Extended Essay

The extended essay provides students with the opportunity to engage in the challenge of completing original and independent research on a topic of their own choice under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school) and is perhaps one of the most challenging but exciting tasks of the Diploma for many students.

The essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects—normally one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB diploma or in one of the interdisciplinary options available (World Studies) and is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. The research leads to a formal piece of academic writing of up to 4000 words, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen and is concluded with a short interview, or Viva Voce, with their supervisor. Candidates should aim to choose a topic that is both interesting and challenging to them. The topic chosen should be limited in scope and sufficiently narrow to allow candidates to examine an issue or problem in depth. It should present the candidate with the opportunity to collect or generate information and/or data for analysis and evaluation.

In certain cases, it is recommended that students look to link their extended essay topic to their future career choice or the course of study they intend to follow in university. In those countries where it is the norm for interviews to be required prior to acceptance for employment or for a place at university, the extended essay has often proved to be a valuable stimulus for discussion.

It is mandatory that all students undertake three reflection sessions with their supervisor, which includes a short, concluding interview, or viva voce, with their supervisor following the completion of the extended essay.

The extended essay is compulsory for all students taking the Diploma Programme

A student must achieve a D grade or higher to be awarded the Diploma.

The extended essay is externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of knowledge, contributes up to 3 points to the total score for the IB Diploma. 

The extended essay is a piece of independent research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor in the school.

It is presented as a formal piece of sustained academic writing containing no more than 4,000 words accompanied by a reflection form of no more than 500 words.

It is the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.

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.

As with other elements of the Core, Reflections in the EE are a very important and are explicitly assessed under the EE criteria.

Reflection in the extended essay focuses on the student’s progress during the planning, research and writing process. It is intended to help students with the development of their extended essay as well as allowing them the opportunity to consider the effectiveness of their choices, to re-examine their ideas and to decide whether changes are needed.

The emphasis in the extended essay is on process reflection, characterized by reflecting on conceptual understandings, decision-making, engagement with data, the research process, time management, methodology, successes and challenges, and the appropriateness of sources.

 Students will be encouraged to informally reflect throughout the experience of researching and writing the extended essay, but are required to reflect formally during the reflection sessions with their supervisor and when completing the Reflections on planning and progress form.

Yr12  

Term 1:  Introduction to research and referencing, annotated bibliography task

Term 2 first half: Guide to writing proposal, proposals submitted

Term 2 second half: Supervisor assigned, first meeting and reflection completed. Workshop on how to research and write, with the assessment criteria explained.

Term 3: second half - second meeting and reflection completed, summer plan created.

Yr 13

Term 1: Middle of September: complete first draft of the essay is submitted.

November: submission of final version of extended essay

End of term 1:  Viva Voce and Reflections to be completed.