What is the Extended Essay?
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Mandatory component of the IB Diploma for all candidates
An in-depth study of a limited topic that is overseen by a teacher supervisor
Sufficiently focussed to allow candidates to examine an issue or problem in enough detail to apply
research methodologies
Provides an opportunity for the IB Diploma candidates to engage in independent research
Topic must be clearly related to an IB subject taught at GFSS
Presented as a formal piece of scholarship; Length: 3200-4000 words
Requires approximately 40 hours of independent work by the candidate
Externally assessed by IB after it has been read and assessed by teacher supervisor
Score is combined with TOK essay (may contribute up to 3 bonus points)
Objectives of the Extended Essay that each candidate must demonstrate upon completion:
 The ability to plan, organize and complete a research project that demonstrates university level
analysis and thinking; intellectual curiosity, initiative and insight
 The formulation of a focussed research question for a specific subject
 Successful location of appropriate materials to help answer the research question
 The development of ideas and hypotheses and make a reasoned argument from the research question,
based on the materials and/or data that is researched
 The successful preparation and submission of a formal paper, with all of its required parts
 Correct citation of all sources used in the research process
 A clear understanding of the context, further areas of investigation and any unanswered questions in
the research
Other Important Things to Know:
 Candidates are responsible for finding a teacher supervisor and booking all meeting times with that
teacher supervisor in order to complete the EE
 Teachers are not expected to take on more than 3 student candidates
 Teacher supervisors may rescind their position if the candidate does not respect the teacher’s time and
work schedule and honour all booked appointments
 Candidates are responsible for the completion of the EE, not the teacher supervisors, as well as the
completion of all internal school requirements/forms
 The EE does not form part of the normal class time and candidates are expected to take the initiative
on their free time
 Candidates are expected to be working on the EE from May, Year 1 to January, Year 2, and meet all
internal school deadlines in order to maintain their IB Diploma status
 It is highly recommended that the EE be written in one of the candidate’s examination subjects
 Plagiarism is a very serious offense. Any essay that is found to be in contradiction of IB’s Academic
Honesty Policy is an automatic failure of the EE and it will not be submitted to IB
 Candidates who do not complete a Final Exit Interview (Viva Voce) with their teacher supervisor have
not fully completed the EE process and this will be noted on the evaluation sheet sent to IB
 Candidates must purchase the EE Student Guide for $10 at the Introductory Workshop in April, Year 1