Accurate referencing is essential for academic integrity and for meeting the expectations of Criterion A. The IB expects students to keep a full record of every source consulted, to cite all external material correctly, and to reference AI generated content appropriately. The Extended Essay Support Material gives clear guidance on maintaining accurate records, evaluating sources and referencing with transparency.
A referencing tool helps you to:
collect accurate source information
organise references as you research
generate in-text citations
create a reference list that follows one consistent style
A tool supports your work, but it does not replace careful checking. You are responsible for accuracy.
You may choose any tool as long as you use it consistently. The options below are the most suitable for IB level academic writing.
Some online generators often produce incorrect citations. These include EasyBib, CitationMachine and Scribbr generators. If you use them, you must double check everything manually and ensure that all details follow your chosen style.
The IB allows students to use AI tools for certain parts of the research process, such as summarising long articles or translating texts. Students must not use AI to write ANY part of the essay, and must not rely on AI to generate citations or bibliographies. The support material explains that any AI generated content used in the essay must be referenced clearly, including the prompt and the date of generation .
How to Reference AI Correctly
In text:
“example of wording taken or paraphrased from ChatGPT” (ChatGPT, 2025).
Reference list:
OpenAI. (Date). ChatGPT response to prompt “[insert your prompt]”.
Students must also keep a record of the exact prompt they used.
Students should avoid the following common errors:
mixing multiple referencing styles
missing page numbers when required
incorrect capitalisation and punctuation
using auto generated citations without checking their accuracy
forgetting to cite images, figures and interviews
leaving URLs incomplete
failing to reference AI tools when used in the research process
Referencing contributes to Criterion A, which evaluates the clarity of the framework for the essay, including accurate citation and consistent referencing. Poor referencing weakens the structure and credibility of the essay. Accurate and consistent referencing supports a clear academic framework and strengthens the overall presentation.
Final Advice
Choose a tool that suits the way you work, check every reference, and keep your records organised from the beginning. Good referencing is a habit, not a final step.