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Global politics is a dynamic subject that explores the interactions between people, power, and political processes across the world. Whether you are examining contemporary conflicts or global human rights, keep reading for our suggestions on how to write an extended essay that will meet the rubric from the new IB assessment criteria for first assessment in 2027.
Global Politics 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 political inquiry. In Global Politics, 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 Global Politics often includes the use of diagrams and tables to illustrate political 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 political issue or case study rather than a broad, general theme.
Explicitly define your research methods, such as qualitative case studies or discourse analysis, and explain why they are the best fit for your inquiry.
Include a clear explanation of your methodology that details exactly how you gathered and analysed your evidence so the research process is transparent.
Ensure every diagram or map you include features essential elements: a clear title, appropriate labels, and a comprehensive key where necessary.
Organize your essay with informative subheadings that follow a logical political argument, such as "Case Study Analysis," "Theoretical Perspectives," and "Conclusion".
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding – 6 points
To score well here, you must demonstrate a deep grasp of the political 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 Global Politics includes a mix of secondary academic sources and potentially primary data like interviews or official documents. Your understanding is also shown through how effectively you use key political concepts to frame your investigation.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Consistently use technical political terms, such as "soft power," "sovereignty," or "non-state actors," to demonstrate professional subject knowledge.
Explain the theoretical models or political frameworks (like realism, liberalism, or feminism) that underpin your specific investigation.
Incorporate secondary sources like academic journals, NGO reports, or international treaties to provide a broader context for your specific case study.
Use and correctly define key political concepts such as "power," "rights," or "justice" 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.
Criterion C: Analysis and line of argument – 6 points
This criterion focuses on your ability to break down political information into essential elements to reach relevant findings. You must maintain a clear, reasoned thread that logically connects your research question to your evidence and final conclusions. In Global Politics, this involves processing your evidence through appropriate lenses, which might include comparing different political viewpoints or analyzing the impact of specific policies. 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 political analysis techniques, such as identifying patterns in diplomatic responses or evaluating the effectiveness of a policy.
Maintain a clear line of argument by using transitional sentences that explain how each section of analysis helps answer your original research question.
Apply critical analysis to determine the significance of political events or the influence of specific leaders rather than just describing what happened.
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.
Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation – 8 points
This criterion requires a balanced review of your findings in a wider political context. You must discuss the significance of your results, weighing them against established political theories or diverse perspectives. Evaluation is crucial; you need to honestly appraise your research materials, identifying specific strengths and limitations, such as the bias of a source or the scope of your case study. 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 your specific case study aligns with or challenges broader political trends.
Critically evaluate your research methodology by identifying specific limitations, such as the reliability of available data or the subjectivity of certain sources.
Discuss your findings from multiple perspectives, considering how different stakeholders (e.g., governments, citizens, or international organizations) might interpret the same political 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.
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 critical thinking or information literacy 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 finding unbiased sources, and how you solved them.
Reflect on how your understanding of a political concept, like power or sovereignty, evolved from your initial brainstorm to your final analysis.
Detail exactly how the skills you acquired, such as analyzing complex data or structuring a formal argument, will benefit you in future studies or life.
Explain how changes in your perspective during the research process, such as recognizing the complexity of a global conflict, impacted your final decision-making.
Discuss the impact of the three mandatory reflection sessions and how your supervisor's prompts helped you refine your political inquiry.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the IB Global Politics 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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