IMRaD

In IMRaD, you have to create the research and data yourself instead of analyzing the research done by others. It's primary research instead of secondary research. It's also organized very differently, with very specific sections that require headings. You're also not supposed to make bold claims or active language, but passively say your data suggests something or could indicate something. You're not supposed to prove a claim but show support for it that could still be challenged by another study. There are still references, but they're cited APA instead of MLA. There's also an appendix for your own research. This doesn't exist in high school English research papers.