What is the Extended Essay?

The Extended Essay (EE) is an independent, self-directed 4000 word research project, the EE is mandatory for all students wishing to achieve the IB Diploma. The EE is excellent preparation for students wishing to conduct research at University and is an opportunity for students to investigate and explore a topic they are personally interested in. Students may write an EE in any one of their six DP subjects, or students may like to take an interdisciplinary approach and write their EE under the category of World Studies. You can read more about the requirements by following this link.

When do students write the EE?

Grade 11 students are introduced to the EE at the end of Semester 1 in grade 11, this is followed by two intensive half days at the start of Semester 2. During these half days, students are taken out of regular class and work exclusively on developing topics/themes/provisional research questions with the IB DP Coordinator, Librarian and Subject Teachers.

At the end of these sessions, students will be matched up with an EE Teacher Supervisor who will be able to guide them through the process. However, the Teacher Supervisor is only able to offer 5 hours of formal support for the duration of the EE, including the time taken to read one full draft.

Students will make their initial EE submission the day before school returns in August, therefore students will need to be working on writing their EE during the summer holidays between grades 11 and 12. Please keep this in mind while making summer travel plans.

How will the school support students with the EE when it is an independent and self-directed project?

The IB DP Coordinator will meet with students at several points during grade 11 to explain the process of the EE and provide deadlines. The IB DP Coordinator will hold students accountable for meeting these deadlines as described below.

Students will be taken off timetable for two half days at the start of Semester 2 of grade 11 and led through sessions to review and practice the skills needed to successfully complete this project and produce an essay they are proud of. Students will also be taken off timetable for a whole day towards the end of Semester 2, grade 11 to go to Zagreb Public Library with AISZ Librarian and IB DP Coordinator.

After the Library visit, students will arrange an EE Cafe during the school day when they will present their research question, plan and research so far to a group of students and teachers in order to defend their ideas.

When will the EE be complete and why is this deadline important?

This year, all students will be expected to upload an initial submission of their EE, with a minimum of 4000 words and bibliography to managebac by the day before school starts in August 2020. By meeting this deadline teachers will have time to read the first draft, meet with students, offer feedback and provide support as needed.

The final version of the EE must be complete by October 31 2020, the actual deadline is likely to be before October break. The reason for this is because November 1 is the date by which the IB DP Coordinator must confirm the entries for IB coursework and enter students for May 2021 examinations. If students are intending to complete the full IB Diploma, and they do not have a viable EE by this time, students have a failing condition as they are being entered for the Diploma, understandably this causes stress for students, parents and teachers.

Please note, any changes to a student's status with the IB after the November deadline is likely to result in additional fees from the IB. Additionally, by having the EE out of the way early in Semester 1 of grade 12 will free up your students time to focus on other IB requirements, Internal Assessments and of course University Applications.

How are the EE’s graded?

The final grading of the EE’s is completed externally by IB markers meaning the final grade is released along with the final IB results in July of the Graduating year.

The grading is completed using specific grading criteria, the criteria will be shared with students as part of the intensive skill building sessions in January. As part of these days students will practice applying the grading criteria to example EE’s so each student is able to experience how an EE is graded.

In practice the final EE grade often comes down to the quality of each students research, and most importantly their ability to communicate with the reader. To help with this, the IB require students to submit three formal reflections on the EE process along with the final EE. These reflections are really important because they allow for communication with the external marker outside of the 4000 words, and the reflections are taken into account when the EE’s are graded.