IB English Extended Essay Writing Guide

The Extended Essay (EE) is one of three compulsory components on the IBDP, alongside TOK and CAS. Over the two year programme, students are expected to spend time independently researching and producing a formal academic essay of up to 4,000 words. This is then marked out of 30, and contributes to the 3 core points available via a combined matrix with the TOK.

From 2027, students are able to pick between two research pathways for their EE: subject-focused, and interdisciplinary. In this post, we will cover specifically the English Language A EE, an example of a subject-focused pathway. This post is a complete guide to the English Language A EE, meaning that it will include a detailed discussion of the two pathways, the assessment criteria, topic choice, research question, structure and the reflection process.  

Subject-Focused or Interdisciplinary: Which Pathway Is an IB English EE?

While previous years had the option of the World Studies EE, this has now been replaced. The IB’s EE is now structured across two pathways: subject-focused and interdisciplinary. 

A subject-focused EE is fairly self-explanatory: if you’re writing about a topic within English, or Maths, or History, or Biology as an individual subject, then you are writing a subject-focused EE.

Meanwhile, students pursuing the interdisciplinary pathway combine approaches and frameworks from across disciplines. For example, an EE that combines History and English would be interdisciplinary, as would one that combines Biology and Economics. 

To make the project as effectively managed as possible, candidates should select their pathway early on in the first year of the IBDP, even if they have yet to determine their research question.  

What Are the Five Assessment Criteria for the Ib English Extended Essay

The new guide assesses the EE out of 30 marks across five criteria, each anchored to a guiding question examiners apply.

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Extended Essay Criteria and Guiding Questions
Criteria
Guiding Question
Framework for the essay (6 marks)
 Do the research question, research methods, and structural conventions provide an effective framework for the essay?
Knowledge and understanding (6 marks)
 Does the student demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the subject matter?
Analysis and line of argument (6 marks)
 Does the student analyse the information presented and produce a line of argument?
Discussion and evaluation (8 marks)
 Does the student discuss the findings and evaluate the essay?
Reflection (4 marks)
 Does the student evaluate the effect of the EE learning experience on them as a learner?

It’s worth noting that Discussion and evaluation carries the most marks. Students should be sure that they have engaged in a full discussion of their findings, as well as evaluating their essay and its limitations. Strong analysis but thin conclusions will not help you score highly on the EE. 

In the context of an English Language A EE, Knowledge and understanding requires students to accurately employ literary and linguistic concepts in appropriate vocabulary. While demonstrating knowledge of the text is valuable, it’s not enough to score high marks. 

Finally, the fifth assessment criterion, Reflection, is assessed via the 500-word reflective statement. This is where many students underperform, so it’s essential to understand what you should be including in this section.

What Is the Reflection Process and Viva Voce

Reflection carries 4 marks and involves a mandatory formal process. Unfortunately, many students treat this criterion as an afterthought, resulting in needlessly lost marks. 

A student’s three mandatory formal reflection sessions with their supervisor provide an opportunity to review their engagement with the research, assess whether their choices are working, and decide whether changes are needed. 

In fact, the final session is the viva voce: a 10 to 15 minute interview between the student and their supervisor. This is designed to verify academic integrity and affords the student space to reflect on the EE process as a whole. 

After the viva voce has been completed, students write a 500-word reflective statement on the Reflection and Progress Form (RPF). This statement should not be a summary of the essay. Instead, it must be an evaluation of the student as a learner, including what they’ve learned about research, what they would do differently, and how the skills can be applied beyond the EE. 

With this eventual reflective statement in mind, it’s essential that every student keeps detailed notes on each meeting with their supervisor. Tracking what was discussed, advice given and how it was implemented will be very helpful when sitting down to write the statement. Another tip is to record citations and sources throughout the research process, not just at the end. This will allow the candidate to see which elements of their research have been effective, and which they would like to improve upon, should they engage in academic research in the future. 

How to Structure an IB English Extended Essay

Firstly, there are some required elements for any Extended Essay, regardless of the subject or pathway. These are a title page, a contents page, and references/bibliography. No EE will be accepted for submission without these elements. 

In terms of the structure of an IB English EE specifically, think of it as an extended version of a standard five-paragraph essay. You need an introduction to establish your topic and frame your argument, and your conclusion must answer your research question directly, as well as provide an evaluation of your argument and its limitations. This is essential for the Discussion and evaluation criterion. 

Your body paragraphs are where many students struggle to effectively structure an English EE. 

There are a few ways you might do this, depending on personal preference. Here are some structuring tips:

Bullet point outline

  • Summarise each paragraph into one line that defines the idea or sub-topic behind it.

  • Expand each paragraph summary by adding 2 extra bullet points:

    • Evidence, data, or a quote.

    • How the example relates to the idea you are trying to convey.

  • Expand your paragraph bullet points by adding in other ideas or points that are directly relevant to the overall idea behind it.

Post-it outline

  • Put all the points you want to discuss onto post-it notes.

  • You can proceed by grouping them under different categories, ideas, and themes.

  • Reshuffle the notes until you have found the best outline.

Word budgets

  • Write out each topic sentence, and estimate how many words you’ll likely need to thoroughly convey your argument. 

  • For reference, each body paragraph should likely be no longer than 300 words. After that, the readability of your essay will decrease and make your argument harder to follow. 

Ultimately, candidates have a strict 4,000-word limit. This covers the introduction, body, conclusion and any quotations in the essay. The title page, contents page and bibliography are not included in the word count. 

As you progress through your English EE, you may wish to experiment with different outlining methods, and we’d encourage you to do so. The EE is a process, and that will inevitably entail some trial and error. Think of your outline as a working document, not a fixed plan.

How to Choose an IB English Extended Essay Topic

The main piece of advice centres on what not to do: do not pick a topic that you don’t find interesting.

In English, that means that if you didn’t enjoy reading the book, then there’s no point in writing about it for your EE. Bestselling author Nassim Nicholas Taleb writes in the opening of Antifragile:

‘If the subject is not interesting enough for me to look it up independently, for my own curiosity or purposes, and I have not done so before, then I should not be writing about it at all, period.’

That’s good advice for your EE. Remember, you will work on this project over two years, and spend up to 40 hours researching it.

Once a book for your English EE has been selected, it’s time to scope your project. A 4,000 word essay on ‘Social Expectations in Victorian Literature’ is unlikely to prove insightful or achievable. 

The IBO subject brief outlines a more focused option: How effectively does Oscar Wilde both present and critique social expectations in The Importance of Being Earnest?

This example gives a specific author and text, as well as a lens (presentation and critique) through which to examine the theme, thus making it a useful starting point when coming up with an appropriate research question. 

How to Write an IB English Extended Essay Research Question

First of all, understand that the EE research question should be narrow, as this will lead into a well-defined argument and thesis statement. 

Too often, IB students do not form or clearly state a hypothesis in their introduction. Otherwise, they choose a research question that is too broad. 

If you don’t have enough to talk about in the abstract of your English extended essay, there’s a good chance that your argument isn’t defended well or is too broad.

Example of a bad research question: What themes are discussed in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey?

An improved version: How does J.D. Salinger explore themes of alienation and loneliness in The Catcher in the Rye and Franny and Zooey?

Remember that the research question is assessed as part of the first assessment criterion, where examiners ask if the question, methods and structural conventions together provide an effective framework for the EE.

A good research question for a Language A EE directs the student towards close reading, and pays attention to technique, language, and contextual understanding. You shouldn’t be able to answer it with a summary or list of ideas explored in the text. 

For a Language A EE, the primary source is always the literary text itself; secondary sources (such as journal articles, essays from other critics) should be used to support the argument rather than drive it. If you need a place to start looking in your research, a thorough search of JSTOR and Google Scholar tends to be most fruitful.

How to Make Relevant Analysis for an IB English Extended Essay

For Criterion C, an IB Extended Essay on English Literature not only requires specific reference to the text(s) under examination but also evidence of analysis and independent thinking.This will build towards a clear, sustained argument that goes beyond separate close readings. Some key questions to ask yourself whenever you’re stuck on analysis may include:

  • Why did the author choose this tone/style/setting?

  • What literary devices may be significant to discuss?

  • How is the text informed by its context of production/reception? 

  • Why did the author sit down to write this book at all?

Try to go beyond analysing a text on a merely emotional level; how much deeper can you go?

Remember, each analytical point needs to connect back to the RQ. 

Weak vs Strong analysis examples

Weak analysis:

In conversation with Montag, Beatty states, ‘we’re the Happiness Boys, the Dixie Duo, you and I and the others. We stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought . . . Don’t let the torrent of melancholy and dreary philosophy drown our world . . . I don’t think you realize how important you are, we are, to our happy world as it stands now’ (Bradbury 81). Through his use of language, Bradbury reveals Beatty’s submission to both authority and propaganda. Beatty is convinced that books are a dangerous source of unhappiness and should therefore be destroyed. He believes that conflicting ideas and critical thinking are an attack on the superficial happiness and order maintained by the government. Overall, Beatty's is presented as ruthless, ignorant, and brainwashed. 

There are several weaknesses within this student’s analysis. Initially, the student has included a quotation that is far too long, and appears unable to paraphrase the precise argument they are hoping to make. The student’s preceding analysis also does not relate back to their specific quote, making only broad assertions on Bradbury’s characterisation of Beatty, rather than how their chosen quote showcases his relationship to the state.

Strong analysis:

In conversation with Montag, Beatty describes the pair as ‘the Happiness Boys’ who ‘stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought’ (Bradbury 81). Bradbury’s metaphor reveals Beatty’s authoritarian nature. As leader of the fire company, Beatty embodies the government and enforces the laws it has set, ‘stand[ing] against’ and protecting society from ‘the small tide’ of dissenters who aim to bring pain and suffering. As Atasoy implies, happiness for Beatty ‘means burning books… abiding by the stifling rules of the dominant power, and maintaining the status quo’. Beatty’s utilitarian principles subsequently reveal his unnerving loyalty to the totalitarian suppression of the state (Atasoy 54).

Here, the student has effectively paraphrased the quotation to which their analysis has made specific reference. The student has also used a relevant secondary source to effectively support their argument. Finally, the analysis has been concluded by linking back to Beatty’s relationship with the state, explaining how their included quote reveals his submission and assimilation. 

How to Use Quotations in an IB English Extended Essay

Many students make the mistake of overusing quotations.

Use your quotations wisely. They must always support specific arguments in the body of your essay. Candidates will often overuse quotations because they lack the understanding to paraphrase. Prioritise quotations that will allow you to progress your argument, rather than ones that will extend your EE word count.

4,000 words sounds like a lot for students at the start of the EE process, but they inevitably find themselves wishing to make their essays longer. Heavy use of quotations costs words that the student needs for argument and analysis. 

Finally, remember that all quotations and references need to be properly cited, and this is assessed under Criterion A. 

Reach Out for IB English Extended Essay Support

Many students think that they can handle the EE alone, and we always encourage them to complete all work independently. But it can also be a daunting task. It can be helpful to have someone there with more experience in formulating research questions, and understands the five assessment criteria. 

No matter the subject of the EE, BartyED’s team of expert academic tutors have supported students throughout the process. This includes helping them research, formulate effective RQs, and give feedback on drafts. Our goal is always to prioritise student expression and provide useful advice to all our students. 

If you or your child feel like you would benefit from expert eyes on your Extended Essay, reach out to our team via email, phone, WhatsApp, or by using the form below. 

  • All EEs require a title page, a contents page, an introduction, body, conclusion, and references/bibliography. It is also best practice to include page numbers from the introduction through the rest of the essay.

  • There are 30 marks available on an IBDP EE.

  • When writing an English Extended Essay (EE), it’s better to emphasise source quality, rather than quantity. Make sure that you’re thoroughly engaging with every source, and that each source adds to your argument (or presents an alternative that you disagree with).

  • Students select a subject-focused, or an interdisciplinary pathway. For subject-focused EEs, this can include any subject covered in the IBDP. As for interdisciplinary, students apply a framework from 2 separate disciplines.

  • No. The EE word count of 4,000 words covers the introduction, body and conclusion of the essay (including quotations). However, it doesn’t cover the title page, contents page, or the bibliography.

  • The viva voce is a 10 to 15 minute interview with your EE supervisor at the end of the process. This is designed to verify academic integrity and prompt final reflections from the student.

  • There are significant changes in the 2027 Extended Essay (EE) guide. These include the subject-focused and interdisciplinary pathways (replacing the World Studies option), revised assessment criteria totalling 30 marks, an enhanced reflection process, and students no longer select a subcategory for Language A submissions.

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Extended Essay, IB DiplomaHannah Searson