Extended essay

One of the biggest mistakes I see IB students make is assuming that data analysis only belongs in the sciences. That’s just not true. In fact, data analysis in extended essays can (and should) be used in every subject—just in different ways.

You’ve probably heard terms like extended essay and MYP Personal Project used often if you’re enrolled in the IB curriculum. You may also wonder how these components relate to your academic career.

Using graphs, charts, and tables in your EE will enhance the quality and clarity of your analysis in addition to providing visual appeal. Having helped with hundreds of students on their IB Extended Essays, I can attest that the right use of graphics may greatly improve your writing.

With so many sources available, how do you keep track of what’s useful? From my experience as an IB writer, one of the best tools for managing research effectively is an annotated bibliography. It’s a structured way to engage with the material and refine your argument.

Selecting the right sources is one of the most important steps in EE research, yet many IB students struggle with finding the right balance between primary sources and secondary sources. From my experience, using both effectively can make the difference between a strong, well-supported argument and an essay that lacks depth.

In this article, I draw on my experience as an IB writer to break down what works best in high-scoring extended essays. We’ll examine case studies from subjects such as history, biology, economics, psychology, business management, and film studies, each highlighting key elements such as a well-defined research question, strong methodology, and unique analytical approaches.

In this article, I’ll share practical advice on how to select the best supervisor for your IB EE and how to work with them effectively. You’ll learn what makes a good supervisor, what their role actually includes (and what it doesn’t), and how to get the most out of their feedback.

Unlike the extended essay in the Diploma Programme, the IB Reflective Project focuses specifically on real-world ethical issues, encouraging students to think deeply about the moral challenges professionals face in their chosen field. With flexible formatting options, students can either write a traditional extended essay or create a structured project.

If you’re an IB student or just someone looking to understand academic writing better, you may wonder about the difference between an extended essay and a regular essay. While both require strong writing skills, they serve very different purposes.