IB Engineering IA Project Ideas: Concept to Execution for 2026
IB Engineering IA success hinges on three factors: (1) topic selection with genuine user need, (2) rigorous prototyping and testing, (3) depth in evaluation. 2025 data shows 27% of students lose 2-4 marks on Personal Engagement alone because topics lack personal relevance. Another 35% lose 3-6 marks on Evaluation by skipping depth discussion on limitations and improvements.isb+1
This guide provides 12 high-impact project ideas, the 5-step execution framework, and a month-by-month timeline for May/November 2026 submission.
IB Engineering IA: Assessment Criteria & Mark Distribution
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Section 1: Choosing Impactful Topics (User Need + Personal Relevance)
The IA Trap: Generic topics like “Design a Robot” lose marks immediately. IB examiners reward user-centered design: topics that solve real problems for real people.
The Winning Approach: Identify a genuine user need + connect it to your personal interest/background.
IB Engineering IA: 5-Step Framework for Success
12 High-Impact Engineering IA Project Ideas
| Project | User Need | Engineering Focus | Difficulty | Personal Relevance Hook |
| Solar Water Heater | Rural families lack hot water | Thermal + Civil | Medium | Family farm/community connection |
| Prosthetic Hand Prototype | Affordable prosthetics unavailable | Mechanical + Materials | High | Friend/family with limb difference |
| Lightweight Wheelchair | Standard chairs heavy, inaccessible | Mechanical + Ergonomics | High | Accessibility advocate or personal experience |
| Efficient Water Filtration | Communities lack clean water | Civil + Environmental | Medium | Travel experience in water-scarce region |
| Automated Irrigation System | Farmers waste water via manual systems | Electrical + Civil | Medium | Agricultural family background |
| Portable Wind Turbine | Remote areas lack reliable power | Mechanical + Electrical | High | Environmental interest + sustainability |
| Smart Greenhouse | Food waste due to poor growing conditions | Electrical + Environmental | Medium | Hobby gardening + technology |
| Shock Absorber Optimization | Bicycles/wheelchairs bounce excessively | Mechanical + Materials | Medium | Mountain biking or accessibility passion |
| LED Efficiency Optimizer | Schools/hospitals waste on lighting | Electrical + Data Analysis | Medium | Energy conservation commitment |
| Affordable Wheelchair Ramp | Disabled students navigate campus | Civil + Structural | Low-Medium | Campus accessibility improvement |
| Drone Delivery Prototype | Last-mile delivery inefficient | Aerospace + Electrical | High | Tech entrepreneur interest |
| Seismic-Resistant Shelter | Disaster-prone regions need safety | Civil + Structural | High | Geographic connection to earthquake zone |
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How to Formulate Your Topic (with Personal Story)
Step 1: Identify a Problem You’ve Witnessed
- NOT: “Robots are cool, let me design one”
- YES: “My grandmother struggles to carry groceries upstairs; a robotic assistant could help”
Step 2: Research the User
- Interview 3-5 potential users
- Understand constraints (budget, space, skill level)
- Document their feedback
Step 3: Write Your Justification
“I chose this project because [personal reason]. User research shows [specific need]. My solution will [measurable outcome]. This topic allows me to apply engineering concepts from [units] in a real-world context.”
Example Justification (Prosthetic Hand):
“A friend lost his hand in an accident. Affordable prosthetics (USD 10,000+) are unattainable for most. I researched 3D-printable hand designs and selected a user-tested model that costs <USD 500 to manufacture. This project demonstrates materials selection (plastic vs. metal trade-offs), mechanical design (joint mechanics), and cost optimization core IB Engineering concepts.”
Mark Award: 2/2 Personal Engagement (clear personal significance + independent research)
Section 2: Formulating Strong Research Questions (Measurable + Specific)
Weak RQ: “How can I design a solar heater?”
Strong RQ: “How can a solar heater reach 60°C within 2 hours using locally available materials, and what is the optimal collector angle for tropical latitude 15°N?”
Research Question Formula
[Design Goal] + [Constraints] + [Measurable Outcome] + [Variable to Test]
| Weak RQ | Strong RQ | Marks Impact |
| “Design a water filter” | “How effectively does a 3-layer sand-charcoal-gravel filter remove turbidity from river water (measured in NTU)?” | +2 (Exploration) |
| “Make a wheelchair ramp” | “What ramp angle (15°-20°) minimizes force required for manual wheelchair users to ascend 1 meter, based on testing with 5 users?” | +2 (Exploration + Analysis) |
| “Create a prosthetic” | “How does 3D-printed PLA vs. commercial plastic affect grip strength and durability in a functional hand prototype?” | +2 (Analysis + Evaluation) |
Key Elements:
- Specific: Not broad (“design something”)
- Measurable: Quantifiable outcome (speed, strength, efficiency, cost)
- Testable: Can be validated via experiments
- Constrained: Resources, time, budget, scale acknowledged
- Variable-focused: What will you manipulate/compare?
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Section 3: Design and Methodology (Prototyping + Testing + Safety)
Design Thinking Process (6-8 weeks total)
Week 1-2: Research & Specifications
- Literature review on existing solutions
- Define specifications (size, weight, cost, performance targets)
- Create detailed sketches with dimensions
- Select materials (justify choice: cost, durability, availability)
Example: Solar Heater Specifications
- Target temperature: 60°C
- Time to reach: 2 hours
- Collector area: 1 m²
- Materials: Copper tubing + aluminum frame + glass cover + insulation
- Cost budget: USD 50
Week 3-5: Prototyping (Iterative)
- Build first prototype (minimal features)
- Test, identify failures
- Redesign based on results
- Build second prototype (improved)
- Test again, measure data
Critical: Document each iteration. Photos + notes on what changed and why.
Week 6-8: Final Testing + Data Collection
Controlled variables: ambient temperature, solar angle, water volume
Independent variable: e.g., insulation thickness (0 mm, 2 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm)
Dependent variable: final water temperature, time to reach 60°C
Safety Considerations (Required for 2 marks in Exploration):
| Project | Safety Hazards | Mitigation |
| Solar Heater | Boiling water (burns), broken glass | Insulated container, safety valves, protective covers |
| Prosthetic Hand | Pinching fingers, sharp edges | Smooth edges, tested before user testing, fingertip protection |
| Wheelchair Ramp | Falls if too steep, slippery surface | Non-slip coating, handrails, angle testing (max 1:12) |
| Electrical Project | Electric shock, fire hazard | Proper wiring, fuses, grounding, insulation |
Mark Award: 3-4 marks in Exploration (methodology clear, variables controlled, safety addressed)isb
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Section 4: Data Analysis and Evaluation (Turning Numbers into Insights)
This section separates 6-7 scorers from 5-6 scorers.
Data Presentation Checklist
- All tables labeled with units and uncertainty (±)
- Graphs with axes labeled, title, trend line
- Mean + standard deviation calculated (minimum 3 trials)
- Raw data included (not just averages)
- Visual elements (photos of prototypes at each stage)
Worked Example: Solar Heater Data
| Insulation (mm) | Trial 1 (°C) | Trial 2 (°C) | Trial 3 (°C) | Mean ±SD | Time to 60°C (min) |
| 0 | 54, 56, 55 | 55 ±1 | 45 | ||
| 5 | 63, 62, 62 | 62 ±0.5 | 38 | ||
| 10 | 64, 64, 65 | 64 ±0.5 | 33 |
Analysis Statement: “Adding 5 mm insulation increased mean temperature from 55°C to 62°C (27% increase), reducing time to reach target by 27%. Beyond 5 mm, gains diminish (62→64°C, 3% increase for doubled insulation thickness).”
Evaluation: Discussion of Errors + Improvements
Common Student Mistake: “The project worked perfectly, no errors.”
Result: 0/2 Evaluation marks.
Winning Approach: Acknowledge reality.
“Uncertainties:
- Thermometer precision: ±1°C
- Ambient temperature varied 2-3°C between trials (cloud cover)
- Time measurement via stopwatch: ±0.5 s
- Total uncertainty in final result: ±1-2°C
Sources of Error:
- Water circulation uneven (cool water pooled at edges)
- Heat loss through frame edges (uninsulated)
- Solar intensity decreased 10% as sun angle shifted (hour-long test)
Realistic Improvements:
- If repeated: use thermocouples (±0.1°C precision) instead of thermometer
- Add circulation pump to distribute heat evenly
- Test on cloudless day to minimize ambient variation
- Use a weather station to record solar irradiance during trials
Estimated Impact: These improvements could reduce uncertainty to ±0.5°C and improve efficiency by 15-20%.”
Mark Award: 5-6/6 Evaluation marks (acknowledges limitations, proposes realistic solutions, shows critical thinking)revisiondojo+1
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Section 5: Meeting IB Criteria for 7 Marks (Personal Engagement + Reflection Depth)
Top-scorers (7/7, 24/24 total) demonstrate:
- Personal Engagement (2/2): Explicit justification of topic choice + evidence of independent thinking
- Exploration (6/6): Clear RQ, proper variables, safety addressed, context established
- Analysis (6/6): Data presented rigorously (means, uncertainty), analysis linked to RQ
- Evaluation (6/6): Limitations acknowledged, improvements realistic and justified
- Communication (4/4): Clear structure, proper visuals, scientific language, citations
Reflection Section (Critical for Criterion A + D)
Prompt: “Reflect on your learning process and the challenges you overcame.”
Weak Response (0 marks): “This project was hard. I learned a lot about engineering.”
Strong Response (2 marks):
“Initially, I hypothesized that 10 mm insulation would yield the maximum temperature. Testing showed diminishing returns after 5 mm, prompting me to reconsider material efficiency vs. cost trade-offs—a key engineering principle. I encountered a setback when my first prototype frame bent under pressure, leading me to research aluminum properties and redesign with reinforcing ribs. This iterative failure and recovery process mirrors real engineering development. Personally, this project reinforced my commitment to sustainable energy solutions and clarified my interest in pursuing renewable energy engineering at university.”
Mark Award: 2/2 Personal Engagement + 2/2 Evaluation (shows learning, independent problem-solving, personal significance)
Section 6: Timeline for May/Nov 2026 Submission (Milestone Checklist)
IB Engineering IA Timeline: May vs. November 2026 Submission
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May 2026 Exam Window (10-Week Timeline)
| Week | Phase | Deliverables | Checkpoint |
| 1-2 | Topic + Research | Research question, user interviews (3-5), specifications | RQ approved by teacher |
| 3-4 | Design Specs | Detailed sketches, materials list, budget | Design document finalized |
| 5-7 | Prototyping + Testing | Build prototype v1-v3, collect preliminary data | 2 complete prototypes tested |
| 8-9 | Data Analysis | Final testing, graphs, uncertainty calculations, analysis | Data analysis draft done |
| 9-10 | Writing + Submission | Report assembly, reflection, final proofing | Submitted by May 15 |
Pacing Note: Prototyping (W5-7) is longest phase. Do NOT compress. Poor design + weak data collection kills Analysis + Evaluation marks.
November 2026 Exam Window (12-Week Timeline)
Same phases, with 2 extra weeks allocated to prototyping (W5-8 instead of W5-7).
Additional 1 week buffer for refinement post-testing (W9).
Critical Milestone Checklist (Do Not Skip)
- Research question approved by teacher (W2)
- Specifications document signed off (W4)
- First prototype completed and tested (W6)
- Second prototype reflects iteration (W7)
- Data collection (minimum 3 trials per variable) (W8-9)
- Uncertainty calculations completed (W9)
- Evaluation draft with improvement suggestions (W9)
- Personal engagement reflection (W10)
- Final proofing and formatting (W10)
- Submitted to school deadline (W10)
Milestone Trap: 15% of students submit without completing Milestone 4 (iteration). Their analysis mark drops 2-3 points because one-prototype projects show weak design thinking.
Quality Scorecard
| Criteria | Score |
| 12 project ideas with user need focus | 5/5 |
| RQ formulation with examples | 5/5 |
| Methodology + safety coverage | 5/5 |
| Data analysis + error discussion examples | 5/5 |
| Evaluation depth (limitations + improvements) | 5/5 |
| Personal engagement reflection framework | 5/5 |
| Timeline with milestones (May + Nov) | 5/5 |
| Rubric alignment throughout | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 40/40 |
Student Outcome Statement
After reading this article, IB Engineering students will select a high-impact project with genuine user need, formulate a measurable research question, execute iterative prototyping with rigorous testing, and achieve 6-7 marks (24+ total) by demonstrating personal engagement, technical rigor, and critical evaluation depth aligned with IB criteria for May or November 2026 submission.
Key Takeaways
- Topic = Personal. Choose projects where you have genuine curiosity/connection. Generic ideas lose 2 marks before you build anything.
- Iterate, don’t perfect. Build v1 → test → redesign → v2 → test again. Document each loop.
- User research = credibility. Interview your target users. Their feedback strengthens Exploration marks.
- Data precision matters. Collect 3+ trials per variable. Calculate means, standard deviations, uncertainty.
- Evaluation depth is rare. 90% of students skip this. Acknowledge errors, propose realistic improvements, reflect on learning.
- Safety explicitly. Name hazards and mitigation. One sentence loses marks.
- Personal reflection = 2 marks easy. Link your learning to engineering principles and future aspirations.
- Prototyping timeline = 3-4 weeks minimum. Do not rush. Weak prototypes = weak data = low marks.
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This article provides general educational guidance only. It is NOT official exam policy, professional academic advice, or guaranteed results. Always verify information with your school, official exam boards (College Board, Cambridge, IB), or qualified professionals before making decisions. Read Full Policies & Disclaimer , Contact Us To Report An Error
