The RPPF — Reflections on Planning and Progress Form — is worth 6 marks (Criterion E) and is the easiest points you'll ever get in the IB. Most students either overthink it or barely try. Here's exactly how to nail it.
6
Marks available — the easiest in the entire IB
3
Reflections required
500
Words max per reflection
What Your RPPF Should Show
The RPPF shows that you genuinely went through the process of creating a research paper. Examiners want to see:
Challenges
What obstacles did you encounter during research and writing?
Problem-Solving
What initial ideas did you have? What solutions did you try?
Adaptation
What didn't work? What did you learn? How did you adapt?
Growth
How did you grow as a researcher through this process?
The Three Reflections
Reflection 1 — Early Stage
Why you chose this topic, how you arrived at your RQ, challenges in focusing, supervisor feedback and your response.
Reflection 2 — Mid Stage
How your understanding evolved, whether you adjusted your RQ, surprises during research, methodology challenges.
Reflection 3 — Final Stage
What you're most proud of, what you'd do differently, how this process changed the way you think about research.
Reflect, Don't Describe
Don't just describe what happened. Show the thinking behind your decisions. Examiners want to see intellectual engagement, not a timeline of events.
Go deeper
Want the full reflection formula, worked sample reflections, and a fill-in template? It's all inside the RPPF Mastery module.
Key Takeaways
- The RPPF is worth 6 marks — don't leave them on the table
- Write three reflections: early, mid, and final stage
- Show the thinking behind your decisions, not just events
- Be genuine — show your real research journey, not a fabricated one