An extended essay is an independent, self-directed, 4,000 words research project that requires you to conduct in-depth research and write a comprehensive report of your findings. Your school sends the essay to IB for external assessment on a scale of 0 to 34 by examiners appointed by IB itself.
IB gives you up to 40 hours to write an extended essay and attend all the reflection sessions. That’s enough time to plan your research and writing process, as well as meetings with your supervisor.
How Do I Write an Extended Essay?
To write an extended essay, choose a subject, select a topic, develop a research question, pick your supervisor, plan your writing, and complete your reflections.
Choose a Subject
The easiest way to choose an IB subject for an extended essay is to determine what your interests are.
Your interests, particularly what you love to study and explore, are what will lead you to pick the right subject for the research project.
Don’t shy away from asking for help from your teacher or classmates if you’re stuck on subject selection. Your teacher and fellow students can offer valuable insights that you can use to choose the right subject.
Select a Topic
IB gives you the freedom to choose an extended essay topic of your preference. Since you can write only one extended essay, it’s important to choose a topic that interests you – or one that falls within a theme you’ve always wanted to explore.
Topic select isn’t always as straightforward as scraping an idea out of a book. You have to brainstorm and engage in preliminary research to come up with an interesting topic that fits within the scope of the extended essay.
- Determine your passion outside your classroom.
- Write a list of potential topics that match your passion within the subject of your choice.
- Narrow your choice to one interesting topic that’s relevant to your area of investigation.
Ensure the topic you choose allows you to express originality based on ideas that are beyond common knowledge.
Develop a Research Question
You need to develop a research question, which will be the focus of your entire essay.
According to IB guidelines for the extended essay, the research question doesn’t necessarily have to be in the form of an actual question. You only need to ensure the question is worth asking, clear, concise, detailed, and linked to the topic.
Your focus should be on research question that you can answer comprehensively within the scope of the essay. That’s why it’s important to conduct preliminary research first to determine whether there’s enough information to warrant further exploration of the research question.
Pick Your Supervisor
In the context of an extended essay, a supervisor is someone who can offer guidance, support, and valuable feedback throughout your writing journey.
When it comes to picking a supervisor, choose a teacher who specializes in the subject area you want to explore. Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable for providing specific, constructive feedback as you write your essay.
Don’t worry if your preferred subject teacher isn’t available because teacher from a closely related field can still offer excellent support. For example, if you’re writing about Visual Arts, a History or Language teacher might also be a great fit.
Conduct In-depth Research
Thorough research is the foundation of a strong Extended Essay. Once you’ve explored your topic in depth, the structure, case studies, and any experimental elements will naturally align during the writing phase.
- Revisit the EE subject guidelines to clarify whether your essay requires primary sources, secondary research, or a combination of both.
- Check with your supervisor about how recent your sources should be because, depending on the subject, current data or studies might be essential, especially in fields like science or economics.
- Consider the type of data your essay needs, which may be original data, surveys, analysis of existing statistics, or an exploration of different perspectives through opinion-based sources.
The nature of your research should reflect the subject area, your specific topic, and any guidance your supervisor provides.
Expect to consult a variety of sources to find the most relevant and credible information. Your final bibliography should clearly show the breadth and depth of your research efforts and demonstrate your commitment to academic inquiry.
Structure and Write Your Essay
While the exact structure may vary depending on the subject area, most extended essays follow a commonly accepted format to ensure clarity and logical flow. The typical components include:
- Research Question
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Body of the Essay
- Conclusion
- References/Bibliography
- Three Reflection Entries
Adhering to this structure helps you organize your ideas effectively and guides the reader through your argument. Keep in mind that the specific content and emphasis within each section will depend on your chosen subject and research approach.
Once you’re confident in your research and outline, put together your researched materials into a comprehensive extended essay.
Don’t get caught up in perfect grammar, punctuation, or hitting the word count. Focus on turning your outline into a complete piece. Let your ideas flow freely and bring your argument to life on the page.
After completing your draft, take time to revise and refine it. Carefully proofread to catch spelling mistakes, grammar issues, factual inconsistencies, and any formatting or citation errors. Whenever possible, have your supervisor review your work to provide feedback and help polish it before the final submission.
Complete Your Reflections
The extended essay reflection is a key part of the EE process assessed under Criterion E: Engagement.
You’ll record the reflection (meetings) in the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF). The Reflections on Planning and Progress Form includes three structured reflections written by the student throughout their research journey, and it’s worth 6 out of the total 34 marks.
The purpose of the reflection is to help students show their personal engagement with the topic, demonstrate how they have developed as a researcher and thinker, and provide insight into the intellectual and methodological journey behind the essay.