The Extended Essay
All Diploma candidates undertake independent research on a topic of special interest and write an Extended Essay of approximately 4,000 words. This is excellent preparation for the kind of thesis they will be required to write at university and enables them to become acquainted with research and academic writing skills.
Students may choose to write an Extended Essay based on any of their six subjects but should choose to work in an area they find interesting. For example, a student who chooses history must be interested in working with primary sources. Those selecting a science topic are strongly advised to undertake experimentally based investigations rather than library-based surveys. Under most circumstances, students are encouraged to confine their choices to the subjects they are studying.
When students have chosen the subject area of the extended essay, they begin to discuss their proposed topic with their appointed supervisor. The supervisor will assist in the structuring of the student essay and will advise the pupil what to do for research and how to collect data. Students are expected to submit a detailed plan, including a specific research question for discussion. As an independent piece of research, it is critical that students takes a self-disciplined approach and adhere to deadlines. The extended essay is to be submitted during October seminar week in grade 12.
There are 3 points available out of the 45 points maximum for the extended essay, TOK essay and TOK presentation. The CAS diary has no grade as such, although no Diploma will be issued without this. The remaining 42 points come from a maximum of 7 points for each of the 6 subjects studied from the IB Subject Groups.
Students may choose to write an Extended Essay based on any of their six subjects but should choose to work in an area they find interesting. For example, a student who chooses history must be interested in working with primary sources. Those selecting a science topic are strongly advised to undertake experimentally based investigations rather than library-based surveys. Under most circumstances, students are encouraged to confine their choices to the subjects they are studying.
When students have chosen the subject area of the extended essay, they begin to discuss their proposed topic with their appointed supervisor. The supervisor will assist in the structuring of the student essay and will advise the pupil what to do for research and how to collect data. Students are expected to submit a detailed plan, including a specific research question for discussion. As an independent piece of research, it is critical that students takes a self-disciplined approach and adhere to deadlines. The extended essay is to be submitted during October seminar week in grade 12.
There are 3 points available out of the 45 points maximum for the extended essay, TOK essay and TOK presentation. The CAS diary has no grade as such, although no Diploma will be issued without this. The remaining 42 points come from a maximum of 7 points for each of the 6 subjects studied from the IB Subject Groups.
Updated Sep'22