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Component 2 Individual Report

Report, 60 marks

This component is an internally set assessment, externally marked by Cambridge International.

Candidates write an Individual Report on a topic from the topic list.

The Individual Report must be based on one of the topics listed in the syllabus. With the guidance of their

teacher, candidates choose one of the specified topics and identify an important or interesting global issue

relating to the topic they have chosen. The global issue the candidates choose should be one that divides

opinion.

Candidates devise a global research question based on some initial research into the topic and the global

issue.

Candidates use this question as the title for their report. The report must be 15002000 words.

In the Individual Report, candidates are assessed on the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection and

communication.

Candidates should focus their initial research on identifying and exploring the context of a topic, chosen from

the topic list. They should then select a global issue of importance or interest with present-day impacts. The

issue chosen could be one that raises an ethical dilemma or causes conflict, damage, difficulty or hardship, or

simply leads to disagreement.

Candidates should research a range of different perspectives on the global issue. The focus of the report

should be the perspectives of different people, groups or nations. Candidates should formulate a question,

based on their initial research, that gives them scope to explore the selected global issue and a range of

different perspectives.

The perspectives researched, explored and presented should include:

local and/or national perspectives

and global perspectives.

At each level, different perspectives could be included. For example, at the local level the report could include

the different perspectives of local farmers and local politicians.

Candidates should engage with these perspectives and demonstrate that they understand the arguments,

reasoning or claims upon which these perspectives are based. Candidates should also demonstrate that they

understand why different people have different perspectives.

Candidates should analyse the issue by considering the reasons for conflict or disagreement/causes of

problems and the consequences/impacts of the issue. Candidates should consider different possible courses

of action. Drawing on their analysis of the issue, they should propose a single course of action to change,

improve or resolve the issue.

The Individual Report should be presented as a structured essay of 15002000 words. This word count does

not include the bibliography or reference list.

The essay should start by explaining the issue researched so that it is clear it has some global impact, even

if it has different impacts in different places or for different people. It should also be clear what the different

perspectives are. These do not have to be opposing perspectives but they must be clearly different.

Causes and consequences of the issue should be presented and analysed in depth. Different courses of action

should be considered, and one chosen as most appropriate or effective. The chosen course of action should

be described in detail, with an explanation of how it could be implemented and what its impact would be.

The candidate should explicitly cite all material used in the essay, with a clear referencing system. There is no

preferred method of referencing, but it is important for candidates to understand that when they use others

ideas or information, they should make this clear to the reader.

Candidates should evaluate the evidence presented and their sources, explaining their value to the research

and whether or not the sources are reliable and credible.

Candidates should present their own view on the whole issue, reflecting on:

their research findings

their learning

others perspectives.

They should conclude by answering their own question.

Individual Report: the role of the teacher

The Individual Report must be the candidates own work. It is the teachers responsibility to ensure that the

candidates proposed work will be feasible in terms of access to relevant information and manageable in terms

of size of workload.

Teachers should guide and support each candidate to:

understand that they must work independently to produce an essay presenting their research and their

thoughts on an issue of their own choice

identify a suitable area for research, fitting their own interest, enthusiasm and skills and giving scope for

different perspectives

formulate a global research question focused on an issue that attracts different perspectives

develop research and organisational skills

select, cite and reference sources appropriately

refine report writing skills so that they cover all the required criteria within the 15002000 word count

appreciate how their work will be assessed, understanding that the assessment is externally marked and is

not assessed by their teachers.

Teachers should:

help resolve any problems encountered during research

give regular and supportive feedback to maintain the candidates momentum and motivation

provide opportunities for candidates to work independently using reference materials as appropriate

monitor candidates time management throughout the process and assist candidates to meet deadlines.

Teachers may carry out all the above with the class as a whole, in small focus groups and with individual

candidates. It is recommended that all three approaches are used.

Once the candidate starts to research and write their report, in the ways set out above, the teacher should

not intervene and should not attempt to change the direction of the research. Teachers should follow the

instructions for supervising coursework.

Supervising coursework

Coursework must be a candidates own unaided work. The teacher must be able to authenticate that the work

is the candidates own.

A general discussion on the progress of coursework is a natural part of the teachercandidate relationship, as it

is for other parts of the course. Candidates can revise their work following feedback, but teachers should only

give brief summative comments on progress.

Teachers can support candidates by reviewing their work before it is handed in for final assessment. Teachers

can do this orally or through written feedback. Teachers should not correct or edit draft coursework. Advice

should be kept at a general level so that the candidate leads the discussion and makes the suggestions for any

amendments. Teachers must not give detailed advice to individual candidates or groups of candidates on how

their work can be improved to meet the assessment criteria.

For further information about supervising coursework, see the Cambridge Handbook for the relevant year of

assessment at www.cambridgeinternational.org/eoguide

Authenticity and academic honesty

It is the centres responsibility to make sure all assessed work is the candidates original work. Candidates must

not submit someone elses work as their own, or use material produced by someone else without citing and

referencing it properly. You should make candidates aware of the academic conventions governing quotation

and reference to the work of others, and teach candidates how to use them.

A candidate taking someone elses work or ideas and passing them off as their own is an example of

plagiarism. It is your responsibility as a teacher to prevent plagiarism from happening and to detect it if it does

happen. For more information, search for Preventing plagiarism guidance for teachers on our website at

www.cambridgeinternational.org/teachingandassessment

You will be requested to declare the authenticity of the work at the point of submitting the work.

Administration of coursework

Using the samples database

The samples database refers you to key information about administering coursework, speaking tests and

examined coursework for each syllabus.

Use the database to find out:

when and how to submit your candidates work.

The samples database at www.cambridgeinternational.org/samples will ask you for:

your country/territory

the syllabus code (i.e. 0457 for this syllabus).

The database will then take you to the information you need, including dates and methods of submission of

candidates marks and work, as well as any forms you may need to complete.

Recording and submitting candidates work

Please refer to the samples database at www.cambridgeinternational.org/samples for information, dates

and methods of submission of candidates work. You should follow the instructions for Component 2 Individual

Report on the samples database.