IB CORE
Extended Essay
Everything you need to write a top-scoring EE — from research question to final submission.
At a Glance
- What it is. The Extended Essay is a self-directed research project — an independent research essay required for every IB Diploma candidate.
- Word cap. 4,000-word maximum. Examiners stop reading at 4,000.
- Assessment. External — marked by an IB examiner on criteria A–E.
- First step. Formulate the research question.
Follow the guides in order for best results — start with the first card below and work through each topic in sequence.