At a glance
- Essay length
- Up to 4,000 words
- Current guide
- Essays submitted from May 2027
- Total marks
- 30, across criteria A to E
- Where the RQ is marked
- Criterion A: Framework for the essay (6)
- Pathways
- Subject-focused or interdisciplinary
Why the research question decides so much
The Extended Essay is marked out of 30 against five criteria: A, Framework for the essay (6 marks); B, Knowledge and understanding (6); C, Analysis and line of argument (6); D, Discussion and evaluation (8); and E, Reflection (4). The research question is assessed most directly in criterion A, alongside the methods and structure, but its real effect is on C and D. A question that asks "what" or "how" in general invites a summary of sources. A question that asks "to what extent" or "how effective" about a defined case invites an argument that can be analysed and evaluated.
Examiners do not read beyond 4,000 words, so the question also has to fit the space. Most weak questions are too broad: they would need a book, so the essay skims. A few are too narrow: the answer is a single fact or one measurement, and there is nothing to discuss.
From interest to question: the funnel
- Interest: start with something you genuinely want to know more about, ideally connected to a subject you take at HL. Supervisors notice when a student is engaged, and you will spend many months on it.
- Topic: narrow the interest to one place, period, text, organism, compound, data set or policy. "Water" becomes "desalination in the Gulf"; "Arabic poetry" becomes "one poet's use of the desert image".
- Angle: decide what is debatable about the topic. Look for a cause, an effect, a comparison, an evaluation or a relationship between two variables.
- Question: write it as one clear question that names its scope. Use "to what extent", "how effective", "how significant" or a defined relationship such as "what is the effect of X on Y".
- Test: run the feasibility checks below. Rewrite the question as often as needed; your supervisor will usually see two or three versions.
Weak and stronger research questions
These are illustrations of shape only. Each still needs checking for sources, data and supervisor approval, and the essay itself must be the student's own work.
| Subject | Weak | Why it is weak | Stronger |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | How has oil affected the UAE economy? | Too broad; no defined period or measure | To what extent has a named economic diversification policy reduced one Gulf state's reliance on hydrocarbon revenue over a defined period? |
| Biology | Do plants grow better with salt water? | Vague variables; no measurable outcome | What is the effect of sodium chloride concentration on the germination rate of a named seed species? |
| History | The history of pearl diving in the Gulf | A topic, not a question | How significant was the arrival of cultured pearls in the decline of the pearling economy in one Gulf town in the early twentieth century? |
| English A | What are the themes of a novel? | Descriptive; answered by any study guide | How does a named novelist use the image of the city to present isolation in a named novel? |
| Chemistry | Is vitamin C in juice destroyed by heat? | Close, but no defined method or range | How does temperature affect the rate of degradation of vitamin C in orange juice, measured by titration over a defined temperature range? |
Feasibility checks before you commit
- Sources: can you find enough credible, accessible sources, including some that disagree? For history and the humanities, list five or six real sources before writing the question.
- Data: if the essay needs experimental or secondary data, can you collect or access it in the time and with the equipment you have?
- Length: could a well-argued answer fit in 4,000 words, with room for discussion and evaluation?
- Method: is the method one the subject accepts, such as experiment, textual analysis, archival work or data analysis?
- Ethics and safety: no experiments that risk harm to people or animals, and no surveys or interviews without the consent and safeguards your school requires.
- Originality: the question should not simply be answered in a single source you have found.
Subject-focused or interdisciplinary?
Under the guide for essays submitted from May 2027, students follow either a subject-focused pathway, the traditional essay in one Diploma subject, or an interdisciplinary pathway that combines the knowledge, concepts and methods of two subjects. The older World Studies option is part of this broader interdisciplinary approach. A subject-focused essay is usually the safer choice: the methods are clear, and your supervisor and the examiner judge it against one subject's expectations.
Choose the interdisciplinary pathway only when the question genuinely needs both subjects, for example an issue that needs both economic data and an environmental systems perspective. If one subject could answer the question alone, the second subject will feel added on.
How one-to-one lessons help with the research question
A tutor who teaches the subject of the essay can act like a second, very patient sounding board. Lessons help the student list interests, narrow them, and test draft questions against the checks above, often by sketching on the shared whiteboard what the essay would argue under each version. The tutor also teaches research skills: finding academic sources, judging reliability, and planning an experiment or data collection that is realistic.
The IB has strict academic integrity rules for the Extended Essay. A tutor does not choose the question for the student, and never writes or edits any part of the essay. The student should tell their school supervisor about outside support, and keep notes and drafts as evidence of their own process.
Write three questions, not one
Draft three versions of your question at different widths and take all three to your supervisor. Discussing why one is better than the others is often the fastest route to a strong final question, and it gives you material for your reflection.
Common questions
Does the research question have to be a question?
In most subjects, yes: a single clear question that names its scope. Your supervisor will tell you if the subject accepts another form, but a question makes the line of argument easier to follow.
Can I change my research question after I start?
Yes, refining it is normal and is good material for criterion E, Reflection. Make big changes early, and agree them with your supervisor.
Should I choose a subject I take at HL?
It usually helps, because you will know the subject's concepts and methods better. It is not a rule; what matters is that you can apply that subject's methods with confidence.
Can my EE be about the Gulf or my own country?
Yes, and local topics can be excellent because they are less written about. Check early that enough reliable sources or data exist, in a language you can read.
How much does Extended Essay support cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same flat rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.