The Extended Essay (EE) is a compulsory component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP), which requires students to undertake a self-directed academic research project and present it in the form of a 4,000-word paper. The final work is externally assessed by examiners appointed by the IB and is marked on a scale from 0 to 34. These scores relate to a band from E to A.

Criterion A: Focus and method (6 marks)
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding (6 marks)
Criterion C: Critical thinking (12 marks)
Criterion D: Presentation (4 marks)
Criterion E: Engagement (6 marks)

Steps to conducting your EE research

• Choose an available Diploma Programme subject, a relevant topic and undertake some background reading on it.
• Formulate a preliminary research question. Try to incorporate an IB command term in the research question if possible.
• Draw up an outline plan for the research and writing process. This should include a timeline.
• Begin to identify how and where they will gather source material for their research.
• Identify which system of academic referencing they will use, ensuring that this meets the minimum requirements for the IB.
• Set deadlines for themselves that are realistic and take into consideration the school’s own internal deadlines.
• Plan a structure for the essay. This may change as the research develops but it is useful to have a sense of direction from the start.
• Undertake some preparatory reading in light of the proposed research question. If students discover that it will not be possible to obtain the evidence needed in the time available, the research question should be changed.
• Upon approval from the school supervisor, carry out the research. The material collected should be assembled in a logical order, linked to the structure of the essay, and focused on the research question posed.

Choosing your EE topic

Generate Ideas Based on Your Interests

Choose a subject you’re genuinely interested in and passionate about. It could be a subject related to your future career aspirations or something you’ve always been curious about. Ensure that your topic is specific enough to allow for in-depth academic research but broad enough to find ample resources for analysis.

Conduct your initial research

Gather relevant sources and materials to support your research question. Utilise various resources such as academic journals, public databases, and primary sources. Take detailed notes and be critical of the information you gather. You should also consider different perspectives on your topic.

Tip: Here are some useful apps for your data collection

• Zotero: A powerful research tool that helps you collect, organize, cite, and share your sources, including webpages, articles, books, and more. 
• Mendeley: A reference manager that lets you save and organize research papers, create citations, and collaborate with others in your field. 
• Easybib: EasyBib is the world’s largest bibliography maker and citation machine. The integrated toolbar will let you cite websites with one click. 

Formulating your research question

When formatting your research question for an Extended Essay (EE), it’s crucial to ensure that it’s clear and concise, effectively conveying the focus of your investigation. Avoid vague or overly broad questions, as they can make your research and analysis less coherent. Consider the following key factors:

• Specificity: Craft a question that precisely addresses the subject of your investigation. 
• Focus: Keep your question centred on the primary theme or policy you intend to investigate. 
• Open-Endedness: While your question should be specific, it should also allow for in-depth analysis and exploration. 
• Relevance: Ensure that your question aligns with the subject area for which you’re writing the EE. Confirm that it fits within the subject’s guidelines. 
• Researchable: Your question should be feasible to research and investigate using available sources and appropriate methodologies. 
• Advisor’s Input: Seeking feedback from your EE advisor or supervisor can be immensely valuable. They can provide insights that will help refine your question further. 

Sample Research Questions

Coming up with a strong research question is often the hardest part. It should be focused, analytical, and interesting enough to keep you motivated over months of work. Here are some examples across popular subjects:

Economics

• To what extent has the Singapore government’s Nutri-Grade policy been effective in reducing sugar consumption? 
• How has the ECB’s 2024 interest rate cut influenced household borrowing in the eurozone? 

Chemistry

• What is the effect of temperature on the efficiency of natural vs synthetic catalysts in hydrogen peroxide decomposition? 
• How does pH affect the rate of hydrolysis of aspirin? 

Mathematics

• How can game theory be applied to predict outcomes in professional football penalty shootouts? 
• To what extent can the logistic map model explain population growth patterns? 

History

• To what extent did propaganda contribute to the consolidation of Nazi power between 1933 and 1939? 
• How significant was the Cuban Missile Crisis in shaping Cold War diplomacy? 

Conducting your research

Gather relevant sources and materials to support your research question. Utilise various resources such as books, academic journals (JSTOR, Google Scholar), online databases, and primary sources.
Academic Journals offer peer-reviewed articles from scholars. Online Databases like JSTOR and PubMed provide access to a wide array of research papers. Government Publications and Reports provide insights into social issues and policies.
Primary Sources, including interviews and surveys, offer firsthand accounts or original data that can provide insights into your research when there is insufficient literature on the subject.

As you gather sources and materials, take detailed notes to record key findings, quotes, and relevant information. Keep track of your sources using a citation management tool such as Zotero, Mendeley, Easybib. Be critical of the information you gather, evaluating the reliability, validity, and relevance of each source to your research question.

Tip: Regularly save your extended essay on a cloud platform like Google Docs or OneDrive to avoid losing progress in case of computer issues. This way, even if your computer crashes, your progress will be safe.

Writing the First Draft

Before diving into writing, create a detailed framework outlining the structure of your essay. This will help you organise your thoughts and arguments cohesively. Include an introduction, body paragraphs discussing your research findings, and a conclusion summarising your key points. Perfection is not necessary at this point and you should focus on writing down as much information as you can.

Make sure each section flows logically and supports your thesis. Instead, think of this draft as the core structure that will propel your essay forward. A practical approach is to create a plan from your research, outlining the main elements for each paragraph.

We recommend breaking down the writing process into separate paragraphs and setting achievable goals for each one. This will help you steadily make progress week by week and make the task of writing a 4,000-word essay seem less overwhelming.

To save time, include links to the original articles instead of providing full references, as you might make changes to your essay’s content and references as you go along.

Reviewing Your First Draft

During your meeting with your supervisor, the goal is to review your initial draft. Evaluate which parts are strong, where more exploration is needed, and which aspects require rethinking. This can be split into several sessions; for instance, you could look at your introduction first, then the main body’s four sections, and finally your conclusion. This will reshape your goals moving forward and give you specific subsections to work on.

While editing your first draft, don’t hesitate to delete, rephrase, or move parts you’ve written. This will help shape your extended essay into its final form. You might even adjust your question slightly if necessary. Embrace these changes, document them, and reflect upon them in your EE reflections. These are steps toward a complete final version and will get you many extra marks for the EE. Stay positive, as every change gets you closer to your finished essay.

Writing Your Reflections (Criterion E)

The EE isn’t just about the final paper — it’s also about the journey. You’ll need to submit three short reflections on the RPPF (Reflections on Planning and Progress Form). These can make the difference between a B and an A.

Think of them as snapshots of your growth:

• Initial Reflection: Why this topic? What drew you to it? How did you settle on your research question? 
• Interim Reflection: What challenges did you face (dead-end sources, failed experiments, lack of data)? How did you adapt? 
• Final Reflection: Looking back, how has this process shaped your thinking? What would you do differently if you had more time? 

Pro tip: Be specific and personal. Instead of “I faced challenges with data collection,” write “My initial survey plan failed because the response rate was too low. After discussing with my supervisor, I switched to government statistics — this taught me the importance of flexibility in research.”

That kind of honesty shows genuine engagement.

Editing and Proofreading

Editing and proofreading are essential stages in the writing process to ensure the clarity, coherence, and accuracy of your essay. After completing your first draft, allocate sufficient time to thoroughly review and revise your work.

Start by focusing on grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Use grammar checkers and proofreading tools to identify and correct any mistakes. Pay attention to the clarity and coherence of your arguments. Ensure that each paragraph flows logically from one point to the next, with clear transitions between ideas. 

Finally, familiarise yourself with the IB Extended Essay guidelines and requirements. Pay attention to formatting, citation styles, word count, and other specifications outlined by the IB. Adhering to these guidelines is essential for earning maximum points on your essay.

✨ Struggling to refine your research question or write your analysis? At QE, we guide IB students step by step through their EE and IA — from brainstorming research questions to polishing the final reflections. Reach out to us to get personalised support and make your EE stand out.