An extended essay (EE) is an individual project that quires you to explore a subject of your choice in-depth. An Internal Assessment (IA) is a subject-specific task designed to assess your understanding and application of the knowledge acquired throughout the course.
In this article, we will explore the difference between EE and IA, comparing their structures, purposes, and effect on student learning and assessment. This comparison will help clarify their distinct roles within the IB Diploma Program and provide insights into how you can manage both tasks effectively within the IB’s framework.
What is the Extended Essay (EE)?
An Extended Essay is an individual, self-directed research assignment that gives you the opportunity to explore a clearly defined research question in a subject of your interest.The purpose of the Extended Essay is to foster critical thinking, academic writing, and independent research skills.
The extended essay requires a clear structure that features an introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion, and clear references/citations.
During assessment, teachers look at the research question, research, analysis, argumentation, conclusion, and presentation to determine what grades to assign based on a scale of 0 to 34.
The extended essay connects to theory of knowledge because it encourages you to consider the TOK framework when formulating their research question and approach. The relationship between the EE and TOK often comes into play in the reflections section of the EE, where you consider how your research connects to the ways of knowing and areas of knowledge explored in theory of knowledge.
What is an Internal Assessment?
An internal assessmentis any assessment task marked by your teacher in your school. Internal assessments assess your knowledge and skills within your individual subjects through subject-specific tasks.
The internal assessment task varies in form and length depending on the subject, with the most common types being oral presentations, lab reports, and investigations.
For example:
- In IB sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), the IA often takes the form of a lab report, where you conduct an experiment, collect data, and analyze their findings.
- In Math, the IA typically involves a mathematical investigation where you explore a concept, model a real-world situation, and analyze their results.
- In Humanities and Social Sciences, such as History, Economics, and Psychology), the IA may involve an investigation, a case study, or a research project based on primary or secondary sources.
While the IA varies by subject, many have a specified word count, often ranging between 700 and 2,500 words.
What Are the Major Differences Between EE and IA?
While both the Extended Essay (EE) and Internal Assessment (IA) are significant components of the IB Diploma Program, they differ greatly in structure, scope, academic demands, and assessment.
Structure and Length
The extended essay requires you to write a formal research paper of 4,000 words, excluding bibliography and appendices. It is an independent, research-driven task where you must design a research question, conduct thorough research, and write a detailed analysis.
The internal assessment varies by subject, with most having a word count between 1,500 and 2,500 words.
While the EE is a broad, independent project, the IA focuses on subject-specific tasks, such as lab reports, oral presentations, or investigations that align with the content covered in the course.
Nature of the Task
The extended essay allows you to explore a specific topic of interest in-depth, which requires a significant amount of independent research and critical analysis. The task is self-directed, and you have the flexibility to choose a subject and topic that resonates with you.
This high level of autonomy encourages personal engagement, as you have the freedom to define your research question and determine the direction of your investigation.
In contrast, the internal assessment is more structured and tied directly to the curriculum. You write internal assessments as part of classroom-based work or laboratory experiments.
While the EE is an opportunity to engage in academic inquiry, the IA focuses on applying subject knowledge to specific problems, with greater guidance from teachers throughout the process.
Assessment Criteria
The essay assessment focuses heavily on the research question, the depth of research, analysis, and academic writing. Teachers evaluate the essay based on how well you formulate your question, the originality of your approach, and the coherence of your argumentation.
Additionally, the extended essay requires you to reflect on your research process and the challenges you encountered during research and writing.
In contrast, teachers assess internal assessments based on methodology, application of subject knowledge, and presentation. The IA tasks usually involves less original research and more focus on demonstrating the ability to apply learned concepts to a given task or experiment.
Effort vs. Reward
The extended essay demands significantly more time and effort compared to the internal assessment.
Ideally, writing the extended essay involves extensive research, drafting, revisions, and reflection, all of which require careful planning over several months.
Since the EE accounts for a larger portion of the overall IB score, it also carries a higher level of responsibility and requires students to work independently.
The internal assessment, while important, is a task more integrated into the course and often gets regular feedback from teachers. Internal assessments are more manageable because you can complete them within the academic year.
While internal assessments can be demanding, they don’t usually require the same level of independent research as the extended essay.
Evaluation and Feedback
IB examiners evaluate extended essays externally, meaning that the grading process is independent of the school, based primarily on a global standard. Students typically receive fewer feedback opportunities compared to the IA, as examiners give feedback at milestones and after submitting drafts.
In contrast, the subject teacher generally grades the IA, with some moderation by the IB to ensure consistency in grading across schools. Teachers provide more frequent and structured feedback throughout the IA process, which allows students to adjust their work as they progress.
The ongoing support offered by teachers makes IA less stressful in terms of managing the task but doesn’t offer the same level of independence as the EE.