Coursework Handbook
Provide learners with a checklist such as the one below to help them check they have done all that is required
when writing the Individual Report.
Individual Report
Global topic
Question/Title
Is my research question: Yes No Notes
On one of the topics listed in the syllabus?
Focused on an issue within the topic?
Focused enough to be answered within a 2000-word
report?
In my Individual Report:
Is there an introduction that explains the question and the
global issue I will explore?
Have I included a national and global perspective on the
issue?
Have I provided relevant inf ormation and are all
paragraphs related to the issue and the question?
Have I included evidence to support each argument I
present?
Have I evaluated some of the sources of evidence I have
used?
Have I used my own words and put quotation marks
around others’ words?
Have I provided evidence, explained, and illustrated the
points I have made; causes, consequences, course(s) of
action?
Is there a conclusion that answers the question and shows
how my research and ref lection has af f ected my
perspective?
Have I used citations and ref erenced them all in a
ref erence list at the end of my report?
Have I added a word count and is this within the maximum
of 2000 words?
Have I structured my report using sub-headings to help the
reader f ollow my argument, without interrupting the flow of
my report?
Have I proofread and checked my work so that it is f ree of
errors?
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Coursework Handbook
Writing the Individual Report
When learners have completed the planning for their Individual Report, they can begin writing. You should
be satisfied that there is a f ocused global question on a specif ic issue, that enough research has been
undertaken and that dif f erent perspectives have been considered.
There should be enough supporting evidence. Learners should have explained the causes and
consequences of the issue, selected one of two courses of action and evaluated evidence and the sources
they have used to make their arguments.
Sources should have been selected, accurately cited and referenced. The writing of the Individual Report is
the f inal step and the evidence of all the work that has been completed.
At this point, provide learners with guidance on how they should organise their Individual Report.
One suggestion is as f ollows:
1. Question as a title.
2. Introduction to the global issue.
3. Analysis of the issue f rom dif f erent perspectives.
4. Analysis of the causes and consequences of the issue.
5. Proposal of courses of action to address the issue and selection of the one pref erred.
6. Evaluation of sources of inf ormation.
7. Conclusion and ref lection on how the research have inf luenced the learner’s personal
perspective.
The Individual Report should be coherent and clearly structured, with arguments, evidence and perspectives
presented clearly.
Learners are expected to use sources and information to provide evidence for the arguments presented, to
explain any points made and to support their conclusion answering their question.
The conclusion should be clear and concise and give the learner’s personal perspective, ref lecting on the
impact of their research, learning and others’ perspectives on their personal perspective(s).
Learners should justify their personal perspective using evidence from their research and make direct links
between the conclusion they draw, and the evidence contained in their report.
In their planning, learners should select the inf ormation and sources they are going to use and note the
strengths and weaknesses of each.
Learners should try to use dif f erent types of sources and must ref er to these in the body of their work.
Learners must cite and reference all sources used and when quoting directly they must use quotation marks.
They should avoid quoting extensively. Quotes count towards the word count. Learners’ own words are
pref erable.
Learners should be advised to find a range of sources to add depth to their work. These should come f rom
dif f erent perspectives.
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Coursework Handbook
One example could be: how the United Nations views migration on a global scale, the USA view of migration
compared with the Mexican perspective. Dif f erent viewpoints such as those of migrants or of local
government of f icials could also be researched.
Make learners aware of the f ollowing bef ore they begin writing:
It is important that learners understand that they are presenting viewpoints and not just inf ormation.
Learners should be responsible for their own work and plan their Individual Report independently.
They should negotiate time f rames and deadlines with their teacher.
Learners should not use the work of any other learner. They should make notes while researching,
and use their own words when they write their Individual Report. They can copy and paste website
addresses used in their research. They should note the date, title and author of the article and the
date they accessed it.
Learners should be clear that they know what is required for successful completion of the Individual
Report. They may discuss aspects of their work with their teacher, but they should not expect their
teacher to do any research or work for them. They should not expect written feedback or corrections
on their work.
Learners should check that their work is complete and has been spell-checked and proofread before
submitting it f or assessment.
Administration and submission of coursework
Please check the latest edition of the Cambridge Handbook f or all the latest inf ormation concerning the
administration of coursework available at www.cambridgeinternational.org/cambridge-f or/exams-
of f icers/cambridge-exams-of f icers-guide/
Check the samples database for submission information, forms and deadlines f or Component 2. All f orms
are available on the Cambridge Samples Database at www.cambridgeinternational.org/samples .
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