For me, the hardest part is typically writing the first draft. Still, the real quality of your work comes out when you polish it. Extended Essay revision and editing are what make a mediocre draft into one that examiners want to read.
For that reason, we’ll go through the Extended Essay editing and revision process step by step, with practical tips that align with general IB criteria.
What Does an Extended Essay Revision Mean?
Extended Essay revision is the process of going over your paper again and making changes to the content, organization, and argument to make sure it adequately answers the research question and fits the IB assessment standards.
During revision, you can ensure that your ideas are clear, logically related, and supported by strong evidence. The focus is on the “big picture” rather than the minor flaws.
In my experience, revision means taking a step back to see if your essay makes its point in the best way possible. It’s not like editing; you have to make sure your essay is coherent, convincing, and follows the IB standards. Often, this means rearranging parts, making the analysis stronger, or removing content that doesn’t directly answer the research question.
For the Extended Essay revision, I recommend concentrating on these five areas:
- Clarity of research question – every paragraph should relate directly to your central question.
- Coherence of structure – arguments should follow a logical order with smooth transitions.
- Strength of analysis – evidence must be explained and evaluated, not just described.
- Use of sources – references should be reliable, balanced, and well-integrated.
- Consistency of argument – the conclusion must follow naturally from the body of the essay.
For example, I sometimes have to change or even cut whole paragraphs when I revise. That may not be very pleasant, but it’s part of doing good work. Revision is your opportunity to put yourself in the shoes of an examiner. If you were assessing your essay, would the thesis be clear, convincing, and well-supported? If the answer is no, revision is the way to fix it.
Extended Essay Editing vs. Revision
A common mistake that IB students make is confusing Extended Essay editing and revision with one another. Although they intersect, they are used for distinctly different purposes.
There might not be a clear argument in your essay, even if it looks good on the outside, if you only edit without revising. If you revise without editing, on the other hand, your essay may have good ideas but lots of language or layout mistakes that make it hard to read. Both are necessary if you want to turn in an essay that is really ready for the examiner.
Here’s how editing and revision are different:
| REVISION | EDITING | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Big picture: content, structure, and argument flow | Small details: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting |
| Goal | Ensure the essay fully answers the research question and meets IB criteria | Make writing smooth, error-free, and professional |
| Questions to Ask | Does this paragraph support my research question? Is my argument logical? | Are there grammar mistakes? Is my citation format consistent? |
| Typical Actions | Reorganizing sections, strengthening analysis, cutting irrelevant content | Correcting typos, improving sentence clarity, and fixing citation style errors |
I believe that thinking about revision as “macro-level” and editing as “micro-level” might help you remember the difference between the two.
And while editing requires meticulous attention to detail, revision calls for critical thought on the content and organization of your essay.
Both revision and editing matter for your final grade. Revision makes your ideas solid, while editing makes them look polished and easy to read. If you skip either step, you risk turning in an essay that feels incomplete, even if your first draft seemed pretty good.
Extended Essay Editing Process Step-by-Step
Editing feels less intimidating when it’s broken down into clear steps. So, instead of trying to fix everything at once, focus on one layer at a time. This approach makes the Extended Essay editing process smoother and far more effective.
1️⃣ Start With Sentence Clarity
Read through your essay slowly and ask yourself: Is this sentence clear?
If you find yourself re-reading a line, it probably needs to be rewritten. While short, straightforward sentences usually work best, it’s even better to mix them with longer ones to create a more natural and engaging rhythm.
2️⃣ Check Word Choice and Tone
Word choice, in my view, is often underestimated. You want terms that are accurate, academic, and meet IB standards. Just steer clear of casual language and use a professional but approachable tone.
3️⃣ Correct Grammar and Punctuation
When you edit your Extended Essay at this stage, focus on grammar, spelling, and punctuation. For example, here are a few common mistakes I often see when reading IB students’ essays:
- Subject–verb agreement errors.
- Switching tenses mid-sentence.
- Missing commas or quotation marks.
- Overusing long, run-on sentences.
If the essay has a lot of mistakes, even excellent arguments may seem weak.
And remember, Grammarly and other similar tools can be useful, but never depend only on them.
4️⃣ Review Formatting and Citations
Formatting may not seem important, but IB examiners take note of it.
You must check margins, headings, and citation style (it depends on your subject). Make sure everything looks consistent.
5️⃣ Do a Final Read-Aloud
One last thing: read your essay out loud. I’ve found that this is a better way to catch odd language and words that are used more than once than quiet reading. Most of the time, things that sound bad need to be fixed.
By editing in small steps, you stay on top of things and don’t miss any small details. You’ll have a paper that is strong in ideas, well-written, and ready to impress examiners when you edit your Extended Essay in this way.
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Extended Essay Revision Tips to Improve Your Draft
When students ask me how to make their draft examiner-ready, I always point them to the Extended Essay revision first.
If you want to raise your grade, consider these practical tips I’ve used myself and recommended to countless IB students.
- Take a Short Break (12 to 24 hours)
You can see problems you missed when you are farther away. Your next pass will be better after even one day has passed.
- Go Back to Your Research Question
The first thing to ask is: Does my essay really address the question I was trying to answer?
Relevance is everything, according to general IB criteria. If a part of your paper is fascinating but doesn’t help your thesis, you should change it or remove it.
- Check the Logical Flow
From what I’ve seen, even excellent arguments don’t work as effectively if they aren’t well-organized. Read your essay one paragraph at a time and see whether the sequence makes sense.
A useful test is to read only your topic sentences in order. Do they make sense as an outline? If not, change the order.
- Make Your Analysis Stronger
Many drafts include a lot of description but not enough analysis. Revision means pushing yourself to explain why your evidence matters.
After giving evidence, it might be helpful to add a brief sentence like “This shows that…” or “This means that…” It makes you explain the link.
- Cut the Repetition
Another problem I notice a lot is saying the same thing over and over again in slightly different ways. This strategy inflates the word count, but also weakens your argument.
Be tough here: take out any phrase that doesn’t contribute anything new.
- Compare with the Rubric
Finally, use the IB rubric as your checklist. Does your essay show critical thinking, academic writing, and formal presentation? If you can confidently say yes, you’re on the right track.
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When you ask us to edit your Extended Essay, you get more than grammar fixes. We refine your arguments, improve the flow, and ensure your essay is both examiner-ready and academically professional.
Our Extended Essay editing service covers:
- Checking the structure and logical flow of arguments.
- Strengthening analysis to meet IB expectations.
- Correcting grammar, punctuation, and mechanics.
- Making sure citations and references follow IB rules.
- Reviewing formatting, word count, and presentation.
Our editors have years of IB experience and know exactly what examiners want to see. According to general IB criteria, Extended Essay editing can be the difference between average and excellent. By trusting professionals, you save time and gain confidence that your work is presented at its very best.
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Final Words
In conclusion, the last and most important processes before submission are the revision and editing of the Extended Essay. They help you improve your writing, sharpen your arguments, and get your paper ready for the examiner.
In my experience, essays that go through a rigorous editing process always get better scores. So don’t think of editing as something you do at the last minute; use it to your advantage.
You may turn in an Extended Essay that really shows how hard you’ve worked and how much you’ve grown as a student if you pay close attention, use a step-by-step approach, and maybe even get some help from a professional.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
Revision focuses on the big picture (your argument, structure, and analysis) while editing handles grammar, style, and formatting.
Plan for at least one full day of focused revision. Work through your essay in stages: first structure, then analysis, style, and finally referencing. Rushing it overnight usually means small but costly errors slip through.
Basic tools like Grammarly or Hemingway are useful for catching grammar and style issues. However, they should never replace human judgment, especially when it comes to IB-specific requirements, such as citations and analysis.
Yes. According to general IB criteria, examiners look for clarity, analysis, and formal presentation. Careful editing and revision often turn a good draft into an excellent essay, directly improving your final score.
