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Key Features of the Extended Essay

The extended essay is compulsory for all students taking the Diploma Programme and is an option for course students.
A student must achieve a D grade or higher to be awarded the Diploma.
The extended essay is externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB Diploma.
The extended essay process helps prepare students for success at university and in other pathways beyond the Diploma Programme.
When choosing a subject for the extended essay, students must consult the list of available Diploma Programme subjects published in the Handbook of procedures for the Diploma Programme for the session in question.
The extended essay is a piece of independent research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor in the school.
It is presented as a formal piece of sustained academic writing containing no more than 4,000 words accompanied by a reflection form of no more than 500 words.
It is the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.
Students are supported by a supervision process recommended to be 3–5 hours, which includes three mandatory reflection sessions.
The third and final mandatory reflection session is the viva voce, which is a concluding interview with the supervising teacher.

5 May: First reflection due in ManageBac

23 August: Second reflection due in ManageBac

29 - 30 August: Senior Retreat

18 September: Completed draft due to Supervisor

23 October: Completed EE due to Supervisor

23 October - 7 November: Viva Voce and final reflection due in ManageBac

4 November: EE Assembly, 8:20 - 9:30 am

Extended Essay by Kosta Lekanides
Call Number: S 808.4 OXF
Publication Date: 2016
Extended Essay by Paul Hoang, Chris Taylor
Call Number: S 808.02 HOA
Publication Date: 2017

Find both of these Extended Essay books in the IB and University Collection.

Criterion A: Focus and Method [6 marks]

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.

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.

Criterion C: Critical Thinking [12 marks]

This criterion assesses the extent to which critical-thinking skills have been used to analyse and evaluate the research undertaken.

Criterion D: Presentation [4 marks]

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.

Criterion E: Engagement [6 marks]

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, and is based solely on the candidate’s reflections as detailed on the RPPF, with the supervisory comments and extended essay itself as context.
Only the first 500 words are assessable.

A = 27 - 34

B = 21 - 26

C = 14 - 20

D = 7 - 13

E = 0 - 6