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IB Business and Management is a dynamic subject that allows you to explore the interrelationships between organizations, individuals, and the global environment. Whether you are looking at corporate culture or marketing innovations, keep reading for our suggestions on how to write an extended essay that will meet the rubric in the new IB assessment criteria for first assessment in 2027.
Business and Management EE Criteria and Checklist
You can receive as many as 30 marks for your extended essay based on the following criteria:
Criterion A: Framework for the essay - 6 points
This criterion evaluates whether your research question, chosen research methods, and structural conventions provide an effective foundation for your business inquiry. In Business and Management, your framework must be clearly stated and focused, ensuring the topic is manageable within the 4,000-word limit. You need to explain the suitability of your specific research methods, the tools used to collect data, and how they connect to the overall methodology or rationale of the subject. Effective structure in Business and Management often includes the use of diagrams and graphs to illustrate organizational data, all of which must be clearly labelled and referenced within your text.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Frame your research question to focus on a specific, contemporary business issue or case study rather than a broad, general industry.
Explicitly define your research methods, such as interviews, surveys, or focus groups, and explain why they are the best fit for your specific inquiry.
Include a "Methodology" section that details exactly how, when, and where you gathered your data so the research process is transparent and replicable.
Ensure every diagram or graph you include features essential elements: a clear title, appropriate labels, and a comprehensive legend or key.
Organize your essay with informative subheadings that follow a logical business argument, such as "Literature Review," "Data Analysis," and "Evaluation".
A good example can be found here.
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding - 6 points
To score well here, you must demonstrate a deep grasp of the business subject matter and the academic context of your research. This involves the accurate and consistent application of subject-specific terminology to show you understand the underlying concepts. You are expected to use relevant research materials, which for Business and Management often includes a mix of primary data and secondary sources like academic journals or financial reports. Your understanding is also shown through how effectively you use key business concepts to frame your investigation.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Consistently use technical business terms, such as "supply and demand," "corporate culture," or "stakeholder," to demonstrate professional subject knowledge.
Explain the theoretical models or business tools (like the marketing mix or motivational theories) that underpin your specific investigation.
Incorporate secondary sources like government publications, news articles, or existing case studies to provide a broader context for your findings.
Use and correctly define key business concepts such as "innovation," "strategy," or "change" as the core ideas around which your research is built.
Synthesize information from different sources into your own words, avoiding over-quoting to ensure your own understanding of the topic is evident.
A good example is seen here.
Criterion C: Analysis and line of argument - 6 points
This criterion focuses on your ability to break down business data into essential elements to reach relevant findings. You must maintain a clear, reasoned thread that logically connects your research question to your data analysis and final conclusions. In Business and Management, this involves processing your evidence through appropriate lenses, such as comparative analysis or evaluation of the impact of specific strategies. Every point of analysis must be backed by evidence from your research and lead the reader toward a convincing answer to your research question.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Process your evidence using appropriate business techniques, such as SWOT analysis, financial ratio analysis, or identifying patterns in stakeholder responses.
Maintain a clear line of argument by using transitional sentences that explain how each set of data helps answer your original research question.
Apply critical analysis to determine the significance of business decisions or the influence of specific factors rather than just describing results.
Focus your analysis strictly on addressing the research question, setting aside peripheral information that does not support your central argument.
Establish mini-conclusions at the end of major sections to summarize what you have discovered so far and how it links to the next part of your essay.
A strong example can be read here.
Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation - 8 points
This criterion requires a balanced review of your findings in a wider business context. You must discuss the significance of your results, weighing them against established business theories or diverse perspectives. Evaluation is crucial; you need to honestly appraise your methodology and sources, identifying specific strengths and limitations, such as potential bias or sample size. Finally, you should summarize your findings into a final conclusion that considers broader implications and notes any unresolved questions.
For a maximum of 8 points:
Compare your research findings with established literature to discuss how typical or unusual your results are within the business world.
Critically evaluate your research methodology by identifying specific sources of error, such as respondent bias or data limitations, and their impact on your results.
Discuss your findings from multiple perspectives, considering how different stakeholders (e.g., employees, managers, or shareholders) might interpret the same issue.
Provide a summative conclusion that directly answers your research question based only on the evidence you have presented in the essay.
Propose specific, realistic improvements or extensions to your research that could address the limitations you identified during your evaluation.
A good example can be seen here.
Criterion E: Reflection - 4 points
This criterion assesses your personal growth and the research process based on a 500-word reflective statement on the Reflection and Progress Form (RPF). You should evaluate how the experience has impacted you as a learner, providing specific examples of how you responded to challenges or how your perspective changed. Reflection should show evidence of transfer of learning and explain how skills like time management or critical thinking can be used in other contexts. These reflections are written after three mandatory sessions with your supervisor, including a final viva voce interview.
For a maximum of 4 points:
Use your Researcher’s Reflection Space (RRS) to log specific challenges faced during the process, such as difficulty accessing a business site, and how you solved them.
Reflect on how your understanding of a business concept, like organizational culture, evolved from your initial brainstorm to the final analysis.
Detail exactly how the skills you acquired, such as data interpretation or conducting professional interviews, will benefit you in future university studies or life.
Explain how changes in your perspective during the research process, such as realizing the complexity of a corporate merger, impacted your decision-making.
Discuss the impact of the three mandatory reflection sessions and how your supervisor's prompts helped you refine your business inquiry.
A strong reflection can be seen here.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the IB Business and Management criteria. For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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