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Every IB Diploma candidate must submit an Extended Essay – a piece of independent research on a focused topic in one of the subjects of the IB curriculum – normally one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB Diploma.
The aim of the extended essay project is to provide the students with the opportunity to pursue independent research as well as to develop research, communication and critical thinking skills. The students will engage in a systematic research process and experience the excitement of intellectual discovery.
Each student is given access to the IB Extended Essay Guide at the start of the research process, in December of the DP1 year. The finished essay must be submitted by the deadline given, usually in Term 1 of the DP2 year.
The essay must be supervised by a qualified teacher at the school. 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.
The extended essay must be written in clear, correct and formal academic style, appropriate to its subject. It contains no more than 4,000 words and is accompanied by a reflection form of no more than 500 words. Essays submitted in Language A or Language B [Groups 1 and 2] must be written in that language. Essays in subjects from Groups 3 - 6 must be written in English.
The extended essay is externally assessed by an examiner appointed by the IB and it is marked on a scale from 0 to 34. Marks will be given for how well the essay and the research process meet standards for
focus and method
knowledge and understanding
critical thinking
presentation
engagement
The grades used are:
A - work of an excellent standard
B - work of good standard
C - work of satisfactory standard
D - work of mediocre standard
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E – failing condition - work of elementary standard
The student’s combined performance in both the Extended Essay and TOK can contribute to the overall diploma score with a maximum of three bonus points.
Normally, Diploma is not awarded in the following cases:
a. if the extended essay is not submitted by the stated deadline;
b. if the essay is not accompanied by the Supervising Teacher’s Report;
c. if the essay is plagiarized or does not comply with the demands of academic honesty;
d. if the extended essay is a repetition of work done in class and/or IA work
e. the student has received a grade E in either EE or TOK
For more detailed information, consult the Extended Essay information is ManageBac!
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