Written by: Sofia

Edited by: Erich

On March 1st, the batch of 2025 will start working on one of the IB’s core components as the commencement of the Extended Essay kick-off day is set to take place. 

The International Baccalaureate Extended Essay (EE) is a 4000-word formal paper that answers a research question in a student’s subject of choice. It is one of the parts of the IB core along with Theory of Knowledge (TOK), in addition to the six subjects a student takes as part of the full diploma programme. 

This essay is often associated with feelings of nervousness and indecisiveness, as it’s a major research project that students will have to work through for most of their IB career.

One of the major problems students typically face regarding the EE occurs at the very beginning of the process: picking out their subject. For context, it is strongly recommended that students write an EE on a subject they are currently taking. It does not have to be a higher level (HL) course since one may also write their EE for one of their standard level (SL) courses; it only matters that the subject is being currently studied. 

Typically, students do write their EE on one of their HL courses, as the deeper understanding of the subject lends itself well to a more thorough understanding of the research they’ll conduct. However, there is also an option of writing an EE in world studies. A World Studies Extended Essay contains an interdisciplinary view on two IB subjects of a student’s choosing. The paper must tackle a global issue in any local region, such as climate change in Ethiopia. This is an option for students with interdisciplinary interests who want to learn more about worldwide challenges. Per the HS Counseling Office, there are only about nine to ten students annually who write a World Studies Extended Essay as the need to connect two separate fields may require more time and effort. Despite that, those students who do choose to write an EE in World Studies can explore several academic fields of interest. Instead of students boxing themselves in a certain subject, they have the opportunity to explore unfamiliar topics or even connect interdisciplinary interests.

Though it is highly advised to write the paper on a subject currently being taken, there have been students who have taken the atypical route. One of the other options is to write the EE on a subject that is not an IB course. 

According to Mr. Hillman, the AP/IB coordinator, there have been students in the past who were extremely passionate about a certain topic and chose to write their EE on it, despite ISM not having an IB course dedicated to it; this often applies to those who are interested in the fine and performing arts. For example, a student who is a prolific dancer may write their Extended Essay on dance as it is a topic they’re passionate and knowledgeable about. The same goes for those who wish to write their paper on music, for while ISM has a music department, it does not offer IB music as a class. 

Another option for students is to write their EE on a subject that they’re not taking as a current course. For example, a senior may take up an EE on ESS despite taking Biology as their Group 4 subject. Mr. Hillman explains that those who choose to go down one of these two routes must submit a proposal first, which will be reviewed on a case-to-case basis. The subject of your EE is truly something you can tailor to suit your needs and interests, as it is incredibly personal to each IB student.

To provide some more insight, we’ve asked several seniors to share their stories on how they chose their EE subject. Alex explained that he chose to do his EE in English Literature since it fit his situation and his want for flexibility. “Since I was not applying to the UK or other schools that care about the [subject I write my] EE [on], I was free to write about books that I liked which was nice,” he added. 

Ananda also chose to write her EE on English Literature, but unlike Alex who had this subject as one of his HLs, Ananda takes SL Literature. She found that “the EE was a chance to work on a subject that I really enjoyed but did not have a chance to engage with as much normally.” 

On the note of writing the EE on a subject that students personally enjoy, Lily explained, “When talking to the seniors last year, the advice I heard the most was to choose a subject I was genuinely interested in. I love psychology and thought there would be plenty to write about since it’s such an intricate field of study”, and that was all she needed to make her decision. 

Lastly, Andre, one of the very few seniors who chose music as a subject for their EE, said that he wanted to analyze music not just on a performance level but on an analytical and composer-level too. As such, when he made this decision, he felt sure of his choice and felt supported by the admin with his decision to do a non-traditional Extended Essay.  As seen through these seniors, there are several reasons why a student may choose a particular subject for their EE, but what’s important is that they choose a subject that holds meaning to them and they’re passionate about.

Once a student chooses their subject for the EE, it’s time to get the ball rolling. One of the most crucial things that will lead to a successful EE is time management. Juniors are reminded to work on it throughout the summer before senior year. There is no need to finish writing the entire essay, but it’s best to finish the outline because the writing comes naturally after that. 

A senior confessed that she wished she had better time management when writing her EE. “Mr. 

[Thibodeau] was probably frustrated with me [as] I struggled in researching studies that directly related to my [research] question,” she further explained. 

One strategy that helped her was setting alarms to research and write every night, even for only a few minutes. On the weekends, she would set aside several hours to write what she could, even if she was not completely confident in her information at the time. She also emphasizes that another factor that impacts the success of one’s EE is their relationship with their EE advisor. “Building a strong connection with your advisor is important. If Mr. [Thibodeau] hadn’t guided me and sent me reminders, I would not have had a single word on my document until the day of submission,” she said. 

Most students will need to build that strong connection. There is a misconception that students get to choose their EE advisor. When Mr. Hillman was asked about this, he clarified that students can try to request a particular teacher to be their advisor, particularly if a certain teacher is extremely well-versed in the topic the student is discussing in the essay. However, even if you put in a request for a specific teacher, you may not always get them as your EE advisor. 

Nonetheless, the teacher you’re paired up with was likely the best fit for the research question you have chosen. Whoever your EE advisor may be, it is important that you openly communicate with them throughout the process, so they may be able to guide you in the best way possible. 

Ananda, who felt comfortable with her advisor, explained, “I [had] a teacher I was close to so I felt fine asking him questions all the time which made the process easier. I know people who were kind of scared of their advisor so [they] did not get as much help and struggled more.” Juniors, be sure to keep these tips on time management and communication with your EE advisor in mind as these will help the process of writing the EE easier on your part.

While the Extended Essay is one of the requirements of the IB, it is also an opportunity to do a deep dive into a subject you are extremely passionate about. The word count and the formality may be daunting, but this is just a way to prepare yourself for the countless papers that college will require you to write. Think of it not just as a paper but as a process that you get to take ownership of. 

With that being said, we wish the batch of 2025 good luck as they approach the EE kick-off day!