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The interim reflection of the Extended Essay (EE) shows how your investigation is progressing and how your argument is developing. This reflection is completed after you have written a significant portion of your essay and focuses on how your analysis and approach are evolving. This guide will outline what makes a good interim EE reflection and will also provide an example, so that you can see what a strong interim reflection looks like.
EE Interim Reflection
What is the EE interim reflection?
The IB EE interim reflection is a short written response completed as part of the RPPF Form after you have carried out substantial research and begun writing your essay. It is usually written after your second formal meeting with your supervisor. Its purpose is to show how your thinking has developed, how your main argument is coming together, and what challenges you have encountered during the research and drafting stages. This reflection focuses on how you are interpreting your sources, making analytical decisions, and adjusting your approach when difficulties arise. You should explain what has changed since your first reflection, what is currently working well, what problems you are facing, and what you plan to improve before writing your final draft of the EE.
What type of questions will my supervisor ask?
Below are examples of questions your EE supervisor may ask you during the second interview:
How has your argument or focus changed since the first reflection?
What are your main findings so far?
Which sources have been most useful, and why?
Are there any gaps or weaknesses in your evidence?
What challenges have you faced while writing your draft? What steps do you plan on taking to overcome these challenges?
What do you still need to improve before the final draft?
Example of a good interim EE reflection
Since my first reflection, my focus has shifted from examining whether Instagram increases anxiety to analyzing how social comparison with peers contributes to anxiety symptoms among adolescents. Reviewing psychological studies showed that comparison, rather than overall screen time, is a key factor, which led me to reorganize my essay to focus on behaviours like viewing curated images and tracking likes.
One challenge I faced was integrating statistical data with qualitative evidence from interviews and case studies. Initially, my draft relied too heavily on statistics without connecting them to theory. After discussing this with my supervisor, I began linking data to psychological concepts like self-esteem and social comparison, improving the depth of my analysis. I still need to evaluate conflicting viewpoints, as some studies emphasize offline factors more than social media.
Moving forward, I will revise paragraphs to better compare perspectives, strengthen my introduction and conclusion, and ensure that each section supports my research question clearly.
This is a good interim reflection for the following reasons:
Shows development of argument – The student explains how their focus shifted from simply Instagram usage toward social comparison between peers and how this affected the structure of the essay.
Demonstrates critical use of sources – The student reflects on how different types of evidence were used and how they improved their analysis by connecting data to theory.
Acknowledges writing challenges honestly – The student identifies weaknesses in integrating statistical data with theory and evaluating opposing viewpoints adequately.
Explains clear next steps – The student outlines specific plans to revise paragraphs, strengthen comparisons, and improve overall coherence, showing meaningful progress toward the final draft.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the EE interim reflection. 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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