Assessment Criteria

Source IBO

• EE Assessment Criteria

• EE Marking Rubric

• Detailed Printable Rubric

• One Page Rubric

Thanks to Shekou International School and Seoul Foreign School for these rubrics. 

Criterion A:  Focus and Method (6 marks)

What It Means:  This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the topic and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.

Questions to ask:  

• Does this essay meet the requirements for the subject for which you are registering it?

• Is your research question stated as a question?

• Have you explained how your research question relates to the subject that you selected for the extended essay?

• Have you given an insight into why your area of study is important?

• Is your research question feasible within the scope of the task? Could your research question be “answered” or it is too vague?

• Did you refer to your research question throughout the essay (not only in the introduction and conclusion)?

• Did you explain why you selected your methodology?

• Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?

• If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?

• Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

Quick tip on your introduction

Question: What do I include in my introduction? 

Answer: There are four core items to explicitly mention in your introduction: 1. the research question, 2. some context with regards to your topic, 3. why it is worthy of investigation and 4. the methodological approach and/or source material you have used to arrive at your conclusion. 

Source Oxford EE companion guide pg. 103 and Susan Trower of West Sound Academy 

Criterion D:  Presentation (4 marks)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.

Questions to ask:  

• Have you read and understood the presentation requirements of the extended essay?

• Have you chosen a font that will be easy for examiners to read on-screen?

• Is your essay double-spaced and size 12 font?

• Are the title and research question mentioned on the cover page?

• Are all pages numbered?

• Have you prepared a correct table of contents?

• Do the page numbers in the table of contents match the page numbers in the text?

• Is your essay subdivided into correct sub-sections, if this is applicable to the subject?

• Are all figures and tables properly numbered and labelled?

• Does your bibliography contain only the sources cited in the text?

• Did you use the same reference system throughout the essay?

• Does the essay have less than 4,000 words?

• Is all the material presented in the appendices relevant and necessary?

• Have you proofread the text for spelling or grammar errors?

Source: Susan Trower of West Sound Academy

Criterion E:  Engagement (6 marks)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on planning and progress form).

Questions to ask:  

• Have you demonstrated your engagement with your research topic and the research process?

• Have you highlighted challenges you faced and how you overcame them?

• Will the examiner get a sense of your intellectual and skills development?

• Will the examiner get a sense of your creativity and intellectual initiative?

• Will the examiner get a sense of how you responded to actions and ideas in the research process?

Source: Susan Trower of West Sound Academy