The absolute upper word limit is 4,000 words for all extended essays.
Please note: Examiners are instructed not to read or assess any material in excess of the word limit. This means that essays containing more than 4,000 words will be compromised across all assessment criteria. Given the holistic nature of the assessment criteria, students who write in excess of the word limit will self-penalize across all criteria. For example, in criterion B, any knowledge and understanding demonstrated beyond the 4,000-word limit will be treated as if it were not present; in criterion C, analysis, discussion or evaluation made beyond the 4,000-word limit will be treated as if the point had not been made.
Supervisors and students should be aware that the e-upload of extended essays will facilitate the automatic recognition of a cut-off point for assessment. Students should ensure that they remain within the word limit and should edit accordingly.
The introduction
The main body
The conclusion
Quotations
Footnotes and/or endnotes that are not references
The contents page
Maps, charts, diagrams, annotated illustrations
Tables
Equations, formulas and calculations
Citations/references (whether parenthetical, numbered, footnotes or endnotes)
The bibliography
The Reflections on planning and progress form
(This has its own word limit, see the Reflections page)
Headers