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History is a dynamic subject that allows you to explore the complexities of the human past through the critical investigation of various sources. Whether you are looking at the causes of a major conflict or the impact of a specific political reform, keep reading for our suggestions on how to write an extended essay that will meet the requirements in the rubric for the new IB assessment criteria for first assessment in 2027.
History 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 historical inquiry. In History, 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 History often includes the use of maps and tables to illustrate historical 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, narrow historical event or period rather than a broad, general era.
Explicitly define your research methods, such as the evaluation of specific primary and secondary sources, and explain why they are the best fit for your inquiry.
Include a "Methodology" section that details exactly how you gathered your sources and the rationale for your historical approach.
Ensure every map or table you include features essential elements such as a clear title and appropriate labels.
Organize your essay with informative subheadings that follow a logical historical argument, such as "Causes," "Impact," and "Significance".
A good example can be seen here.
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding – 6 points
To score well here, you must demonstrate a deep grasp of the historical 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 History includes a mix of primary sources like original documents or diaries and secondary sources like academic journals or history books. Your understanding is also shown through how effectively you use key historical concepts to frame your investigation.
For a maximum of 6 points:
Consistently use technical historical terms, such as "hegemony," "totalitarianism," or "suffrage," to demonstrate professional subject knowledge.
Explain the theoretical models or historical frameworks (like Marxism or Feminism) that underpin your specific investigation.
Incorporate secondary sources like scholarly articles and specialized historical texts to provide a broader context for your primary source findings.
Use and correctly define key historical concepts such as "causation," "consequence," or "significance" 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.
This EE effectively meets the above.
Criterion C: Analysis and line of argument – 6 points
This criterion focuses on your ability to break down historical 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 History, this involves processing your evidence through appropriate lenses, which might include comparing different historical interpretations or evaluating the weight of various causal factors. 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 historical analysis techniques, such as identifying patterns in primary documents or comparing historiographical viewpoints.
Maintain a clear line of argument by using transitional sentences that explain how each piece of evidence helps answer your original research question.
Apply critical analysis to determine the significance of historical events or the reliability of a source 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.
Click here to read a good example of this.
Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation – 8 points
This criterion requires a balanced review of your findings in a wider historical context. You must discuss the significance of your results, weighing them against established historical theories or diverse perspectives. Evaluation is crucial; you need to honestly appraise your methodology and sources, identifying specific strengths and limitations, such as author bias or gaps in the historical record. 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 historical literature to discuss how your specific case study aligns with or challenges broader historical trends.
Critically evaluate your research methodology by identifying specific limitations, such as source reliability or the scope of your investigation, and their impact on your results.
Discuss your findings from multiple perspectives, considering how different groups (e.g., leaders, common citizens, or different nations) might have experienced the same historical event.
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.
This EE is a strong example.
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 demonstrate transfer of learning and explain how skills such as critical source evaluation or information literacy can be applied 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 primary sources, and how you solved them.
Reflect on how your understanding of a historical concept, such as causation or perspective, evolved from your initial brainstorm to the final analysis.
Detail exactly how the skills you acquired, such as critical source analysis or structured argumentation, will benefit you in future university studies or life.
Explain how changes in your perspective during the research process, such as recognizing the complexity of a historical debate, impacted your final decision-making.
Discuss the impact of the three mandatory reflection sessions and how your supervisor's prompts helped you refine your historical inquiry.
Click here for an example of a strong reflection.
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the IB History 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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