ESS IA word count and page limit [2026 updated]

Are you starting to write your ESS IA and you want to make sure that your report meets the formal requirements? Keep reading to learn about the word limit and its suggested division between the sections. 

Environmental Systems and Societies IA word count and page limit 
 

The purpose of the IA is to focus on a particular aspect of an ESS issue and to apply the results to a broader environmental or societal context. The report must be no longer than 3000 words. There is no page limit. The recommended structure based on the assessment criteria is: Title Page, Introduction, Research question, Background information, Hypothesis, Strategy, Variables, Equipment, Method, Results, Conclusion, Evaluation, References. Keep in mind that the following structure is just a suggestion and many students have had high-scoring IAs even with slightly modified formats. 
 

Introduction 

Start your ESS IA with an introduction of around 200 words. The introduction should begin by outlining the main environmental issue being studied, explaining its significance and potential impacts. It should then highlight why this topic is relevant on both a personal and global scale, discussing the motivation behind choosing it. Finally, a brief overview of the chosen method should be provided, justifying why it is the most appropriate approach for investigating the issue.
 

See this exemplar.  
 

Research question

Simply state your research question. Make sure to include the dependent and independent variables as well as units if necassary. 
 

Check here for inspiration. 
 

Background information 

The background section should be around 300 words. The background section should provide a detailed explanation of the main topic, including relevant scientific concepts and context. If the study involves an organism, demographic group, or specific sampling locations, their selection should be justified based on their relevance to the research question. The scientific background of the environmental issue should be clearly explained, ensuring that all information directly relates to the investigation. Where applicable, relevant diagrams should be included with proper captions and citations, and in-text citations should be used throughout to support key points. 

This exemplar demonstrates a good background section. 

Check out our free ESS IA exemplars

View all exemplars on Clastify

Grade received: 7

How has the adoption of the “Renewable Energy Sources Act” affected the CO₂, CO, SO₂, PM₁₀ and NOₓ emissions in Germany over time?

Grade received: 7

An Investigation of Singapore’s Proportion of Different Education Levels and its effect on Fertility Rate across five-year intervals

Grade received: 6

How much does gender affect someone’s ecological footprint in Prince William County?

View hundreds of other ESS IA exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: 7

To what extent does gender affect one’s view of climate change’s existence and the threat it poses to humanity?

Grade received: 7

To what extent does household income influence the level of awareness, in terms of knowledge and practice, on the disposal of medication wastage among the students of M College Banting?

Grade received: 7

How does proximity to roads impact the heavy metal concentrations found in soils in Germany?

Grade received: 7

An investigation into the effects of intensive grazing on soil productivity

View hundreds of other ESS IA exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: 7

An investigation of the extent to which cattle ranching correlates with the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and an analysis of the consumer attitudes towards this issue.

Grade received: 7

How does increased acidity (6.5, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5) impact the germination (sprout length) of Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum) after 10 days?

Grade received: 5

How does the acidity of water, measured by pH, affect the growth of plants, measured by plant height and health?

Grade received: 7

How has the adoption of the “Renewable Energy Sources Act” affected the CO₂, CO, SO₂, PM₁₀ and NOₓ emissions in Germany over time?

Grade received: 7

An Investigation of Singapore’s Proportion of Different Education Levels and its effect on Fertility Rate across five-year intervals

Grade received: 6

How much does gender affect someone’s ecological footprint in Prince William County?

View hundreds of other ESS IA exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: 7

To what extent does gender affect one’s view of climate change’s existence and the threat it poses to humanity?

Grade received: 7

To what extent does household income influence the level of awareness, in terms of knowledge and practice, on the disposal of medication wastage among the students of M College Banting?

Grade received: 7

How does proximity to roads impact the heavy metal concentrations found in soils in Germany?

Grade received: 7

An investigation into the effects of intensive grazing on soil productivity

View hundreds of other ESS IA exemplars on Clastify

Click to view exemplars

Grade received: 7

An investigation of the extent to which cattle ranching correlates with the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon and an analysis of the consumer attitudes towards this issue.

Grade received: 7

How does increased acidity (6.5, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.5) impact the germination (sprout length) of Cinnamon Basil (Ocimum basilicum) after 10 days?

Grade received: 5

How does the acidity of water, measured by pH, affect the growth of plants, measured by plant height and health?

Grade received: 7

How has the adoption of the “Renewable Energy Sources Act” affected the CO₂, CO, SO₂, PM₁₀ and NOₓ emissions in Germany over time?

Grade received: 7

An Investigation of Singapore’s Proportion of Different Education Levels and its effect on Fertility Rate across five-year intervals

Grade received: 6

How much does gender affect someone’s ecological footprint in Prince William County?

Hypothesis 

This section should be no longer than 100 words. The hypothesis section should clearly state the expected outcome of the experiment based on prior knowledge and research. It should be directly linked to the research question, outlining the predicted relationship between variables. If applicable, both a Null hypothesis, which assumes no significant effect or relationship, and an Alternative hypothesis, which predicts an expected outcome, should be included. 

Read this to get a glimpse of the matter. 
 

Strategy  

This section should be around 300 words. The strategy section should describe an existing or developing approach aimed at addressing the environmental issue, ensuring it directly connects to the research question. It should identify key stakeholders involved, such as governments, businesses, and communities, outlining their goals and interests. Additionally, any economic, social, political, or environmental tensions resulting from the strategy should be discussed, explaining how these conflicts impact its effectiveness. Finally, the strategy should be linked to the broader environmental issue using relevant scientific principles to provide context and justification.

You can refer to this text. 
 

Variables

This section should be around 100 words. The variables section should clearly define the independent variable, including its units, and the dependent variable, specifying how it will be measured. Additionally, a table of control variables should be included, detailing each variable, how it is controlled, and why controlling it is necessary to ensure a fair and reliable investigation.

See this exemplar. 

Equipment 

This section should be no longer than 100 words. The apparatus and materials section should provide a detailed list of all equipment and materials used in the experiment. Any relevant instruments should include their measurement uncertainties to ensure accuracy. If standard solutions are used, their concentrations should be specified. For studies involving surveys, this section is not required.

Refer to this example. 

Method 

This section should be around 200 words. The method section should outline each step of the procedure exactly as it was carried out, using a clear and precise narrative tone without first-person language. Each step should be detailed enough to allow for replication of the experiment. If a survey was conducted, the structure of the questions and how they were administered should be explained.

Check out this this example. 

Results 

This section should be around 1,000 words. The data analysis section should begin with a table of raw data collected from the experiment, properly formatted with a number, caption, and centered data entries. If applicable, qualitative observations should also be included. A sample calculation should be provided for each type of data processing (e.g., averages, standard deviation), followed by a processed data table with a caption and centered data. Graphs of processed data against the independent variable should be included, with clear titles, labeled axes with units, and figure captions. Below each graph, a brief analysis should interpret the data in relation to the research question, using numerical values to highlight key trends and discussing the implications of the findings.

Click here for inspiration. 

Conclusion 

A thorough conclusion should be around 500 words long. The conclusion should begin by restating the aim of the experiment to remind the reader of its purpose. The trends observed in the graphs should then be analyzed in relation to the research question, discussing whether the question was fully or only partially answered. The hypothesis should be evaluated, stating whether it was supported or rejected. If applicable, the R² value should be discussed to determine the strength of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. Any anomalies in the data should be identified, with possible explanations for their occurrence.

Refer to this example. 

Evaluation 

The evaluation should be around 200 words long. In the evaluation section, critically assess the results of the experiment, identifying any strengths and weaknesses in the methodology and data. Discuss areas where the experiment could be improved, suggesting possible changes or adjustments for future studies. Include a table outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the experiment, along with specific recommendations for improvement to enhance the accuracy and reliability of future experiments.

Refer to this example. 

Be careful, not everything is included the word count! Make sure to deduct the following:  

1. Acknowledgments
2. Contents page
3. Diagrams 
4. Labels — of five words or fewer 
5. Headings on diagrams — of 10 words or fewer  
6. Tables of statistical data
7. Equations, formulae and calculations 
8. Citations (which, if used, must be in the body of the commentary) 
9. References (which, if used, must be in the footnotes/endnotes) 
    

We hope that you found this guide useful, for more tips head to our blog. Also, do not forget about the numerous ESS exemplars available on the Clastify website!