory topic. Engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument, the use of sources and structure of the script are all limited. Visual and audio elements are incompletely described and poorly linked. Films referred to may have some relevance to the topic but little use is made of them in the script.

6–10 There is some understanding of the film history/film theory topic. Engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument, the use of sources and structure of the script, are relevant in parts, but still limited. Visual and audio elements are fairly well described, although links may be inconsistent. Films referred to are mostly relevant to the topic and some use is made of them in the script.

11–15 There is an adequate understanding of the film history/film theory topic. Engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument, the use of sources and structure of the script are adequate. Visual and audio elements are well described and satisfactorily linked. Films referred to are relevant to the topic and are clearly integrated into the script.

16–20 There is a good understanding of the film history/film theory topic. Engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument, the use of sources and structure of the script are good. Visual and audio elements are clearly and coherently described and are, in the main, aptly linked. Films referred to are relevant to the topic and are well integrated into the script.

21–25 There is an excellent understanding of the film history/film theory topic. Engagement with the target audience, scope and depth of argument, the use of sources and structure of the script are excellent. Visual and audio elements are detailed, clearly and coherently described, and are aptly and proficiently linked. Films referred to are highly relevant to the topic and are coherently and fully integrated into the script.

These markband descriptors are designed to produce a holistic assessment of the independent study. In cases where work contains features that are not adequately described by the markband descriptors (or where it indicates some qualities appropriate to a high markband combined with some qualities appropriate to a lower one), examiners are instructed to exercise their professional judgment to reward the positive achievements of the student, awarding a mark within the band that best matches the overall quality of the work.

Meeting the requirements: Any student who does not meet all the formal requirements may not be awarded a mark within the top two mark bands at SL. These are: correct length and format, inclusion of a rationale, an annotated list of sources, number of films required for study and reference to films from more than one country.