ib extended essay guide 2018

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International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

A title page
Contents page
Introduction
Body of the essay
References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 4: Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

A check on plagiarism and malpractice
Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

Business Management 1
Chemistry 1
Chemistry 2
Chemistry 3
Chemistry 4
Chemistry 5
Chemistry 6
Chemistry 7
Computer Science 1
Economics 1
Design Technology 1
Design Technology 2
Environmental Systems and Societies 1
Geography 1
Geography 2
Geography 3
Geography 4
Geography 5
Geography 6
Literature and Performance 1
Mathematics 1
Mathematics 2
Mathematics 3
Mathematics 4
Mathematics 5
Philosophy 1
Philosophy 2
Philosophy 3
Philosophy 4
Philosophy 5
Psychology 1
Psychology 2
Psychology 3
Psychology 4
Psychology 5
Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
Visual Arts 1
Visual Arts 2
Visual Arts 3
Visual Arts 4
Visual Arts 5
World Religion 1
World Religion 2
World Religion 3

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Useful resources

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) provides several resources for IB World Schools. These include support materials for the extended essay.

Items in the IB store are available to everyone. Publications include:

50 more extended essays , a DVD of essays submitted in the DP that all fulfil the requirements for an ‘A’ grade in the current syllabus
The Extended Essay Guide , a free material in the Programme Resource Centre (PRC), which requires a log-in given to IB World Schools
10 monografias excelentes, a digital document looking at model extended essays in Spanish.

Through the programme resource centre, educators in IB World Schools can access digital versions of many IB publications related to the extended essay.

These materials in the programme resource centre , which are only available to IB World Schools, are free.

If you already work at an IB World School, you should have access to the PRC. Please request log-in details from the programme coordinator at your school.

Extended Essay: Extended Essay- The Basics

Extended Essay- The Basics
Step 1. Choose a Subject
Step 2. Educate yourself!
Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
Identify Keywords
Do Background Reading
Define Your Topic
Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
Step 5. Draft a Research Question
Step 6. Create a Timeline
Find Articles
Find Primary Sources
Get Help from Experts
Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
Databases and Websites by Subject Area
Create an Annotated Bibliography
Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
Chicago Citation Syle
MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
Conducting Secondary Research
Conducting Primary Research
Formal vs. Informal Writing
Presentation Requirements
Evaluating Your Work

The Extended Essay - the Basics

This guide explains the process required to complete the IB Extended Essay - from the initial step of choosing a research topic, through effectively searching for information and organizing your sources to presenting your findings with accurate references and citations.

On this page you can find information on:

What is the Extended Essay? Extended Essay Timeline, Class of 2025 (Due Dates and Assignments) How to Get Started - the Twelve-step Plan for Researching the EE IB Extended Essay Guide, first exams 2018

Extended Essay Timeline, Class of 2025 (Due Dates and Assignments)

This timeline applies to students submitting Extended Essays or Senior Essays. Completion of an Extended Essay or Senior Essay is required for graduation from West Sound Academy.

EE grade for Semester 2, 2022-2023, is ¼ credit Pass/Fail grade.

February 2, 2024:

Juniors meet on Project Day for a half day on campus, to do beginning work on their Extended essays with EE Coordinator, 8:20 AM to 12:20 PM. Topics covered:

Definition of what an EE is
The available subjects
How to find a good topic
Steps to take to finish the EE
EE deadlines – for the writing and the reflections
Available resources: WSA Library Guides, NoodleTools, and Toddle
Using Toddle to submit components of your EE

Students will:

Note area(s) of interest
Pick an area (or areas) for exploration or as a topic
Find out what they need to know about their EE subject area specifically (Example: “My subject area asks me to consider & ethical/legal implications that are specific to my topic/subject”.)
Create a NoodleTools project for their EE, and share with EE Coordinator
Begin initial research on the topic of interest to identify potential sources
Question to ask: is this viable as a subject and topic choice?
Begin to create a bibliography using NoodleTools

March 15, 2024:

Juniors meet on Project Day for a half day on campus, to do continue work on their Extended essays with EE Coordinator, 8:20 AM to 12:20 PM. Topics covered:

Assignment of supervisors
Tips for developing a good research question
How, and where, to do your research
Using the Researcher’s Reflection Space
Tips for writing reflections for the EE
Annotating sources in NoodleTools
Time to do research

April, 2024: Preliminary meeting(s) with your supervisor and initial research

May 6 - 17, 2024: Initial reflection session with supervisor

June - August 2024

Research and write the first complete draft.

Draft must conform to IB Formal Presentation Requirements.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Body of Paper
In-text citations (MLA) or Footnotes (Chicago)
Readable, 12-point font (for example, Arial or Calibri)
Double-spaced text
Numbered pages
Indented paragraphs
Appropriate margins (1" on all sides is acceptable)
Research question
IB Extended Essay subject

September 30 - October 18, 2024: Student has revision conference with supervisor - Supervisor provides comments on the first complete draft.

October 28 - November 8, 2024: Interim Reflection Session with supervisor

February 3 - 14, 2025 : Final Reflection Session (Viva Voce) with supervisor

EE grade for 2024-2025 is ¼ credit letter grade, and is posted to transcript in June, 2025.

Extended Essay Coordinator

What is the Extended Essay?

The extended essay is a required component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP).

It is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

What is the significance of the extended essay?

The extended essay provides:

practical preparation for undergraduate research
an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of personal interest to them, which relates to one of the student's six DP subjects, or takes the interdisciplinary approach of a World Studies extended essay.

Through the research process for the extended essay, students develop skills in:

formulating an appropriate research question
engaging in a personal exploration of the topic
communicating ideas
developing an argument.

Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge.

An extended essay can also be undertaken in world studies , where students carry out an in-depth interdisciplinary study of an issue of contemporary global significance, across two IB diploma disciplines.

How is study of the extended essay structured?

Students are supported throughout the process of researching and writing the extended essay, with advice and guidance from a supervisor who is usually a teacher at the school.

The IB recommends that students follow the completion of the written essay with a short, concluding interview with their supervisor. This is known as viva voce.

The extended essay and interview can be a valuable stimulus for discussion in countries where interviews are required prior to acceptance for employment or for a place at university.

How is the extended essay assessed?

All extended essays are externally assessed by examiners appointed by the IB. They are marked on a scale from 0 to 34.

The score a student receives relates to a band. The bands are:

A – work of an excellent standard.
B – work of a good standard.
C –work of a satisfactory standard.
D – work of a mediocre standard.
E – work of an elementary standard.

Students are evaluated on five criterion:

Criterion A – focus and method.
Criterion B – knowledge and understanding.
Criterion C – critical thinking.
Criterion D – presentation.
Criterion E – engagement.

However, when your supervisor marks your essay in order to arrive at a predicted grade, the grading will be based on the qualitative grade descriptors for the EE, not a translation of a number score into a letter grade.

Find out how points awarded for the extended essay contribute to a student’s overall diploma score .

Source: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme website

Twelve-step Plan for Researching the Extended Essay

Open door with stairway - Britannica ImageQuest

1. Choose an available Diploma Programme subject for the extended essay for the session in question.

2. Educate yourself. Read the following materials: the assessment criteria, relevant subject-specific chapter of the Extended Essay guide, the IB's ethical guidelines and other associated policies where relevant, such as those relating to animal experiments

3. Set up the Researcher's Reflective Space (RRS) and use this as the key planning and reflection tool for the extended essay process.

4. Choose a topic and undertake some background reading in it.

5. Formulate a preliminary research question. Try to incorporate an IB command term in the research question if possible.

6. Draw up an outline plan for the research and writing process. This should include a timeline.

7. Begin to identify how and where you will gather source material for your research.

8. Identify which system of academic referencing they will use, ensuring that this meets the minimum requirements for the IB.

9. Set deadlines for yourself that are realistic and take into consideration WSA's internal EE deadlines.

10. Plan a structure for the essay. This may change as the research develops but it is useful to have a sense of direction from the start.

11. Undertake some preparatory reading in light of the proposed research question. NOTE: If you discover that it will not be possible to obtain the evidence needed in the time available, the research question should be changed. This is better done sooner rather than later; do not lose time waiting and hoping that something will turn up. Go back to step 3, 2, or 1, and choose a new research question that can be answered.

12. Carry out the research. The material collected should be assembled in a logical order, linked to the structure of the essay and clearly focused on the research question posed. Only then will you know that you have enough evidence for each stage of the argument so that you can proceed to the next. You should be prepared for things to occasionally go wrong. Sometimes you may discover something later in the research that undermines what you thought had been established earlier. If that happens, your research plan needs to be revised.

IB Extended Essay Guide (first exams 2018)

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The New 2018 Extended Essay Structure

The extended essay is changing! There are some significant changes to the EE syllabus that from this year onwards you have to bear in mind. In this blog I’m going to break down those changes, and give you some helpful hints for EE success.

Out with the old, in with the new?

While I began by talking about the changes, it’s important to note that the bare bones of the extended essay are still the same. It is still a 4000 word (max) essay on a topic of your choosing and still counts towards your core points.

But, as I said, there are some key things that are different now about the extended essay. Essentially, if you have your brother/sister/cousin/friend’s EE hanging around from a few years ago, using that as a model might not be the most fruitful thing to do.

So, what’s changed?

This doesn’t directly relate to your extended essay, but as it’s how your final core points are added up, it’s good to remember.

As you can see above, essentially you now need to get a least a D in your EE. An E, no matter what you got in TOK, means you fail. I w

ouldn’t fret about this though, as long as you put the work in, you’ll be fine!

Abstract and Appendices

There is no longer an abstract- so don’t waste any precious words on writing one! It is much better to lay out your argument clearly in your introduction.

The IB has also stated that is does not want students relying excessively on appendices or footnotes. This means that you shouldn’t in you essay be referring to something not actually in your essay as an examiner doesn’t have to look it up or check your appendix. Instead, it’s much better to have everything embedded. If you have a diagram, for example, put it in the main body of your essay. This is especially true for any text sources, as the IBO is pretty firm that it doesn’t want you using referencing systems to get around the word count.

Reflections

This is a new additio

n to the EE. Previously you had meetings with your supervisor, but now it is a more formalised ‘reflection’ process. Essentially, you have 3 main meetings with your supervisor:

First reflection
Interim reflection
Final reflection

As their names suggests they happen at different stages in the extended essay process. One when you are just getting started, one when you are progressing with your essay, and one when you have finished your EE.

After all your meetings with your supervisor, you then have to formally fill out a ‘reflection’. Your reflection write-up is actually submitted and marked with your EE, and counts towards your final grade, so it’s important to do it well!

One simple way of making sure your reflections are tip-top is to make use of a Researcher’s Reflection Space. This may sound familiar to those of you who have taken the MYP! Essentially it’s a research diary where you write down any thoughts you’ve had on your research, anything useful you’ve read or any conversations you had that have influenced your ideas.

One of the things I like about the new system is that it encourages you to reflect upon your research from the start, making you think of how best to construct your evidence and argument. I also think it makes the process of writing your extended essay seem a bit more structured. You can set yourself clear targets for each reflection. So while on the surface it may seem extra work, I definitely think it’s worth it!

Marking system

I won’t bore you with all the ins and outs of the marking system. Instead, I definitely recommend looking at your specific subject’s mark scheme. These are invaluable when it comes to writing your extended essay.

However, one of the key changes (and a really good one I think), is that the mark scheme now only has 5 sections as opposed to 11 in previous years. 4 of these refer to your actual essay. I like this change because it means you essay is marked more a a whole. The entire craftsmanship of your EE is therefore considered, not just individual sections of it.

Research Question

Another change to note, it that now your title actually needs to be a question. So, it needs to end with a question mark! This is to make sure your work is actually focuses on the topic you are writing on, and help you create an argument.

Final thoughts?

Overall, I think the new EE looks pretty great. There’s a bit more structure, and also a chance to properly reflect on your own work. Definitely check out the IBO’s website for more details but why not also join Lanterna this summer to get your EE in check? Our summer courses are a perfect opportunity to fit in study and also have a really great time! Our bespoke EE workshop is definitely not something to be missed.

Read our serie of blogposts on Extended Essay!

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IB Extended Essay

The Extended Essay Step-by-Step Guide

From setting the research question to submitting the Extended Essay, here is an easy-to-follow guide for IB EE students to follow, along with personal anecdotes with tips to apply critical thinking techniques and find success. Before I started the IB, the thing I was most worried about was the extended essay. I’m pretty sure the […]

Extended Essay Tips from Grads Who Got an A

Getting an A on your Extended Essay certainly isn’t easy, but it is possible! In this article we’re giving you the insider knowledge on how to get an A, from IB grads who did. We’ve asked our tutors for their best tips and consolidated them for you! Tip 1: Start early! You’ve probably heard this […]

25 Unique EE Ideas

The extended essay is possibly the most exciting part of the IB. You get to fully nerd out on a subject that fascinates you. The endless possibilities could leave you in a state of choice paralysis! Because of that, we have thrown out a list of 25 unique EE ideas as a lifeline, so you do […]

Extended Essay (First Exams 2018): Home

EE Intro to Inquiry
Examples of Extended Essays
Recommended Research Tools
How-to: Research Help

Extended Essay Information

Official extended essay guide- ibo.

Official IBO EE Guide (2018)

Introduction

Overview of the extended essay, supporting the extended essay, introducing students to the extended essay, the research and writing process, subject-specific guidance, studies in language and literature, language acquisition, including classical languages, individuals and societies, the sciences, mathematics, interdisciplinary essays.

Points awarded for the Extended Essay in conjunction with the Theory of Knowledge Essay - out of a maximum total of 45 points. (See the IBO webpage on Assessment for more information.)

Pre-DP EE Summer Homework

Welcome to the Extended Essay! For all students who want to register in an IB subject, a summer homework assignment with the student's initial research ideas should be completed. Please click on the file below to download the homework file:

EE Summer Homework- Grade 11

Referencing Style: MLA

The referencing style of major published papers at Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School is MLA (Modern Language Association). For more information on how to properly format your paper in MLA style, please visit the Online Writing Lab at Purdue in the Link below.

Next: EE Intro to Inquiry >>
Last Updated: Nov 26, 2021 12:34 PM
URL: https://libguides.qibaodwight.org/ee

The IB Extended Essay: Subject Guides & documents you need

Details of the EE
Topic ideas and research Questions
Subject Guides & documents you need
Writing a research paper

IB Assessment Criteria

Presentation Requirements Information on formatting the extended essay, covering: word counts (what is included and what is NOT included), illustrations, tables, footnotes and endnotes, appendices and specimen materials. Covers essays submitted in November 2018 and forward (IB Guide 2018).
Required Elements of the Extended Essay List and description of the six required elements of the final extended essay work that is to be submitted for extended essays for November 2018 and forward (IB Guide 2018).
Assessment objectives and criteria for the extended essay - first exams 2018 Assessment objectives and criteria for students submitting extended essays, beginning with the Class of 2018.
Assessment of the EE - Advice for Students Use this list to help you think about the five assessment criteria for the EE and whether you have addressed the expectations within your essay.
Assessment Grade Descriptors for the Extended Essay, 2018 A list of the qualitative grade descriptors for the Extended Essay, grades A through E. IB senior examiners will use these descriptors to set the boundaries (i.e., grade) the extended essay beginning in May 2018.

Subject Guides

Biology Extended Essay Subject Guide
Chemistry Extended Essay Subject Guide
Dance Extended Essay Subject Guide
Design Technology Extended Essay Subject Guide
Economics Extended Essay Guide
Film Extended Essay Subject Guide
Geography Extended Essay Subject Guide
History Extended Essay Subject Guide
Language acquisition: An introduction to EE
Language Acquisition Extended Essay Subject Guide
Mathematics: An introduction to the EE
Mathematics Extended Essay Subject Guide
Music Extended Essay Subject Guide
Physics Extended Essay Subject Guide
Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) Extended Essay Subject Guide
Studies in Language and Literature Extended Essay Subject Guide
Theatre Extended Essay Subject Guide
Visual Arts Extended Essay Subject Guide

IB Ethical Guidelines

Academic Honesty, 2018 IB EE Guide Guidance on producing accurate references and a bibliography is a skill that students should be seeking as part of the extended essay writing process, covering: bibliography, citations, referencing (both traditional and online sources), using electronic sources, using online encyclopedias and other similar information websites, use of computer programs, and reliance on external sources.
Academic Honesty in the IB Educational Context Discusses the importance in the IB of making academic honesty a school priority, provides a framework for identifying aspects of academic honesty in the various courses in the IB Diploma Programme.
Effective Citing and Referencing Explains why citations are needed, what needs to be cited, when citations are necessary, and how to cite, and also provides a list of citation definitions, a documentation checklist, and a chart showing the elements to be included in a reference.
Ethical Guidelines for Extended Essays Research and Fieldwork Explicit guidance from the IB on any research or fieldwork undertaken as a part of an Extended Essay.
Guidelines for the Use of Animals in IB World Schools These guidelines from IB set out the parameters for the acceptable inclusion of animals in an IB World School.

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US IB Extended Essay: Home

Academic Writing
Researchers Reflective Space (RRS)
Research Questions
Databases & Web Resources (English & Spanish)
Bibliographies, References & Citations
Reflections
Subject Specific EE Resources

Getting Started

Academic Integrity-The IB Guide

To read the full Academic Integrity IB Guide, click HERE.

Extended Essay Guides

If you have questions or concerns about the Extended Essay, see your supervisor, or Dr. Bree. Research needs, see Ms. Keating.

The first part of the IB guide contains general information that is relevant to all Extended Essays, regardless of subject. The section is quite short, and it is well worth reading for the advice and information given.

Six required elements of the extended essay: Title page Contents page Introduction Body of the essay Conclusion References and bibliography https://ibpublishing.ibo.org/extendedessay/apps/dpapp/guide.html?doc=d_0_eeyyy_gui_1602_1_e&part=5&chapter=5

Presentation of Your Extended Essay https://ibpublishing.ibo.org/extendedessay/apps/dpapp/guide.html?doc=d_0_eeyyy_gui_1602_1_e&part=5&chapter=6

ESSENTIAL TO KNOW!

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: the use of 12-point, readable font double spacing page numbering no candidate or school 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.

ASM Extended Essay Information
General EE Info for Juniors

Assessment Points

Points awarded for the Extended Essay in conjunction with the Theory of Knowledge Essay - out of a maximum total of 45 points. (See the IBO webpage on Assessment for more information.)

Extended Essay Topics

Your Extended Essay (research topic) must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 4: Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The Arts

IB Academic Honesty/Integrity

Academic honesty in the IB educational context

Most students understand that it is wrong to copy another student's work and submit as their own. However, it is also dishonest to copy and paste text from WWW into your paper and submit as your own writing or ideas.

Academic Honesty The Plagiarism.org website provides some helpful information on intentional and unintentional plagiarism, and on how students can avoid plagiarism by good citation. Paraphrasing can be difficult, and the Indiana University Writing Tutorial Services provides some helpful information on how to properly paraphrase.

Citing Sources for Academic Research When doing research for papers and projects, it is necessary to properly acknowledge authors whose work has been used in your end product. This acknowledgement takes place in your writing in the form of parenthetical references, footnotes, endnotes, works cited pages or bibliographies. There are many documentation styles used by a variety of academic disciplines. At the American School of Madrid , students are strongly encouraged to use MLA. Noodle Tools is an excellent way to assure students that their citations will be correctly formatted.

Plagiarism Plagiarism is often clear to students only when it involves non-electronic sources. For example, buying a paper from a paper mill to turn in as one's own work is unquestionably plagiarism. Students realize that copying from a book or journal without properly citing the source is plagiarism, but using materials from Web documents seems to be different. Students have the perception that everything on the Web is free, therefore could be no theft involved in taking material that is found there. However, plagiarism is not limited to any specific format, electronic or non-electronic.

Copyright law protects Web documents. Georgia Harper, a lawyer for the University of Texas, says that people assume that everything on the Web is public domain, probably because the law used to require that copyrighted material display a copyright notice. The law changed, however, and "putting the fingers on the keyboard creates a copyrighted work." She says that copyright protection is automatic, so that postings of all kinds are protected (Harper). (Southeastern Louisiana University)

To view this PowerPoint click HERE.

The Extended Essay-Understand the Process

Click here to get the full Extended Essay Guide , or the links below to the specific sections.

Overview of the Extended Essay

Academic honesty in the IB

Ethical guidelines for Extended Essay research and fieldwork

Researcher's Reflection Space

Role of External Mentors

Viva voce final reflection session

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Last Updated: Oct 16, 2023 4:40 PM
URL: https://asmadrid.libguides.com/IBExtendedEssay

Extended Essay and Reflective Project Guide: EE & RP Home

EE & RP Home
Criteria, Format, Sample EEs
Formulating a Research Question
Extended Essay: Skills for Success
DP Research Process
Research Databases and Source Evaluation This link opens in a new window
AI and Digital Tools
Academic Integrity
Citations This link opens in a new window
Secondary Home

Extended Essay Timeline & Checklist

Official IB Extended Essay Guide & Resources

Official extended essay guide 2018 ibo.

Important for students:

Assessment criteria
Unpacking the criteria
Language & Literature
Language Acquisition
Individuals & Societies
The Sciences
Mathematics
Interdisciplinary Essays
A cademic Honesty

Official IB Extended Essay Guide & Resources

Extended Essay Guide 2018 (PDF) Do NOT print out!
Overview of the extended essay
Supporting the extended essay
Introducing students to the extended essay
Protocols for Completing and Submitting the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form
Students are strongly recommended to :
Researchers reflection space (RRS)
Researching and writing the extended essay
Presentation of the extended essay
The Viva Voce preparation
The Viva Voce (concluding interview)

Points awarded for the Extended Essay in conjunction with the Theory of Knowledge Essay

Out of a maximum total of 45 points. (See Assessment for Subject Specific assessed student work)

This LibGuide was adapted, with thanks, from Kathy Fester and Roxy Yuen (Concordian International School, Bangkok).

The content is shared under a Creative Commons Attribuition-Noncommerical license.

Feel free to reuse any information found on this guide.

Next: Criteria, Format, Sample EEs >>
Last Updated: Apr 25, 2024 7:34 PM
URL: https://rchk.libguides.com/EE

General IB Downloads
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Extended Essay: Portal

Kick Off Day
Define Topic
Locate Resources
Annotated Bibliography
Evaluating Sources
Integrating Quotes
Citations & Referencing
Evaluation Criteria & Examiner Reports
Criterion A, B, C: Assessment of Research
Criterion D: Presentation
Criterion E: Engagement (Reflection)
The Viva Voce
EE Draft Feedback Template for Supervisors
Language of Analysis
Approaches to Learning (ATL)
Roles and Responsibilities

This guide was created by Ms. Terry Maguire, Secondary MYP & DP Librarian at the American International School of Lusaka and being used with her permission. There are some adaptations and changes that have been made for use by students at International School Manila.

Extended Essay Frequently Asked Questions

What is the extended essay? Click here to see IBO's definition of the Extended Essay.

Extended Essay General Assessment Criteria

EE Assessment Condensed Rubric by Brad Philpot If you don't want to scroll up and down a 14-page document to mark an EE, use the above condensed rubric made by Brad Philpot of Philpot Education.
EE Assessment Criteria Overview (first exams May 2018)

May 2018 Examiner Report for EE

Examiner Report for May 2018 Extended Essays This report is very useful for getting a sense of what examiners do and do not want to see on the EE's.

IB EE Guide

Extended Essay Guides by Subject

Dp program image.

EE Grade Boundaries for 2018

EE Grade Boundaries (from May 2018)

OSC (Oxford Study Courses) IB Blogs

The New IB EE Support Website

EE Jeopardy

EE Jeopardy to Review EE Assessment, Role of Supervisors, and Tracking of Progress- click on the image below to play.

Next: Kick Off Day >>
Last Updated: Mar 5, 2024 11:47 AM
URL: https://ismanila.libguides.com/extendedessay

DP World Studies Extended Essay: Introduction

Introduction
Getting Started
Global Themes
Interdisciplinary Research
What Makes Up a "Discipline"?
Evaluating the Insights of Academic Disciplines
Multiple Forms of Integration
Evaluating Your Essay
Common Stumbling Blocks
Examples of Globally Conscious Students
World Studies Exemplars
List of IB Subjects
Examiner Reports

World Studies EE Overview

The world studies extended essay (wsee).

Unisphere World Globe, New York City - Britannica ImageQuest

The World Studies Extended Essay (WSEE) has to meet all the presentation requirements of the IB Extended Essay , including having a maximum length of 4,000 words.

See the Extended Essay guide for more details. WSEE documents are in the box to the right.

Examples of potential topics include:

Interdisciplinary Approach

'Satire on False Perspective. Steel engraving, c1860, after a painting, 1753, by William Hogarth - Britannica ImageQuest

The IB recommends that you use two IB Diploma Programme subjects, one of which you must be studying.

You're not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but you should aim to generate understandings that are new to you.

It would be very easy for you to rely on common-sense understanding of a global issue or more informal insights. However, the academic nature of the EE requires you to understand a global issue through disciplinary lenses.

Focusing water waves - Britannica ImageQuest

An examination of two geographical case studies exploring whether religious beliefs affect attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Oslo and Mombasa.
An examination of one or two events evaluating relief efforts after natural disasters, with suggestions of ways to make these more responsive.
An examination of one or two interventions investigating what determines the success or failure of sanctions imposed by the United Nations.

You can refer to other places and events beyond the primary context(s) when relevant to the argument. This can demonstrate global consciousness in your writing. However, a really detailed study of these additional cases would not be possible given the 4,000-word limit.

WSEE Documents

IB EE Subject Guide - World Studies, 2018
Making Meaningful Connections Use this worksheet to help you think about your research plans: the concepts or methods your will be using, the global topic you're focusing on, and the academic disciplines you will be using.
Sample Prompts for the WSEE RRS What should you write in your RRS? Use these questions and prompts to help you think through the various stages of the research for your WSEE: your initial ideas, your thoughts and reflections during the process, and your conclusions.
RRS Example B - World Studies

RPPF (Researcher's Planning and Progress Form) examples:

RPPF Example 5 - World Studies
RPPF Example 7 - World Studies