Short answer: the KSEF project is new research after the IA—not the IA itself
Subject knowledge, a programming language, statistical techniques and research experience may form the foundation. The question, evidence, experiment, code, analysis and conclusion must be materially new, and the relationship to earlier work should be recorded.
Set the boundary in three levels
Green · Foundation
Subject knowledge, languages and tools, general research techniques, public literature and topic interest.
Yellow · Review first
Earlier code, raw data, prototypes, procedures, instruments and teacher feedback. Permission, disclosure and clear extension are required.
Red · Do not resubmit
Assessed prose, identical figures, conclusions, analysis, substantially identical code or experiments, and mentor-created work.
What changes in a legitimate extension?
| Learning anchor | Independent extension | Required separation |
|---|---|---|
| Algorithm implementation | Compare alternatives on a new dataset using performance and fairness criteria | New question, experiments, code and analysis |
| Biology method | Use a separately approved protocol or a public-data prediction study | New experiment/data and conclusions |
| Mathematical modelling | Add expanded data and out-of-sample validation to study uncertainty | New data and materially different analysis |
| Environmental topic | Build a local dashboard from satellite, climate or municipal data and evaluate use | New users, pipeline and evaluation |
Questions the student must answer before entry
- How is this question different from the IA?
- What evidence was newly collected or analyzed?
- Which earlier code, data or feedback was used and disclosed?
- Were school, ethics and safety approvals obtained?
- Can another person reproduce the method?
- Can the student independently defend every method, result and limitation?
Frequently asked questions
Can the same IB IA be submitted to KSEF?
No. Concepts and skills may support a separate extension, but the same report, code, figures, analysis, data and conclusions should not be presented as new work.
Can earlier code or data be used?
Only when school, teacher and competition rules permit it, earlier use is disclosed, and the new project is materially distinguishable.
What should be checked before a KSEF entry?
Check the current official notice, ethics and safety approvals, authorship, reproducibility, the research log and the relationship to earlier schoolwork.
Find a safe independent extension from current coursework
CIT checks the academic calendar and assessed-work boundary before recommending a question or outcome.
Get My Coursework-to-EC Map →Published and reviewed by: CIT Intelligence Architect · Last reviewed: July 11, 2026
Official sources: IB Academic Integrity Policy · KSEF official information
CIT does not guarantee entry, awards, international selection, or admissions use.