A Hidden IB Business Exam Mistake That Costs Students Marks

One of the biggest mistakes IB Business students make in exams is something they don’t even realize they’re doing—mirror arguments. This common issue can cost them valuable marks, yet it’s rarely talked about explicitly in mark schemes or official IB guidance. As teachers, we need to spot and correct this early to help students improve their evaluation skills.

What is a Mirror Argument?

A mirror argument occurs when a student’s advantage and disadvantage are essentially opposites of each other. This means that instead of providing two distinct perspectives, they are just flipping their original argument.

For example, if a student is asked about the advantages and disadvantages of social media marketing, they might say:

• Advantage: Social media marketing is cheap, allowing businesses to reach a large audience with minimal cost.

• Disadvantage: Social media marketing is expensive because businesses may need to hire experts and invest in content creation.

Both of these statements could be true, but they contradict each other. A business cannot argue that something is both cheap and expensive as a general point—this is a mirror argument. The student needs to pick a different disadvantage, such as difficulty in measuring ROI or the potential for negative publicity.

Why Do Students Make This Mistake?

There are a few reasons why students fall into this trap:

• It feels logical. If they think of one idea, the opposite naturally comes to mind.

• They’re rushing. In an exam, students may not take the time to properly differentiate their points.

• They’re trying to play it safe. Instead of generating unique ideas, they stick to modifying their initial thought.

Is a Short-Term vs Long-Term Argument a Mirror Argument?

Some students have asked whether they can structure their answer by stating that something is beneficial in the short term but costly in the long term. For example:

• Advantage: Social media is cheap in the short term, as there are no initial advertising costs.

• Disadvantage: Over time, costs add up due to the need for continuous content creation and management.

While this is not a textbook mirror argument, it is risky. The IB does not officially comment on this, but based on training sessions and discussions with examiners, it is generally better for students to present two clearly different points rather than relying on a short-term vs. long-term structure. Encouraging students to think of distinct advantages and disadvantages ensures a stronger response.

How to Help Students Avoid Mirror Arguments

1. Teach the concept early. Introduce mirror arguments when students first start practicing 4, 6, and 10-mark questions.

2. Make them spot the problem. Give students sample answers with mirror arguments and ask them to identify and correct them.

3. Use brainstorming techniques. Have students list multiple advantages and disadvantages before selecting their strongest points.

4. Provide feedback. As teachers, we need to recognize mirror arguments in student work and point them out so they can refine their approach.

Final Thoughts

Mirror arguments are an easy trap for students to fall into, but once they understand the issue, it’s just as easy to fix. By teaching them to recognize and avoid this mistake, we can help them develop stronger, more effective responses in their IB Business exams. Have you noticed your students making this mistake? Do you explicitly teach them about it, or do you find it a recurring issue? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Stay tuned for another common argument mistake that costs students marks—coming soon!