What Is the IB Extended Essay? Requirements, Purpose, Subjects, and Process
A teacher-friendly guide to the IB Extended Essay, including purpose, requirements, subjects, process, benefits, and current DP updates.
The IB Extended Essay is a compulsory DP core component: an independent research project presented as formal academic writing. Students choose a focused topic, usually connected to a DP subject they know, and develop the work under a supervisor's guidance.
This page is written for teachers and supervisors who need a concise explanation before giving feedback. For official policy details, check the IB Extended Essay page and your school's Programme Resource Centre materials.
What is the purpose of the Extended Essay?
The EE is designed to build academic research, writing, argumentation, and reflection skills. The useful supervision question is: does the student make research decisions that can be explained and evaluated, or are they only collecting information?
What are the requirements?
- A focused research question or investigation focus.
- Subject-appropriate research methods and evidence.
- A clear structure that communicates findings and argument.
- Academic conventions, including citation and presentation expectations.
- Supervisor-supported reflection on the research process.
What subjects can students choose?
Students normally choose from available DP subjects for the examination session, often one they are taking. The updated EE also makes room for subject-focused and interdisciplinary pathways, so supervisors should check the official guidance for the student's exam session.
What is the writing process?
- Choose a subject and topic that can be researched within the scope.
- Turn the topic into a focused research question.
- Select methods and sources that can answer the question.
- Build an outline around analysis, not background summary.
- Draft, revise, cite, and prepare the reflection.
Why the EE matters
The strongest benefit is not only the final essay. Students learn how to define a problem, evaluate evidence, structure a long argument, and explain how their thinking changed. Feedback should protect that learning process instead of rewriting the essay for them.
Supervisor feedback prompt
Before giving line edits, ask: "What research decision should this student make next?" Then give one comment about focus, one about evidence or method, and one about structure.
Next steps
For rubric-aligned supervisor comments, use the Extended Essay Grader. For reusable language, read the EE Supervisor Comment Bank.