Assessment criteria
Framework for the essay
(6 marks)
Do the research question, research methods and structural conventions followed provide an effective framework for the essay?
Knowledge and understanding
(6 marks)
Does the student demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter being used in their research?
Analysis and line of argument
(6 marks)
Does the student analyse the information presented in the essay and produce a line of argument?
Discussion and evaluation
(8 marks)
Does the student discuss the findings and evaluate the essay?
Reflection
(4 marks)
Does the student evaluate the effect of the extended essay learning experience on them as a learner?
International Baccalaureate Organization. (2025). Extended Essay Guide: First assessment 2027. International Baccalaureate Organization.
This Rubric was created by Perplexity AI using the prompt create a detailed Rubric for the Extended Essay in IB using the attached assessment guidelines. This was created on July 1, 2025.
Click here to access the NEW Extended Essay Guide.
The Extended Essay Subject Specific Guidance 2027 here
What is an A? a B? a C? according to IB? here
Unpacking the Criteria here
Use MLA 8, APA 6 or Chicago 17 (notes and bibliography)
However, IB requires that you make sure your citations include:
page numbers for all print material (you should also include page numbers whenever available in non-print materials)
date accessed for internet material (the date YOU accessed it)
date published for internet material (whenever available)
URL or DOI for internet material
(not all of these elements are standard in all of the styles, so you may have to add them)
Effective Citing and Referencing (ECAR)
ECAR elements to be included in a reference
The structure of your essay is very important because it helps you to organize your line of argument.
The following structural conventions must be present in the essay you submit for assessment.
Title page
Contents page
Introduction
Body of the essay
Conclusion
Reference list or bibliography
In addition to the recognized structure of any extended essay, as above, it is also important to incorporate any structural conventions that relate to the subject(s) you are using.
Figure 16 summarizes the usual elements found in the introduction, the body and the conclusion.
(N.d.). Retrieved from https://resources.ibo.org/dp/subject/Extended-essay-2027/works/dp_11162-431652?lang=en&root=1.6.2.8.9
Your title page must clearly show the information indicated in this Figure 15.
(N.d.). Retrieved from https://resources.ibo.org/dp/subject/Extended-essay-2027/works/dp_11162-431652?lang=en&root=1.6.2.8.9
Your extended essay should be clearly written in a formal academic style, appropriate to the subject(s) from which the topic is drawn. Given that the extended essay is a formally written research paper, it should strive to maintain a professional, academic look.
To help achieve this, follow this formatting guidance.
Font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing—this helps the examiner with on-screen marking.
Page numbering (mandatory), beginning with the first page following your contents page.
Anonymity—there is no student, supervisor or school name anywhere in the file submitted.
A file size smaller than 10 MB. Consider the size of embedded images, which may add considerably to the file size, and optimize them if needed. Note that the reflection and progress form (RPF) is uploaded separately and is not part of the overall file size of the essay.
Submitting your extended essay in the required format will help set the tone of the essay and will aid readability for on-screen assessment by examiners.
The upper limit for all extended essays is 4,000 words. Note that examiners are instructed not to read or assess any material in excess of the word limit.
This means that essays containing more than 4,000 words will be negatively compromised across all assessment criteria. You should therefore ensure that your essay remains within the word limit. If the word count of your final draft is over 4,000 words you should edit it down accordingly.
The table below provides specific guidance on the content that is and is not included in the word count.
(N.d.). Retrieved from https://resources.ibo.org/dp/subject/Extended-essay-2027/works/dp_11162-431652?lang=en&root=1.6.2.8.9
Naming Convention: lastname_firstname_Subject_EE_Final_ 2020 (or lastname_firstname_Subject_EE_good_ 2020 for a good draft)
if you have a different legal name and a common name, include both (eg. Li_Hong_Adam_Economics_EE_Final_2020.pdf)
Subject examples (include category for English and French, Theme for World Studies): History, EnglishCat1, WS_HealthandDev.
File Type/Size
.pdf is strongly recommended for the final submission (on the school computers you can "print" to a .pdf version).
.doc, .docx, .rtf are permitted (and are recommended for the good draft submission)
no more than 10MB in size
Appendicies/other attachments
use of an appendix must be approved in advance by your Supervisor (and is not recommended).
The Assessed Student Work from the IB guide. Many excellent examples with the scores available.