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Whether you're a prospective IB student or have already started your studies, you've likely come across the Extended Essay, a key component of the IB Diploma Programme. Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about the EE.
IB Extended Essay Guide
What is the Extended Essay?
The Extended Essay is a 4000-word research paper in which students come up with a research question to investigate any topic of their choice that relates to one of the six IB subject groups (or a combination of subjects). It offers a valuable opportunity to explore a topic of personal interest and develop essential academic research and writing skills that can be highly beneficial for university life. The Extended Essay is assessed externally and is a mandatory component of the IB Core. Not only is it required to pass the IB DP, but it also contributes 3 additional points to the student's IB score along with TOK. To learn more about how exactly the EE and TOK impact your IB score, click here.
While the Extended Essay (EE) is an individual project, students are assigned a personal supervisor due to its scope. The EE supervisor provides essential support and guidance throughout the entire EE journey. EE supervisors are subject teachers from your school who specialize in the field you’ve chosen for your essay. They offer detailed advice and suggestions for improvement to help ensure your essay meets high academic standards. To learn more about the EE Supervisor and in what ways they can help, click here.
Extended Essay Timeline
The EE writing process begins with the selection of the subject in which a student wishes to pursue their EE. Students are then assigned a supervisor who helps them come up with an appropriate research question. This is also when students have their first interview with their supervisor, based on which they write their First Reflection.
Students then begin researching their topic, reviewing sources, and creating outlines. It is at this stage that students often refine their research question to a more suitable one.
After gathering a sufficient amount of information, knowledge and source materials, students begin writing their first full EE draft. The second interview takes place after a significant amount of work has been completed but before the first full draft is finished. Based on this interview, students complete their Second (Interim) Reflection.
After submitting their first full EE draft, students receive feedback from their supervisor, based on which they complete their final EE version. For an added layer of support, you can also upload your EE to Clastify's review service to receive personalised feedback and guidance from our official IB examiners.
Once the final version is complete, students participate in the last interview, based on which they write their Final Reflection (Viva Voce).
How to write your Extended Essay?
Pick a topic you’re passionate about: Choose a subject you enjoy and a topic that genuinely interests you. You’ll be spending a lot of time researching and writing, so curiosity and motivation are key. Your topic should be narrow enough to allow deep exploration, but broad enough to find sources and develop an argument.
Formulate a focused research question: Your entire essay revolves around your research question, so take time to craft it carefully. It should be specific, clear, and allow for in-depth investigation and analysis. Avoid yes/no questions or overly descriptive ones. Instead, aim for questions that invite interpretation and evaluation. Click here and here to learn about how to craft a strong research question and explore research question examples.
Understand what’s expected: Before you begin writing, make sure you know what the EE requires. Click here for the specific EE requirements for each subject.
Create a clear outline: An outline will help organise your thoughts, make the writing process smoother, and keep your essay focused.
Start writing early: Don’t wait until your research feels “complete” to start writing. Begin drafting sections early, even if they’re rough. Writing helps clarify your thinking and highlights areas where you need more research.
Look for inspiration: One of the best ways to write a strong EE is to take inspiration from high-scoring essays. So make sure to visit Clastify's extensive collection of Extended Essay exemplars.
Edit, revise, and refine: Your first draft is not your final draft. Give yourself time to revise for clarity, coherence, and flow. Make sure each paragraph supports your research question and contributes to your overall argument. Also, check for grammar, spelling, formatting, and proper citations. You can also use our AI Review tool for minor corrections while you write your EE. Once your draft is complete, you can also submit it for review by an official IB examiner through Clastify.
Make the most of your supervisor: Your EE supervisor is there to guide and support you. Meet regularly, come prepared with questions, and be open to feedback. They won’t write the essay for you, but they can help you stay on track, refine your focus, and think critically about your work.
Extended Essay Structure
The content and requirements of Extended Essays vary largely across subjects and hence we recommend that you check out our wide array of EE exemplars for subject-specific examples. Nevertheless, all EEs share the same overall structure:
A cover page with the essay's topic and research question included
A contents page
An introduction where the student introduces the research question, outlines the thesis, provides necessary explanations, background information and a justification of pursuing the topic
The essay's body is where the main analysis and exploration of the research question takes place
A conclusion where the student summarises the main findings of the essay and formulates an answer to the research question
A bibliography listing all sources used in the essay
Apart from the Extended Essay itself, students are also required to participate in 3 mandatory interviews with their supervisor, based on which they produce 3 reflections in which they reflect on the EE-writing process. The reflections will be reviewed by IB examiners along with the EE itself.
How to come up with a strong research question
Identify your interests: Start by selecting a subject you enjoy and are familiar with. The Extended Essay requires significant time and effort, so choosing a topic you're genuinely interested in will make the process more engaging and manageable. Avoid selecting a subject you haven’t studied, as this adds unnecessary difficulty.
Conduct preliminary research: Explore credible sources like academic journals and books, and databases to understand the existing research in your chosen area. If your EE revolves around primary data then consider the feasibility of accurate data collection. This will help you identify gaps, refine your focus, and assess the viability of your topic.
Formulate a research question: Craft a clear, focused, and analytical research question. It should be specific enough to allow in-depth investigation but broad enough to sustain a 4,000-word essay. Ensure there are sufficient sources available to support your analysis.
Review available sources: Verify that you can access a diverse range of credible sources. Strong research depends on incorporating multiple perspectives and evidence to build a balanced argument.
Meet with your supervisor: Discuss your draft question with your supervisor early. They can help refine your question and ensure it meets IB requirements. Don’t worry if your topic evolves. Refining your question is a natural part of the process.
For more specific information and examples of strong research questions, click here.
How is the Extended Essay assessed?
As mentioned, the EE is marked externally by IB examiners selected by the IBO. Starting from 2027, the new EE guide outlines that students may score up to 30 points across five EE criteria. While grade boundaries may vary between exam sessions, they generally average as follows:
Grade | Points |
|---|---|
A | 25-30 |
B | 19-24 |
C | 12-18 |
D | 5-11 |
E | 0-4 |
The grade obtained from the Extended Essay contributes to the number of IB core points that a student may receive. For detailed information on how the EE impacts your IB score, check out our EE/TOK Matrix Post.
Extended Essay deadline
While the IB does not specify an official deadline, the final EE version must typically be submitted no later than around 2 months before the exam session, with specific dates varying between schools, each setting its own internal deadlines. To learn more, click here.
We hope that you now have a thorough understanding of the IB Extended Essay. Be sure to check out our IB EE exemplars for valuable EE resources. Good luck!
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