Thinking about what to write for your extended essay? Not sure where to even start? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The EE often feels intimidating at first, but once you understand what it is actually about, it gets a whole lot easier.
You’ve made the decision to study IB, and now you’re closer to the time of the year when you select your supervisor, research topic, and begin the writing process. In this article, we break down what the EE really is, and provide some ideas and guidance on how you should choose a topic.
Table Of Contents
- What is the EE?
- EE Examples and Ideas
- How to choose your EE topic
- How to write a strong EE
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
What is the EE?
The Extended Essay (EE) is a 4,000 word piece of independent research which is a core component of the IB program. While writing the EE, you’ll learn how to ask good research questions, explore a topic of personal interest, communicate ideas and build a clear argument. These are important not just for future undergraduate research but provide you essential skills for the rest of working life and interactions in the future.
Sounds like a lot? It kind of is. But here’s the good part - you are supported through the process of writing and researching, with expert advice and guidance from a supervisor at school. You check in with your supervisor over three mandatory reflection sessions, with the final session ending with a concluding interview known as the viva voce.
The EE is marked by an external assessor, and is graded on a scale of 0 to 34. These points are translated into the following bands:
- A - excellent standard
- B - good standard
- C - satisfactory standard
- D - mediocre standard
- E - elementary standard
Wondering how much this matters for your final IB score? Check this out. While the grade matters, the process itself builds transferable skills far beyond the IB.
In February 2025, the IB released a new EE guide for the first assessment in May 2027. There is now a stronger focus on interdisciplinary approaches to address complex issues and questions.
Extended Essay Examples and Ideas
Your EE topic does not need to be something groundbreaking - in fact, the best essays usually come from students who pick something they’re genuinely curious about. Whether that is a book you love, a real-world issue you’ve been following, or a scientific problem you’ve always wondered about, there is plenty of room to be creative.
When it comes to choosing a topic, most students fall into one of two categories: you either have way too many ideas and can’t decide, or you feel absolutely overwhelmed and have no idea where to even begin. Both are completely normal, and with the right guidance, you can either narrow things down or open things up till you find a research question that hits the sweet spot.
Here are a few real examples of EE research questions submitted to the IB in recent years:
- Business Management: To what extent have IKEA’s in store retailtainment strategies contributed to enhancing brand equity among consumers primarily in the United States?
- Biology: To what extent does the neurobiology of clinical depression and its associated treatments influence sleep patterns?
- English language and literature: How effectively do the Dystopian fiction novels, Divergent by Veronica Roth and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins present the themes of power and control?
- Mathematics: How can mathematical modelling that employs differential equations determine population growth patterns for a Wolf and an Elk?
See how different these are? You could write about anything - global companies, mental health, popular novels or animal ecosystems. The EE really is flexible, which is why choosing a topic you find interesting makes all the difference.
It is a great idea to start broad, then narrow down. Think about what sparks your curiosity in different subjects:
- History: Analyzing historical conflicts, comparing real world policies, breaking down public opinion and influential leaders
- Psychology: Analysis of human behaviour, how social media affects attention,
- English/World studies: Comparing authors’ approaches to theming and target audience, how literature affects 21st century cultural values, analysis of symbolism in a play
As you can see, there is no single formula. The ideas above provide starting points, and eventually these ideas are shaped into polished, clear research questions.
How to choose your EE topic
Choosing your EE topic can feel like the hardest part of the process. But once you’ve nailed that down, everything else becomes much easier.
Here are some simple steps to get you there.
Step 1: Begin with a subject you actually enjoy
Given that the EE spans almost an entire year, you want to pick a subject that will naturally excite you, and not just one you will score well in. If you already enjoy Biology class, or love reading literature, you’ll find it so much easier to stay motivated when the deadline creeps up.
Step 2: Think about what sparks your curiosity
Instead of forcing yourself to think of a perfect topic, ask yourself, where is an area within the subject you wonder about? It is even better if your topic is outside of the current scope of the IB syllabus. For science and mathematical geeks out there, concepts like Markov Chains, the Gillespie Stochastic Simulation Algorithm (SSA) or Schrodinger’s equations may have sophisticated principles you are keen on unpacking. Perhaps you are not as ambitious and are simply wondering about how economic growth was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic across countries, or the compositional techniques of your favourite classical composers. Even a small spark of interest can grow into a polished research question.
Step 3: Narrow your topic down
You might think that 4000 words seem like a long essay, but you will soon find that it is just the right amount of length for an in depth paper focusing on the specifics. Having both a subject and topic confirmed means the next step is narrowing down your research. By being clear and specific, your essay will flow very much more naturally.
Step 4: Check that it fits the EE guidelines
Not every idea will work, and you certainly will not want to go through the process of being all excited only to find that your topic either skims the surface or is too complex. Make sure your topic falls nicely under one IB subject, the resources to answer the question are available, and 4000 words is a realistic amount of words to answer it in. Your supervisors are a great resource, so you should definitely reach out to them early.
Step 5: Just start! Don’t overthink it
Start with a document drafting your ideas - nothing is ever too small or too complex. Once you start the process, your ideas will naturally refine themselves and come into play.
How to write a strong EE
The next step after you’ve chosen your topic is to start writing the essay, and this is where forward planning and attention to detail will really pay off. More than having an interesting or carefully worded research question, you want to ultimately show your examiner that you can research carefully, frame your arguments clearly, and follow academic writing consistently.
Every subject looks slightly different from here on. If you are writing a Mathematics or Physics EE, you want to spell out exact formulas, equations, models or proofs, and where appropriate, use of statistical software may complement your logical reasoning. If this is an English, History, or World Studies EE, you will want to build arguments through a variety of evidence types from original sources, peer-reviewed articles to books and articles. In a Biology or Chemistry EE, your methodology should be transparent and clear, with data collection and analysis supporting your research question. Reporting only positive results which support your hypothesis would be considered academic malpractice!
Regardless of the subject you eventually decide on, here are important points to note:
- Structure: Help yourself and your marker to follow through your paper logically
- Clarity: Your essay should be pitched enough for someone not within your subject expertise to follow through, and certainly for people within the field to be engaged enough through the paper
- Referencing: Citation style is important, and your school should be able to assist you on which to use. You want to be able to credit your sources correctly and appropriately.
- Reflection: These sessions should provide you an opportunity to thoroughly reflect on your EE process, and not just repeat or reinforce what you’ve presented.
Start early. The EE is a big task, but also an amazing opportunity to showcase something you are passionate about when you have the flexibility to explore a topic of your choice. As long as you stay organized, follow subject guidelines, set internal milestones, and keep refining your argument to answer your research question, you would be well on your way to writing a strong essay.
Final Thoughts
The EE will not always be easy, but with steady effort, a clear process and consistent steps from choosing a topic to planning your research, you’ll find that the EE is not just doable, but one of the most rewarding parts of your IB journey.
After more IB resources? Check these out! 👇
Manoj Arachige
Manoj Arachige
FAQs
How do I choose a topic for my IB Extended Essay (EE)?
Pick a subject you genuinely enjoy, since you’ll spend months researching it. Then narrow it down to a focused question that can be explored within 4,000 words. Make sure it links to one of your IB subjects and has enough credible sources available.
How to come up with a good EE topic?
A good EE topic is:
- Focused – specific enough to explore deeply, not too broad.
- Researchable – you can find reliable data, experiments, or sources.
- Engaging – something that genuinely interests you.
- Relevant – tied to IB subject criteria so it meets assessment standards.
How long does it take to write the EE?
Most students spend at least a couple of months working on their EE, starting in the first year of IB and finishing in the second year. You’ll have plenty of time to balance it with your other subjects, as long as you plan ahead and not leave everything to the last minute.
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for Year 7-10 and IB Mathematics, Esther Chua. Esther is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine at UNSW, Sydney. Esther is extremely passionate about equipping students with the best approach to their subject and beyond. You can view Esther’s profile here and request her as a tutor.
