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IB Extended Essay
A Grade 11 ISM Introduction
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Aims of the Session…

A reminder of what the Extended
Essay is all about…

Reduce any confusion…

Give you a timeline…

Help you get started…

Answer any questions.
+ What is the Extended Essay (EE)?
…a short reminder

An opportunity to produce a piece of academic investigative
work on a topic that interests you…

Length 4000 words (not including appendices, illustrations,
bibliography, footnotes, endnotes or abstract)

With an abstract within 300 words

Viva-voce

Your EE should represent approx. 40 hours of work
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Aims of the EE

Independent research on a focused topic

Develop research and communication skills

Experience the excitement of intellectual discovery
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Past students say the EE turned out to be the single most
valuable part of their IB diploma
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What it’s worth?
The Diploma
Diploma award details…

Six subjects… up to 7 points
each gives a total of 42 points

Satisfy all core requirements –
CAS, ToK, EE

EE + Theory of Knowledge =
up to 3 Core bonus points

The Diploma is awarded for 24
points and above if…

Total Diploma = 45 points
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At least 12 points from HL
subjects
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At least 9 points from SL
subjects
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No 1s no more than one 2
and no E grades for ToK &
EE
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The ToK & EE Score Grid
An E grade in
Both EE and ToK
= failing
condition for
diploma
Any E grade in
either ToK or EE
is a failing
condition unless
there is a total
diploma subject
score of 28 or
more (instead of
usual 24)
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Assessment & Grade Boundaries…
 30
 25
 17
– 36 = A

Externally Assessed
– 29 = B
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11 criteria

Maximum possible score = 36

General criteria – but subject specific
guidelines

Predicted grade only awarded by
supervisor
– 24 = C
9
- 16 = D
0
–8=E
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Choosing…
Subject
Topic
Title
• One you are already studying
• Enjoy / Good at
• Future choices - university
• Think about an area within the subject that interests you
• Talk to teachers / friends / family
• Read / Preliminary research
• Focus – narrow area in depth
• 4000 words sufficient to investigate
• Resources available – discuss again
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Timeline
 Grade
11

Today - Kick off

31st Jan – 4th Feb – Lunchtime
info sessions by department –
attend 2 min!
 Grade
12

August – Meet advisor & discuss
issues and progress

9th March – deadline for 2
proposals submitted to me
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September – EE writing day –
compulsory
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31st March each student
assigned advisor
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November – Full draft submitted
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January – Final EE submission
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Late January – Viva Voce
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February final EE & IB paperwork
completed – submission to IB
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April – May - Meet advisor and
– plan and research pre summer
break.
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Problems with Extended Essays…

Don’t pace your self with
research and writing… too
little to late!
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Don’t meet advisor regularly
or follow their advice!
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Too few or poor quality data
sources
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Essay lacks personal
engagement – merely a
compilation of source material
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How to succeed…
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The Portal –
 High School / IBoffice / EE
 50 Excellent EEs
 EE Guides (by subject)
 Check the Rubric (twice)
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HSMC –
 Archive – all A and B grade
EEs for the past 5 years
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Teachers –
 Expertise and advice
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The IB Says…
 ‘The more background you
have in the subject, the more
likely you’ll write a good EE.
Choosing to write your EE in a
subject that is not being
studied often leads to lower
marks.’
 ‘Make sure your research
question is not too broad, too
vague, too narrow, too difficult
or inappropriate. A good
research question is one that
asks something worth asking
and that is answerable within
40 hours/4,000 words.’
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EE Taught Subjects at ISM…
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Languages (A or B)
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Biology
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Environmental Systems &
Societies
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History
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Mathematics
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Physics
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Psychology
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Theatre
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Visual Arts
Business & Management
Chemistry
Computer Science
Economics
Film
Geography
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Additional IB EE Subjects…
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Dance
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Social & Cultural Anthropology
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Design Technology
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World Religions
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Human Rights
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IT in a Global Society
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Music
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Peace and Conflict Studies
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YOU NEED SPECIAL
PERMISSION TO WRITE YOUR
EE IN ANY OF THESE
SUBJECTS
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Philosophy
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Politics
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What Now?...
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Attend 2 information
lunchtime sessions (31st Jan –
4th Feb)
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Talk to your teachers
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Read through IB EE guide
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Begin to think about topics
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Don’t just sit there and wait for
something to happen!
 Complete
and
submit 2 separate
EE proposal forms
(again found on the
portal in the High
School / IB Office /
EE folder)
 Deadline: 9th
March
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Assigning EE Advisors…
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120 Diploma Students
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No Staff member more than 4
EE students
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Departments review proposals
and select the best
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The better the proposal the
more likely to get first choices
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If you have a great idea – sell it
well on the proposal!
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Feeling Better Now?
Any
Questions?...