What Is the IB Economics Extended Essay?

The IB Extended Essay (EE) is a stumbling block for many students. Characterised as a 4,000-word independent research paper, the EE seeks to provide an in-depth analysis of a topic selected by the individual student in a subject of their choosing.

One of three mandatory components, the EE sits alongside both the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) in the IBDP Core. A student’s combined scoring in both the EE and TOK can contribute between 0-3 points towards their overall diploma score.

A standard EE requires roughly 40 to 50 hours of work, spread across several months. While candidates are supported in their work by a supervisor, a maximum of three sessions are permitted. Consequently, IB students are often left wanting for greater levels of feedback or direction with regard to their Extended Essay.

Put simply, the IB’s EE is one of, if not the most, challenging aspect of a student’s IBDP. It necessitates university-level independent research, critical analysis, strong essay-writing skills, and a sustained line of argument. Additionally, the EE is not the only piece of coursework, with IAs and other such projects required, as well as the need for continuous revision. As a result, IB students can easily become overwhelmed. However, there are ways to maintain a level-head.

Choosing Your Research Question

Those who choose to complete their Extended Essay in Economics must be aware of certain subject-specific characteristics of the IB Economics EE before attempting any research or writing. Of paramount importance is the RQ, or research question. A well-developed RQ can function as a guiding light during the composition of an IB Economics EE. Similarly, a poorly conceived research question can be a dead weight. Students must think carefully about what their research question might be, while keeping in mind two key factors.

The first is that, whatever topic they choose to examine in the field of Economics, it must relate to economic information, policies, outcomes or events that are no more than five years old. The IB Economics EE is not a history paper. Students are not discussing the history of a particular school of thought within the study of Economics. Nor are they to write about the success and/or failure of a particular policy from the past. Topics must be relatively contemporaneous.

The second is that candidates must ensure that they do not duplicate work across their Economics EE and IA. Though there can be broad overlaps in topics and syllabus concepts, there must be no repetition in research questions, data, or written content.

Example Research Questions

Below are examples of four strong research questions across a variety of IB Economics topics.

Microeconomics (market failure): How effective are minimum unit pricing policies on alcohol in reducing negative externalities of consumption in Scotland and Wales since 2020?

Like any strong IB Economics EE research question, this student has incorporated a specific context, time period, and testable economic theory. It also uses the analytical phrasing of ‘How effective…’, rather than inviting a simple yes or no answer.

Macroeconomics (inflation): To what extent did energy-price increases contribute to inflation in the United Kingdom between 2021 and 2022?

This research question has an adequately narrow focus, centering on the evaluation of distinct macroeconomic theories or policies within the defined context of the United Kingdom between 2021 and 2022.

International economies (exchange rates): To what extent did controlled currency depreciation of the Turkish lira improve Turkey’s export competitiveness and domestic price stability between 2020 and 2025?

The above resembles a strong research question as the student is focusing on a specific, evaluative economic relationship that necessitates an acknowledgement of real-world data and core syllabus models.

Development economies: To what extent has investment in renewable energy infrastructure contributed to economic development in Kenya between 2020-2025?

Once again, this research question allows a student to apply core-economic theories to a real-world issue. It is again data-driven and sufficiently open-ended.

IB Assessment Criteria for the Economics EE

All EEs are assessed across five distinct criteria:

Criterion A: Focus and Method
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding
Criterion C: Critical Thinking
Criterion D: Presentation
Criterion E: Engagement

For Economics EE specifically, students are expected to provide both a strong research question and an explicit justification of their methodology. It is imperative that students communicate their topic accurately and effectively in order to ensure sustained focus throughout their essay.

In order to achieve the highest marks in their Criterion B, IB Economics students must utilise subject-specific terminology and demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the economic theories and concepts that are relevant to their research question.

For Criterion C, students must critically evaluate their research question using appropriate evidence and research. For Economics learners, this requires a thorough deconstruction of data and a clear link between their findings and research question.

In the updated syllabus structure, Criterion D is now the highest-weighted criterion, and worth up to 8 marks. In order to score highly, Economics students must critically evaluate their findings. Rather than just restating their results, IB candidates are expected to critique their sources, acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of their methodology, and synthesise a well-founded conclusion.

For their Criterion E, IB Economics students must ensure that their final reflection evidences a detailed evaluation of their decision-making and personal growth, as opposed to merely a rudimentary summary of what they did. For example, acknowledging the hurdles in their research, changes in perspective, and the development of their critical thinking and data-handling skills.

Writing Clearly and Concisely

Although an Economics essay, candidates should call upon their knowledge of English composition and be aware of the need for clear and concise expression. Due to the complexity of the task, sentences and paragraphs of the IB Economics Extended Essay, or any IBDP Extended Essay, for that matter, can run on considerably. When this happens, writing can become needlessly complex and difficult to follow. Consequently, IB learners, whether completing their EE in Economics or not, must be sure to take care when composing their text. Clarity and brevity often go hand-in-hand. Short to medium length sentences and paragraphs in which information is shared clearly enhances a text’s readability. Not only does this show confidence in one’s understanding of the topic being discussed but may also engender the marker towards the candidate.

IB Economics students are also encouraged to use hedging language within their responses. This means utilising cautious or tentative words such as ‘suggests’ or ‘indicates’, rather than phrases like ‘clearly shows’. This helps to avoid over-generalisations, show critical thinking, and reflect real-world economic uncertainty

Further, the more complex pieces of punctuation—a semicolon, for example—should largely be avoided, as the margin of error for students in using such elements of written English is far higher than exists for the comma and full stop.

Finally, IB Economics students must ensure that each diagram is directly referenced and clearly, rather than left as a visual standalone.

Start Your Economics Extended Essay with BartyED

The IB Economics Extended Essay is a daunting piece of coursework. Significantly more challenges abound than can be expressed in a blogpost. Consequently, those studying IB Economics and wishing to complete their EE in the subject can benefit greatly from the guidance provided by an experienced tutor. At BartyED, our team of expert tutors have guided innumerable students through the inherent difficulties of the IB EE: from the initial selection of a strong research question, to the drafting, writing, and review stages. Rather than simply a final proofread, our tutors are committed to providing comprehensive support across the entire process of a candidate's IB Economics EE.

If you believe you or your child could benefit from bespoke tutoring in the IB Economics EE, or any other aspect of learning, reach out today by phone, email, WhatsApp, or via the form below.