In IB MYP Design, Criterion D is called Evaluating. It requires you to assess your product against the design specification, reflect on your own performance, and suggest improvements. It sounds straightforward, but most students struggle to move beyond descriptive writing into genuine critical evaluation. This blog gives you a proven framework to secure 7–8 marks consistently.
What Evaluating Means in MYP Design
According to the MYP Design guide, Criterion D: Evaluating has three main strands. First, you must test and evaluate the product/solution against the design specification. Second, you must evaluate your own performance at each stage of the design cycle. Third, you must describe how the product/solution could be improved. At the 7–8 band, all three strands must be addressed in a sophisticated and detailed manner.
Strand 1: Testing Against the Design Specification
This is not about saying 'it worked.' You must systematically compare each success criterion in your design specification against your final product. Use a structured testing table: list each criterion, describe the test you ran, record the result, and state whether it was met or not met. Then explain WHY — connect the result to specific design decisions you made.
Strand 2: Evaluating Your Own Performance
This strand trips up many students. Avoid vague phrases like 'I think I did well' or 'I could have managed my time better.' Instead, reference specific stages of the design cycle — investigating, planning, creating — and provide concrete examples of what you did, how effective it was, and why.
Strand 3: Suggesting Improvements
• Each improvement must be specific and justified — not just 'make it bigger' but 'increase the font size from 12pt to 16pt to improve accessibility for visually impaired users'
• Link improvements back to your test results and design specification
• Consider impact: who would benefit from the improvement and how?
• Suggest at least three distinct improvements for a high score
Power Phrases for Criterion D
Train yourself to use evaluative language naturally: 'This was effective because...', 'A limitation of my approach was...', 'In order to further develop this solution, I would...', 'The impact of this improvement would be...', 'Comparing my final product to the success criteria reveals that...'
💡 Inacademics Tip: Inacademic's MYP Design Criterion D resources include annotated student exemplars at each achievement level. Comparing a Level 4 response to a Level 8 response is one of the fastest ways to understand exactly what the examiner is rewarding.