Are you looking for extended essay topics to save on brainstorming time or find an interesting theme you can explore right away? You’ve come to the right place.
The extended essay requires you to pick one subject, choose a topic, develop a research question based on the topic, and write a comprehensive report based on your research.
In this article, we give you a list of topics and ideas across different subjects to make it easy for you to cut down the brainstorming time and get straight to research and writing.
Extended Essay Topics and Ideas for IB Approved Subjects
The extended essay topics below are on the different subjects approved by IB for the diploma program. Here you’ll find ideas for English, Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, ESS, Film, Geography, Global Politics, History, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, and Visual Arts.
English
The English subject focuses on the analysis of literature or language use. The subject requires you to explore themes, style, or context in written texts. Your essay may involve critical interpretation of novels, plays, poetry, or non-literary works.
- To what extent did the poetic structure of heroic couplets evolve from the Neoclassical to the Romantic period, and what does this reveal about shifting literary values?
- How did colonial rule influence the thematic and stylistic development of English-language poetry in colonized regions between the 19th and 20th centuries?
- In what ways has globalization contributed to the transformation of English into a global lingua franca, and how has this affected its grammatical and lexical norms?
- How does the use of euphemism in English reflect societal attitudes toward taboo, and what impact does it have on the structure and semantics of the language?
- What are the key historical and sociolinguistic factors contributing to the evolution of English spelling from the 15th century to the modern era?
Biology
A Biology extended essay involves experimental or research-based investigation into living organisms or biological processes. You’ll need to explore a focused scientific question using data collection, analysis, and evaluation. Here are some relevant topic ideas to consider:
- How do age and gender affect the density and distribution of photoreceptor cells in the human retina?
- What impact does rising ocean temperature have on the biodiversity and pigmentation of coral reefs in [specific location or reef system]?
- How do different types of antioxidants mitigate oxidative stress in human cells, and what is their comparative effectiveness?
- What is the relationship between population density and total population size in urban areas of [country or region], and how does this affect resource distribution?
Business Management
Your Business Management EE will center on analyzing real business issues or decision-making processes. Should you decide to work on this subject, you’ll use business tools and theories to evaluate strategies within a specific organization or industry.
- How effective is employee motivation at [Company X] in improving productivity and job satisfaction?
- What impact does customer service quality have on customer loyalty at [Company X]?
- To what extent does corporate social responsibility (CSR) influence the brand image of [Company X]?
- How effective is the leadership style of senior management at [Company X] in achieving organizational goals?
- What role does supply chain management play in maintaining competitive advantage at [Company X]?
Chemistry
The subject Chemistry in an extended essay explores chemical phenomena through experimental design and data interpretation. Topics, such as the ones suggested below, often require precise lab work and application of theoretical principles.
- What are the effects of acid rain on the pH levels of soil and plant health in urban public gardens and green spaces in [your neighborhood or city]?
- How does the chemical composition of lava and magma rocks vary between basaltic, andesitic, and rhyolitic types collected from different tectonic settings?
- Which chemical compounds are most frequently associated with triggering immune responses in common food allergies?
- What are the benefits and risks associated with the use of fluoride in the municipal water supply of [community name], based on local health and environmental data?
- How do the chemical residues in organic versus conventionally grown (pesticide-treated) foods affect human metabolic and detoxification pathways?
Computer Science
The Computer Science subject focuses on computational thinking and problem solving through programming or theoretical analysis. You can investigate topics such as algorithms, data structures, or systems design.
- To what extent do Support Vector Machines outperform Artificial Neural Networks in predicting ATP tennis match outcomes based on historical player performance data?
- How does MP3 compression compare to OGG in terms of reducing audio file size while preserving perceptual audio quality and algorithmic efficiency?
- How does the binary search algorithm perform in locating specific values across data sets of varying sizes compared to linear and interpolation search methods?
- To what extent is Depth First Search more efficient than Breadth First Search in pathfinding applications for robot motion planning in complex environments?
- How does hashing compare to binary search in terms of time complexity and efficiency when locating values across differently sized data structures?
Economics
For Economics, you have to analyze economic issues, theories, and models to evaluate real-world trends or policies. Your essay might include data and diagrams to assess microeconomic or macroeconomic questions. Here are some topics and ideas you can explore in your report:
- What is the relationship between rising unemployment rates and economic contraction during recessionary periods in developed economies?
- How do international sanctions and trade embargoes affect the operational costs and profitability of global trucking and logistics companies?
- What are the economic implications of increased taxation on multinational corporations compared to religious organizations in [specific country or region]?
- What economic consequences might a “hard” Brexit have on regional development, employment, and trade in Scotland and Wales?
- How would a transition from fossil fuels to solar energy affect the GDP, labor markets, and fiscal stability of oil-dependent Middle Eastern economies?
- To what extent do deforestation and anthropogenic disasters contribute to persistent poverty levels in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Environmental Systems and Societies
ESS is an interdisciplinary subject that examines environmental issues from scientific and societal perspectives. You can explore topics on sustainability, ecosystem interactions, or human impact using data and case studies.
- In what ways has human intervention in [specific city, country, or continent] contributed to ecological imbalances, and what are the long-term environmental consequences?
- What is the impact of urbanization on the decline of bee populations in [specific city], and how does this affect local biodiversity and food security?
- How have healthcare policies in [nation X] influenced demographic trends, particularly population growth or decline, and what role does public health play in these shifts?
- What impact has the landfill in [specific location] had on the surrounding terrestrial ecosystem, including soil health, vegetation, and local wildlife?