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.
The RPPF Formula
For Each Reflection
Challenge → What You Tried → What You Learned → How You Grew
Follow this cycle for each reflection. It's simple, and it's exactly what examiners look for.
Sample Reflection Opening
"I wanted the strongest possible RQ to analyse the correlation between social media influence and voter behaviour. My supervisor believed the lack of specificity could derail my analysis. While I initially disagreed, I formulated alternative versions to see which would better serve the research..."
— Example Reflection 1 — showing the process
Don't just describe what happened. Show the thinking behind your decisions. Examiners want to see intellectual engagement, not a timeline of events.
Key Takeaways
- The RPPF is worth 6 marks — don't leave them on the table
- Write three reflections: early, mid, and final stage
- Follow the formula: challenge → attempt → learning → growth
- Be genuine — show your real research journey, not a fabricated one