The Extended Essay

What is the Extended Essay?

• The extended essay is compulsory for all students taking the Diploma Programme and is an option for course students.

• A student must achieve a D grade or higher to be awarded the Diploma.

• The extended essay is externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB Diploma.

• The extended essay process helps prepare students for success at university and in other pathways beyond the Diploma Programme.

• The extended essay is a piece of independent research on a topic chosen by the student in consultation with a supervisor in the school.

• It is presented as a formal piece of sustained academic writing containing no more than 4,000 words accompanied by a reflection form of no more than 500 words.

• It is the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.

• Students are supported by a supervision process recommended to be 3–5 hours, which includes three mandatory reflection sessions.

• The third and final mandatory reflection session is the viva voce, which is a concluding interview with the supervising teacher.

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