Click here to explore thousands of examiner marked IA, EE and TOK exemplars!
Formatting the table of contents for your Extended Essay (EE) is a critical step in ensuring your research is presented as a formal academic paper. A well-structured table of contents can improve readability and give the reader a sense of what's to come.
Extended Essay Table of Contents Guide
Essential Formatting Tips
To maintain a professional academic format, follow these guidelines:
Mandatory page numbering – Your table of contents should clearly list page numbers for every section. Page numbers should ideally be provided in the bottom right corner of the page.
Standard academic layout – We recommend using a font size of 12 and 1.5 line spacing to assist examiners with on-screen marking.
Anonymity – Do not include your name, supervisor’s name, or school name anywhere in the file, including in the table of contents. This helps ensure grading is done fairly.
What to Include in the Table of Contents
The table of contents should reflect the essay's overall structure. Include the following standard sections, each with relevant subsections as you see fit based on the topic of your EE:
Introduction – This section should outline the focus and line of argument of your research.
Body of the essay – You should use subheadings to organize your argument and help the reader navigate complex data or evidence.
Conclusion – This final summative section must relate directly back to your research question and explain any strengths and limitations of your investigation.
References/Bibliography – A comprehensive list of all cited materials from primary and/or secondary sources.
Subject-Specific Considerations
While the basic structure is used across EEs, different subjects may have unique structural requirements for the essay that should be reflected in your table of contents. Some examples are outlined here:
Sciences and Geography – These often utilize specific sections for methodology, data presentation, statistical analysis, and evaluation of strengths and weaknesses.
Mathematics – These EEs often use specific subheadings to explain complex theorems or raw data analysis through theoretical or practical approaches.
Language B – If your essay includes foreign language titles or quotations, ensure these are handled according to subject-specific rules (e.g. include translations where necessary), though the table of contents itself should remain in the language of registration.
Final Checks
Word count – Remember that the table of contents itself is not included in the final 4,000-word count.
Appendices – If you use an appendix for supplemental data (like raw mathematics data or full interview transcripts), it should be listed in the table of contents, but be aware that examiners are not required to read it.
We hope this post helped you learn more about how to create an effective EE table of contents. 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.
The Fast Track To Your
Best IB Coursework & College Essays
All content on this website has been developed independently from and is not endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. International Baccalaureate and IB are registered trademarks owned by the International Baccalaureate Organization.