IB MYP assessments Part 2: Designing powerful MYP tasks

The International Baccalaureate in its literature clearly outlines the concept of assessments in the Middle Years Programme (MYP). Assessments are carefully curated by the teachers based on a variety of concepts and contexts to be marked against specific pre-published criteria. The ecosystem of assessments helps to understand the length and depth of every student's learning level. 

 But that still leaves you with a very practical challenge: how do you turn all of that into a summative assessment that works with your students, in your timetable, with your team?

This guide offers a simple, reusable process for designing powerful MYP assessment tasks, ones that:

• Grow naturally from your statement of inquiry or inquiry questions

• Create the questions from the criteria and not the other way around. 

• Keep the questions open ended to allow for more meaningful responses

• Contextualise your questions (scale your questions to a global issue/ perspective) 

What makes a good MYP assessment task?

A "good" or effective MYP assessment task is one that moves beyond simple recall to measure how students apply knowledge, think critically, and reflect on their learning, ensuring alignment with the Middle Years Programme philosophy.

When designing MYP assessments, a comprehensive list of elements defines high-quality assessment tasks including alignment with MYP concepts, authenticity, clarity, and structural rigor:

1. Alignment with MYP Assessment Principles (Criteria, Objectives, and Inquiry)

A good MYP assessment task is centrally linked to the core components of the MYP unit:

• Criterion-referenced: The MYP assessment tasks must align with prescribed subject-group objectives and utilize relevant assessment criteria (A–D). Teachers are responsible for selecting specific criteria strands and verifying that the assessment instrument provides evidence of achievement for each selected strand. Summative assessments require the integration of multiple criteria.

• Concept-driven: MYP assessment tasks should incorporate conceptual understanding and be planned with the unit's global context, key concepts, and related concepts in mind.

• Linked to the statement of inquiry (SOI): It must be built around a clear and effective Statement of Inquiry, with a strong connection articulated between the SOI and the task. This link helps students see the relevance of the MYP assessment to the big picture of their learning journey.

• Focus on application: MYP assessments should require students to apply concepts rather than relying on the recall of factual knowledge. This will help the students apply and understand the “learnt” knowledge and apply it in real-life situations. 

2. Authenticity and real world context in MYP assessments

Effective MYP assessment tasks connect learning to life outside the classroom:

• Authenticity: The task must be 'authentic' and grounded in a real-world context, allowing students to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems.

• Professional relevance: A helpful starting point for designing a summative MYP assessment is considering the kinds of work professionals in the subject area typically engage in.

• Use of design models: Models like GRASPS (Goal, Role, Audience, Situation, Product/Performance, Standards/Success Criteria) or RAFTS are powerful tools recommended for crafting scenarios that result in authentic MYP assessment tasks.

3. Structural clarity and differentiation in MYP assessment design

MYP assessment design must be accessible, fair, and rigorous for all learners:

• Clear guidance and formatting: Educators should provide clear and detailed guidance and expectations for students using student-friendly language. MYP assessments must be clearly structured and formatted so they are easy for students to navigate and understand.

• Appropriate use of command terms: Good MYP assessment tasks use appropriate MYP command terms in assessment questions. Teachers should explain what these terms mean to students for clarity, potentially displaying them in the classroom or including a glossary.

• Rigor and balance: MYP assessment tasks should be structured and balanced so that the questions are distributed across achievement levels. They must be sufficiently challenging for capable students to reach the highest level, while also being scaffolded for those who struggle.

• Differentiation and agency: To ensure that students of varying abilities can demonstrate understanding, MYP assessments should include multiple entry points for success. Providing students with some choice in the format or method of presentation promotes student agency and engagement.

• Group task clarification: If it is a group task, it is vital to clarify that each student will be assessed individually on all criteria.

4. Supporting assessment tools (Rubrics) for MYP assessments

A good MYP assessment task is inseparable from its measuring tool:

• Detailed rubric: The task must include a clear and detailed task-specific rubric.

• Level inclusion: This rubric should include all four levels of achievement (1-8) so students can view the full range of possible outcomes.

• Criterion weighting: The rubric should ensure that equal value has been given to all criteria strands that are being assessed.

• Task-specific clarification: Teachers should use task-specific clarification alongside the standard criteria language to define exactly what is expected for marking and feedback. This helps both teachers and students understand what meeting a specific strand looks like in the context of that particular MYP assessment.

How to design effective MYP assessment tasks: A 5-step process

Here's a practical, step-by-step process for designing MYP assessments that you can use with your team:

Step 1 – Start with the statement of inquiry, not the test

The Statement of Inquiry (SOI) should drive the unit. When planning MYP assessments, teachers should keep the SOI in mind and plan the assessment around the global context, key concepts, and related concepts. It is essential to articulate a strong connection between the SOI and the summative task. Ensuring the summative MYP assessment clearly aligns with the SOI helps students see the relevance of the task and its connection to the overall learning journey. Failing to link the SOI and the task is a common pitfall in MYP assessment design.

Step 2 – Choose the right MYP assessment criteria and strands

This step is necessary to ensure MYP assessments measure the prescribed learning outcomes. MYP teachers must assess the prescribed subject-group objectives using the assessment criteria (A–D). Teachers must select MYP objectives and criteria strands that align with the task being assessed. They should take time to thoroughly understand the criteria strands chosen and ensure the MYP assessment task fully addresses them.

Step 3 – Design an authentic MYP summative assessment

Authenticity is a cornerstone of effective MYP assessment design. Summative assessments should be authentic, concept-driven, and connected to the Statement of Inquiry and Global Context. A good MYP assessment task should be 'authentic' and grounded in a real-world context.

It is also critical to leverage models like GRASPS or RAFTS to help structure MYP assessment tasks that are authentic and meaningful for students. Authentic assessments allow students to apply knowledge and skills to real-world problems, improving understanding of what students truly know.

Step 4 – Turn criteria into task-specific clarifications and student-friendly rubrics

This step ensures MYP assessments are transparent, fair, and clear for students and teachers. The assessment must include a clear and detailed task-specific rubric. Rubrics can be modified to include task-specific clarifications. This helps both teachers and students by defining exactly what is expected for marking and feedback. The task-specific rubric must include all four levels of achievement (1-8). The rubric should be aligned with the chosen MYP objectives and ensure equal value is given to all criteria strands. Providing clear guidance and expectations using student-friendly language is emphasized as a critical step in MYP assessment design.

Step 5 – Run a pre-flight check: balance and feasibility

This step addresses the practical implementation and quality control of MYP assessment tasks.

• Balance: The assessment questions should be structured and balanced to ensure they are distributed across achievement levels. MYP assessments must be challenging enough for capable students to reach the highest level, yet scaffolded enough for struggling students to demonstrate understanding.

• Feasibility/Moderation: Getting another set of eyes to check the MYP assessment is crucial for moderation and standardization. Colleagues can check if the task is pitched at the right level and will take the correct amount of time.

• Logistics: Feasibility also involves planning for accommodations early and providing students with reasonable notice of the assessment deadline.

In essence, these five steps cover the entire cycle of MYP assessment design, moving from the conceptual "why" (SOI) to the structural "what" (Criteria) to the practical "how" (Authenticity and Rubrics), and finally to the quality assurance "is it ready?" (Balance and Feasibility).

MYP assessment design: Practical questions to ask yourself

Here are practical questions to ask when designing MYP assessments:

Common pitfalls in MYP assessment design (and how to avoid them)

Comparing IB guidance, school assessment policies, and teacher blogs, the same mistakes appear over and over when designing MYP assessments. Here are five to watch for:

 A simple checklist for MYP assessment tasks

Frequently asked questions about MYP assessments

• How do you design MYP summative assessments?

  To design effective MYP summative assessments, start with the Statement of Inquiry, choose the right criteria and strands, design an authentic task using models like GRASPS or RAFTS, create task-specific rubrics, and run a pre-flight check for balance and feasibility.

• What are MYP assessment criteria?

  MYP assessment criteria are the published standards (A–D) used across each subject group to evaluate student performance. Each criterion has specific strands and achievement levels (1-8) that define what students should know and be able to do.

• How can I make my MYP assessment tasks more authentic?

  Make MYP assessment tasks more authentic by grounding them in real-world contexts, considering what professionals in the field actually do, and using design frameworks like GRASPS to create meaningful scenarios with clear purposes and audiences.

• What is the difference between MYP assessment criteria and task-specific rubrics?

  MYP assessment criteria are the standardized, published objectives for each subject group. Task-specific rubrics take these criteria and add clarifications that define exactly what meeting each level looks like for your particular assessment task.

• How many MYP assessment criteria should I assess in one task?

  Rather than assessing all four MYP criteria in every task, focus on 1–2 criteria per summative assessment that are central to the unit, ensuring all strands are covered across the year. This creates more focused, manageable MYP assessments.

Looking ahead: Using MYP assessments to inform learning

In Part 1, we explored the overall ecosystem of IB MYP assessments – school-based tasks, external components, moderation and the difference between marking and grading.

In Part 2, you've walked through a practical flow for designing MYP assessment tasks that feel authentic, aligned and sustainable.

In Part 3, we'll look at what happens after the MYP assessment task is done:

• how to use evidence from multiple MYP assessments to make best-fit judgments

• how to give feedback that moves learning, and

• how to communicate grades and progress clearly to students and parents

Because when MYP assessments are designed and used well, they stop being separate events. They become the way learning moves forward.

Ready to streamline your MYP assessment workflow? AssessPrep's digital assessment platform has been helping 800+ schools design, deliver, and grade MYP assessments with built-in rubrics, AI-powered grading, and seamless integration with LMS & SIS of your choice.