HS IB Extended Essay Guide: Supervisor Info

Supervisors WILL:

• undertake three mandatory reflection sessions with each student they are supervising
• initial and date each reflection summarized on the Reflections on planning and progress form and provide comments at the end of the process. If the form and essay are submitted via the eCoursework system, then it is deemed signed and authenticated. An RPPF that is blank, unsubmitted, or written in a language other than that of the essay, will be awarded a 0 for criterion E.
• provide students with advice and guidance in the skills of undertaking research
• encourage and support students throughout the research and writing of the extended essay
• discuss the choice of topic with each student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-focused research question which is suitable to the subject of registration and ensure that the chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical standards with regard to health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare and environmental issues
• is familiar with the regulations governing the extended essay and the assessment criteria, and gives copies of these to students
• monitor the progress of the extended essay to offer guidance and to ensure that the essay is the student’s own work (this may include presenting a section of the essay for supervisor comment)
• read and comment on one draft only of the extended essay (but do not edit the draft); this should take place after the interim reflection session, but before the final reflection session, the viva voce
• ensure that the final version of the essay is handed in before the final reflection session (viva voce) takes place, and that no changes are made to it subsequently
• read the final version and, in conjunction with the viva voce, confirm its authenticity.

Source: ibo.org

Supervisors are strongly recommended to:

• read recent extended essay reports for the subject
• spend between three and five hours with each student, including the time spent on the three mandatory reflection sessions
• encourage the development of a Researcher’s reflection space for students
• set a clear schedule for the reflection sessions
• ensure that the chosen research question is appropriate for the subject
• advise students on:
  • access to appropriate resources (such as people, a library, a laboratory)
  • research methods
  • how to cite and reference.

Source: ibo.org

There are three mandatory reflection sessions that are a formal part of the extended essay.

Source: Oxford, EE Manual, 2016

Five Criteria

A: Focus and method (6)

B: Knowledge and understanding (6)

C: Critical thinking (12)

D: Presentation (4)

E: Engagement (6)

Total: 34 marks

Grade Boundaries

• A 27-34
• B 21-26
• C 14-20
• D 7-13
• E 0-6

EE progress will appear on Reports
DP Year 1: Semester 2 (EE supervisor)
DP Year 2: Semester 3 & Semester 4 (EE coordinator) 

• The World Studies EE is organized across six global themes. Students choose one of these under which to register their essay
• The World Studies EE invites students to conduct an in-depth, interdisciplinary investigation into an issue of contemporary global importance
• The World Studies EE requires students to bring together aspects of different disciplines to illuminate their chosen topic
• Recognize and understand local and global relationships in dynamic interaction
• Students should use two DP subjects. It is strongly recommended that students are undertaking a course of study in at least one of the subjects chosen for their essay
• Students are not expected to address the topic in its full complexity, but should aim to generate understandings that are new to them

Source: ibo.org

These reports are produced by IB EE examiners, based on past student work and include subject specific notes about: 

• Range and suitability of work submitted
• Candidate performance against criteria A-E
• Recommendations for supervision of future candidates

These files cover individual subjects’ requirements for the extended essay (EE) in terms of:

• Choice of topic
• Treatment of topic
• Assessment

You can find subject specific information at the following website or in the PDF documents below: