Supervisor Responsibilities

The purpose of the supervisor is not to provide subject meta expertise. They should be providing guidance on the research process. 

Supervisor Responsibilities

• • Support the development of the key skills necessary for successfully completing the Extended Essay (EE), such as defining a research question and employing effective research and note-taking techniques.

  • Foster a positive and supportive relationship with the student.

  • Sign a student-supervisor agreement.

  • Be available for up to 5 hours to guide the student throughout the EE process.

  • Encourage and support students during the research and writing phases of the Extended Essay.

  • Discuss topic selection with each student, assisting them in formulating a well-focused research question that aligns with their subject registration.

  • Ensure that the chosen research question complies with legal and ethical standards regarding health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare, and environmental considerations.

  • Conduct three mandatory formal reflection sessions with the student.

  • Monitor and support informal reflections in the Researcher's Reflective Space on Managebac, using this as a tool to track EE progress and ensure that the essay is the student's original work.

  • Ensure that students who consult external experts acknowledge the nature of the support received and maintain academic honesty in their work.

  • Check and confirm the academic integrity of the draft and final EE, which includes reviewing the TurnItIn report (shared with students at the draft stage) and using tools like draftback and brisk to identify any copied sections.

  • Confirm that students complete the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form on Managebac.

  • Review and provide feedback on one draft of the EE (editing is not permitted).

  • Evaluate the final version of the essay and, in conjunction with the viva voce, verify its authenticity.

  • Provide a supervisory comment after the viva voce to contextualise the student’s reflections for Criterion E: Engagement.