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The RPPF should be a thoughtful and insightful reflection on your research process, demonstrating your engagement, critical thinking, and personal growth as a researcher. You should approach the RPPF with the mindset of a researcher reflecting on their work.
The total word count is 500; examiners stop reading after this.
These reflections contribute 6 out of the 34 total marks available for the Extended Essay, that's 18%!
🎯 Criterion E: Engagement (6 marks)
You're being evaluated based on what you write in your RPPF reflections:
✅ What inspired you?
✅ What did you learn about research?
✅ What challenges did you face — and how did you overcome them?
✅ Did your thinking evolve?
It’s about the journey, not just the destination.
Here’s what the IB rubric says for top marks (6):
“Engagement is evidenced by a student’s reflections on the decision-making and planning process undertaken in completing the essay.
These reflections communicate a high degree of intellectual and personal engagement with the research focus and process.
There is clear evidence of personal insights, a high level of critical and reflective thinking, and self-awareness in terms of challenges faced and the student's growth.
Strong reflections are personal, not just a timeline of tasks:
⭐ You show how your ideas developed over time
⭐ You explain how you handled challenges, revisions, or dead ends
⭐ You reflect on what you learned about your topic, your thinking, and yourself
⭐ You show intellectual curiosity and honest self-awareness
⭐ You connect your experience to the research process: not just what you did, but why it mattered
General Advice
General Advice
The RPPF is about how you did the research, not just what you found.
Explain why you made certain decisions and how those decisions impacted your research.
Let your personality and perspective shine through. The RPPF is an opportunity to demonstrate your individual engagement with the research process.
While time management and motivation are important, explore other challenges you faced, such as:
Difficulties finding relevant sources
Unexpected results or setbacks
Ethical considerations
Changes in your research question or approach
Don't just demonstrate your understanding of texts or theories. Explain how those texts or theories influenced your research process.
Use concrete examples to illustrate your points.
Discuss what you learned about yourself as a researcher and how your skills and understandings developed throughout the process.
If you were to do the research again, what would you change? Why?
The RPPFs are meant to be genuine reflections on your experience. Don't just write what you think your supervisor wants to hear.
Consider how your reflections relate to the EE assessment Criterion E (Engagement).
Please do not refer to your supervisor by name. This cannot be submitted. You are not allowed to edit your RPPF's qualitative contents after it has been submitted.
I suggest the following breakdown:
First Reflection (RPPF#1):
~100 Words
Interim Reflection (RPPF#2):
~150 Words
Final Reflection (Viva voce):
~250 Words
This link is to some example RPPF's with examiner comments.
Some example RPPF's from the IB which scored well:
Writing RPPF#1: 100 Words
Writing RPPF#1: 100 Words
Because this is so early in the process, it's much more difficult to be analytic and evaluative; this is why I recommend it having the smallest number of your available words.
Purpose: To document your initial ideas, planning, and research question development. This is your starting point.
Key Areas to Address:
Topic Selection:
What initially sparked your interest in this topic? Why did you choose it over other potential topics?
What prior knowledge or experiences do you have that relate to this topic?
What are you hoping to learn or discover through this research?
Research Question Development:
How did you arrive at your initial research question? What were some of the earlier versions you considered?
What makes this research question interesting or significant to you?
What challenges do you anticipate in answering this research question?
Initial Planning and Approach:
What are your initial ideas about how to approach this research? What methods or sources do you plan to use?
What are your initial thoughts on the potential scope and limitations of your research?
What are your initial timelines and milestones for completing the EE?
Skills and Learning:
What skills do you hope to develop or improve during this EE process (e.g., research, analysis, writing, time management)?
What are you most excited about learning during this process?
Example Sentence Starters:
"I initially chose this topic because..."
"My research question evolved from... to... because..."
"I plan to approach this research by..."
"I anticipate that the biggest challenge will be..."
"I hope to improve my skills in... by..."
Writing RPPF#2: 150 Words
Writing RPPF#2: 150 Words
Purpose: To assess your progress, identify challenges, and adjust your approach as needed. This is a check-in and course correction.
Key Areas to Address:
Progress and Findings:
What progress have you made on your research so far? What have you discovered?
Have your initial ideas or assumptions changed as a result of your research? If so, how?
What sources have you found most helpful or insightful? Why?
Challenges and Solutions:
What challenges have you encountered so far? How have you addressed them?
Have you had to adjust your research question or approach? If so, why?
What strategies have you found most effective for managing your time and staying on track?
Critical Thinking and Analysis:
How have you been engaging with different perspectives or interpretations of your topic?
How have you been evaluating the reliability and validity of your sources?
How have you been developing your own argument or interpretation?
Skills and Learning:
What skills have you developed or improved so far?
What have you learned about yourself as a researcher?
What are you still struggling with?
Example Sentence Starters:
"Since RPPF1, I have made progress by..."
"I encountered a challenge when... and I addressed it by..."
"My initial assumptions about... have changed because..."
"I have been engaging with different perspectives by..."
"I have learned that I am good at... but I still need to improve..."
Writing RPPF#3: 250 Words - Time to drop your IB Buzzwords in!
Writing RPPF#3: 250 Words - Time to drop your IB Buzzwords in!
Purpose: To reflect on the entire EE process, evaluate your research, and identify key learning outcomes. This is your final assessment of the journey.
Key Areas to Address:
Research Outcomes:
To what extent did you answer your research question? What were your main findings?
What are the strengths and limitations of your research?
What are the implications of your findings?
Process Evaluation:
What aspects of the EE process did you find most challenging? Why?
What aspects of the EE process did you find most rewarding? Why?
What strategies did you find most effective for managing your time, conducting research, and writing the essay?
Skills and Learning:
What skills did you develop or improve during the EE process?
How has this experience changed your understanding of your topic?
How has this experience changed your understanding of research and writing?
Future Applications:
How will you apply the skills and knowledge you gained during the EE to future academic or personal pursuits?
If you could do the EE again, what would you do differently? Why?
What advice would you give to other students embarking on the EE process?
Example Sentence Starters:
"I was able to answer my research question by..."
"The most challenging aspect of the EE process was... because..."
"I learned that I am most effective when..."
"If I could do the EE again, I would..."
"I would advise other students to..."
IB Mastery has a webpage and video you might find useful.
✍️ Checklist (for 6/6)
Do my RPPF reflections show how I engaged with challenges in the process?
Have I explained how my thinking evolved or shifted during the research?
Did I reflect on decisions I made, not just describe what I did?
Do my reflections include personal insights, not just academic ones?
Have I shown initiative, curiosity, or creativity in tackling obstacles?
Does my RPPF demonstrate a genuine intellectual journey, not a timeline of tasks?
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