The IB Extended Essay (EE) is one of the most important pieces of independent academic work you complete during the IB Diploma Programme. Because the EE is a long, research-based project, feedback is crucial for improving your academic writing. In this post, we'll go over some tips on how to ask for feedback, interpret your supervisor’s comments, and implement them effectively in your work to ensure you get a top score on the EE.
Ask for feedback early – Start seeking feedback as soon as you have a research question or a rough outline. Getting feedback on your initial ideas helps identify weaknesses in your investigation before you spend time on writing and developing your essay. It is better to ask for feedback early to catch any errors before you start writing the bulk of your essay. The EE first reflection is a great way to do this, as it involves an interview with your EE supervisor, where both you and your supervisor can ask each other questions about the initial stages of the EE-writing process.
Be specific – When approaching your supervisor, ask targeted questions such as “Does my argument flow logically?” or “Is my research question clear and focused?” Specific questions ensure you receive realistic insights rather than vague opinions or general statements on how to improve.
Choose the right people – When asking for feedback, you need to make sure that the person reviewing your essay is familiar with the EE guidelines and requirements, as well as the course content for the subject you are writing your EE in. For example, if your EE is in Chemistry, you should ask your Chemistry teacher to review your essay. Asking for feedback from your supervisor rather than family members or friends can help ensure your research and writing are in line with IB expectations.
Be open to criticism – Keep an open mind to constructive criticism of your essay. While it would be ideal to only hear good things about your work from your supervisor, the purpose of feedback is to improve your essay to its best possible level. As such, there will most likely be times when your supervisor or teacher comments on missing aspects of your essay or focuses in-depth on errors you may have made. It is important not to get discouraged when this happens – instead, you should be open to hearing about any mistakes made and should ask questions about how to fix these errors.
Ask clarifying questions – If a comment is unclear, don’t hesitate to ask for examples or explanations. Clarifying doubts regarding feedback ensures you can fully understand what your supervisor is telling you to improve for your final submission. It is better to ask your supervisor to explain their comments if you are unsure than to implement their feedback in an incorrect manner.
Prioritize the most important feedback – Focus first on suggestions that strengthen your argument, improve the essay's structure, or address major gaps in research. Minor issues like grammar and formatting can be fixed later once the main essay is thorough. You should aim to start implementing the more time-consuming feedback first so that you have sufficient time before the deadline to make the necessary changes.
Re-evaluate after revisions – After applying feedback, review your essay to ensure the improvements you implemented have strengthened your argument and improved clarity. Sometimes revisions introduce new issues, so another round of reflection or feedback may be necessary. The EE interim reflection is a great way to have a midpoint check-in during the EE-writing process. You will have a second interview with your supervisor, where you can now discuss new topics, such as challenges faced in the research process or if any further changes need to be made to your essay draft.
If you want to receive detailed feedback on your Extended Essay, make sure you check out Clastify's EE review service. You will receive a personalized review for your EE from an official IB examiner who is familiar with the EE grading criteria and can help give you insider tips on how to improve your work to get the maximum score. Instead of guessing what the IB wants, you will receive clear feedback, detailed suggestions, and a predicted score that allows you to tailor your work to the best standard possible. With our maximum 3-day turnaround, AI assistant to help you understand examiner comments, and full money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied with your review, Clastify is here to support you every step of the EE journey!
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about getting feedback for the IB Extended Essay. 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.