Role of the Supervisor 

The Role of the Supervisor

The supervisor–student working relationship is probably the most important one in the extended essay process. The supervisor plays an important role in helping students to plan and undertake their research for the extended essay. The relationship should be an active two-way process with the supervisor primarily there to support and guide the student, during the supervision and reflection sessions, at the planning stage, and when the student is carrying out and writing up their research.

Supervisor Requirements

• undertake three mandatory reflection sessions with each student they are supervising 

• initial and date each reflection summarized on the Reflections on planning and progress form and provide comments at the end of the process. If the form and essay are submitted via the eCoursework system, then it is deemed signed and authenticated. An RPPF that is blank, unsubmitted, or written in a language other than that of the essay, will be awarded a 0 for criterion E. 

• provide students with advice and guidance in the skills of undertaking research 

• encourage and support students throughout the research and writing of the extended essay 

• discuss the choice of topic with each student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-focused research question which is suitable to the subject of registration and ensure that the chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical standards with regard to health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare and environmental issue

• is familiar with the regulations governing the extended essay and the assessment criteria, and gives copies of these to students 

• monitor the progress of the extended essay to offer guidance and to ensure that the essay is the student’s own work (this may include presenting a section of the essay for supervisor comment) 

• read and comment on one draft only of the extended essay (but do not edit the draft); this should take place after the interim reflection session, but before the final reflection session, the viva voce 

• ensure that the final version of the essay is handed in before the final reflection session (viva voce) takes place, and that no changes are made to it subsequently 

• read the final version and, in conjunction with the viva voce, confirm its authenticity. The student may work with or consult external experts in a particular area of specialism but it remains the responsibility of the supervisor within the school to complete all the requirements described above. 

Supervisors are strongly recommended to:

• read recent extended essay reports for the subject 

• spend between three and five hours with each student, including the time spent on the three mandatory reflection sessions 

• encourage the development of a Researcher’s reflection space for students 

• ensure that the chosen research question is appropriate for the subject 

• advise students on access to appropriate resources (such as people, a library, a laboratory) o research methods o how to cite and reference.