extended essay conclusion checklist

IB Extended Essay: Assessment Criteria

Research Questions
Past Essays
Notes & Outlines
Works Cited Page
In-Text Citations
Assessment Criteria
Reflections
Supervisor Info
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Score Descriptors for each Criterion:

A - Focus and Method
B - Knowledge and Understanding
C - Critical Thinking
D - Presentation
E - Engagement

Printable: Full Rubric for all subjects

To view details for your SUBJECT, open the correct page below.

Choose "Interpreting the EE Assessment Criteria" on the sidebar to see how to score well in YOUR subject area

Language & literature (language A)

Language acquisition (language B)

Mathematics

Visual Arts

World Studies

Business Management

Grade Boundaries

What's Expected?

A: Focus/Method
B: Knowledge
C: Critical Thinking
D: Presentation
E: Engagement
A: Focus and Method (6 marks)
B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)
C: Critical Thinking (12 marks)
D: Presentation (4 marks)
E: Engagement (6 marks)
Total marks possible: 34 (see grade boundaries below)
Printable: Full Rubric
Printable: A3 size with details
Printable: Details for each criterion , via the Oxford guide

Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points)

What It Means: This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the topic and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.

Questions to ask:

Does this essay meet the requirements for the subject for which you are registering it?
Is your research question stated as a question?
Have you explained how your research question relates to the subject that you selected for the extended essay?
Have you given an insight into why your area of study is important?
Is your research question feasible within the scope of the task? Could your research question be “answered” or it is too vague?
Did you refer to your research question throughout the essay (not only in the introduction and conclusion)?
Did you explain why you selected your methodology?
Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?
If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?
Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points)

What It Means: This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question; or in the case of the world studies extended essay, the issue addressed and the two disciplinary perspectives applied; and additionally, the way in which this knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through the use of appropriate terminology and concepts.

Have you explained how your research question relates to a specific subject you selected for the extended essay?
Have you used relevant terminology and concepts throughout your essay as they relate to your particular area of research?
Is it clear that the sources you are using are relevant and appropriate to your research question?
Do you have a range of sources, or have you only relied on one particular type, for example internet sources?
Is there a reason why you might not have a range? Is this justified?

(Source: Oxford EE manual, p. 110)

Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points)

What It Means: This criterion assesses the extent to which critical thinking skills have been used to analyze and evaluate the research undertaken.

Have you made links between your results and data collected and your research question?
If you included data or information that is not directly related to your research question have you explained its importance?
Are your conclusions supported by your data?
If you found unexpected information or data have you discussed its importance?
Have you provided a critical evaluation of the methods you selected?
Have you considered the reliability of your sources (peer-reviewed journals, internet, and so on)?
Have you mentioned and evaluated the significance of possible errors that may have occurred in your research?
Are all your suggestions of errors or improvements relevant?
Have you evaluated your research question?
Have you compared your results or findings with any other sources?
Is there an argument that is clear and easy to follow and directly linked to answering your research question, and which is supported by evidence? Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p. 111)

Handy Links:

Presentation One Pager via Catalina Bordoy
Presentation Checklist
Sample Title page (see below - top half of the page)

Criterion D: Presentation ( 4 points)

What It Means: This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.

Have you read and understood the presentation requirements of the extended essay?
Have you chosen a font that will be easy for examiners to read on-screen?
Is your essay double-spaced and size 12 font?
Are the title and research question mentioned on the cover page?
Are all pages numbered?
Have you prepared a correct table of contents?
Do the page numbers in the table of contents match the page numbers in the text?
Is your essay subdivided into correct sub-sections, if this is applicable to the subject?
Are all figures and tables properly numbered and labelled?
Does your bibliography contain only the sources cited in the text?
Did you use the same reference system throughout the essay?
Does the essay have less than 4,000 words?
Is all the material presented in the appendices relevant and necessary?
Have you proofread the text for spelling or grammar errors?

Criterion E: Engagement

Three reflections (best after meeting with your supervisor)
500 words TOTAL (100 + 150 + 250?)
Reflections are done in Managebac on your Reflection space
See the "Reflections" tab above for prompts to write about

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.135)

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.133)

Sample Reflections
Full chapter on Reflections from the Oxford Guide

Criterion E: Engagement (6 points)

What It Means: This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on planning and progress form).

Have you demonstrated your engagement with your research topic and the research process?
Have you highlighted challenges you faced and how you overcame them?
Will the examiner get a sense of your intellectual and skills development?
Will the examiner get a sense of your creativity and intellectual initiative?
For prompts to deepen your reflections, go here and then to the bottom of the page
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Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 9:39 AM
URL: https://sis-cn.libguides.com/ExtendedEssay

Extended Essay Guide: Criteria, Format, Sample EEs

Criteria, Format, Sample EEs
Annotated Bibliographies
DP Research Process
Databases & Academic Journals
Evaluate Sources
Academic Integrity
MLA Citation Format
CSE Citation Format (Science & Math)
Video Tutorials 2024

The Assessment Crtiteria in Detail!

Criterion A: Focus and method
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding
Criterion C: Critical Thinking
Criterion D: Presentation
Criterion E: Engagement
EE_How to maximize marks for different subjects?

Criterion C: Critical thinking

Notes from the IB

RE: Research Question and Title of Extended Essay

Please note the statement below from the EE curriculum manager regarding the need to have both a title and a RQ for all subjects. Previous versions of the EE Guide indicated that the title and the RQ should be the same for History, Business Management and Mathematics. This is no longer the case. All essays, regardless of the subject, need to have both a RQ and a title.

Hi Kathy,

To answer your question, I am going to quote directly from a response John Royce provided, on this forum, in October in response to a very similar question: (it was a question about using Spanish sources - hence the mention of Spanish)

It is certainly permissible to use sources which are not in the language of the essay, but translation into the target language is required , one cannot assume that the reader understands the original language.

It is usual to quote the original as well as presenting the translation. [Do not put quotation marks around your translation, just around the original]

Umberto Eco argues ("in Mouse or rat?") that direct translation may lose meaning, paraphrase or use of different idioms may be required to get the ideas across. Paul Bellos ("Is that a fish in your ear?") makes a similar argument - direct translation may confound meaning... Direct translation may not be ideal - meaning and understanding are preferred - so, not to worry that your student with her good Spanish cannot present a direct translation.

What must be made clear is that the translations are those of the student; these are her understandings. Readers can make of that what they will - and if unsure, are presented with the original - they can seek another translation. A note in the acknowledgements and/or in the introduction to the effect that all translations are those of the writer is ... essential.

In response to the question about the Bibliography/Works cited, my preference would be to list the source in its original Thai version, but perhaps with the English in brackets, to help the examiner.

Your bibliography will have the entries in Thai characters first in the document. Any in-text citation to Thai sources will be in (Thai characters [English translation]).

Citation in Thai [English translation]

Works Cited Example:

วงษ์ปัญญา, ธนกร [Wongpunya, Thanakorn]. “โรงงานยาสูบรวยแค่ไหน และเอาเงินไปทำอะไรบ้าง.” [How rich is the Thailand Tobacco Monopoly and where does the money go?] (candidate translation). The Standard, The Standard, 30 Aug. 2018, thestandard.co/thailand-tobacco-monopoly/.

Format of the Extended Essay

Required Formatting

The extended essay should be written in a clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to the subject from which the topic is drawn. Given that the extended essay is a formally written research paper, it should strive to maintain a professional, academic look.

To help achieve this, the following formatting is required:

12-point, readable font (Calibri or Times New Roman);
double spacing throughout entire Essay;
page numbering - top right corner;
no candidate or school name or supervisor name on the title page or page headers.

Submitting the extended essay in the required format will help set the tone of the essay and will aid readability for on-screen assessment by examiners.

Required S tructure

The structure of the essay is very important. It helps students to organize the argument, making the best use of the evidence collected.

There are six required elements of the final work to be submitted. More details about each element are given in the “Presentation” section. Please note that the order in which these elements are presented here is not necessarily the order in which they should be written.

Six required elements of the extended essay:

Contents page
Introduction
Body of the essay
References and bibliography -- if MLA "Works Cited" if CSE "References"

1. Required Title Page

The title page should include only the following information:

the title of the essay
the research question
the subject the essay is registered in (if it is a language essay also state which category it falls into; if a world studies essay also state the theme and the two subjects utilized)

The upper limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays.

2. Required Contents Page

A contents page must be provided at the beginning of the extended essay and all pages should be numbered. Please note that an index page is not required and if included will be treated as if it is not present.

3. Required Introduction

The introduction should tell the reader what to expect in the essay. The introduction should make clear to the reader the focus of the essay, the scope of the research, in particular an indication of the sources to be used, and an insight into the line of argument to be taken.

While students should have a sense of the direction and key focus of their essay, it is sometimes advisable to finalize the introduction once the body of the essay is complete.

4. Required Body of the Essay (research, analysis, discussion, and evaluation)

The main task is writing the body of the essay, which should be presented in the form of a reasoned argument. The form of this varies with the subject of the essay but as the argument develops it should be clear to the reader what relevant evidence has been discovered, where/how it has been discovered and how it supports the argument. In some subjects, for example, the sciences, sub-headings within the main body of the essay will help the reader to understand the argument (and will also help the student to keep on track). In structuring their extended essay, students must take into consideration the expected conventions of the subject in which their extended essay is registered.

Once the main body of the essay is complete, it is possible to finalize the introduction (which tells the reader what to expect) and the conclusion (which says what has been achieved, including notes of any limitations and any questions that have not been resolved).

Any information that is important to the argument must not be included in appendices or footnotes/endnotes. The examiner will not read notes or appendices, so an essay that is not complete in itself will be compromised across the assessment criteria.

5. Required Conclusion

The conclusion says what has been achieved, including notes of any limitations and any questions that have not been resolved. While students might draw conclusions throughout the essay based on their findings, it is important that there is a final, summative conclusion at the end. This conclusion(s) must relate to the research question posed.

6. Required References & Bibliography

Students should use their chosen style of academic referencing as soon as they start writing. That way they are less likely to forget to include a citation. It is also easier than trying to add references at a later stage. For more information on this, refer to the guidelines in the IB document Effective citing and referencing.

Writing the essay takes time but if students have used their Researcher's reflection space and reflection sessions in a meaningful way they should be well prepared to develop their arguments.

Extended Essay - Examples & Exemplars

Essays from May 2018 with IB marks and commentaries
Assessed Student Work & Commentary IB-provided. "Student sample extended essays, corresponding marks and comments from senior examiners are available for the following Diploma Programme disciplines. Please note that in light of not having authentic RPPFs to accompany these essays, they are marked against criteria A – D only, for a total of 28 possible marks. Following the first assessment session in 2018, exemplars will be refreshed with authentic sample material." more... less... Biology English Economics History Studies in language and literature Language acquisition Mathematics Psychology Visual arts World studies extended essay (WSEE)
Excellenet Extended Essays Concordian GoogleDoc
EngA1_Othello EE Othello 2018 From inThinking.net Click the link to see the score and evaluation.
Fifty (50) More Excellent Extended Essays DVD by International Baccalaureate Call Number: HS DVD 808.4 ISBN: 9781906345600 Publication Date: 2011 1 DVD-ROM (1:33 min.)

Past CIS Extended Essays

Available in the library behind the desk are file folders of past Extended Essays by Concordian students and IB EE Exemplars. Feel free to browse the papers which must be kept in the library.