Introduction – The Power of Reflection in Your EE
Reflection isn’t just an add-on—it’s central to the IB Extended Essay (EE) experience. It allows you to actively show critical thinking, personal growth, and academic development as you move through your research journey. Strong reflections help move your EE from a simple investigation to a powerful demonstration of metacognition and scholarship.
1. Demonstrating Engagement and Personal Growth
Reflection provides a window into your evolving thought process:
- How did your understanding deepen?
- What sparked changes in your research question?
- How did you adapt and learn from setbacks?
By documenting these moments, you show Criterion E (Engagement) in action—which evaluates how you learn, not just what you learn. Students who reflect thoughtfully often reveal unexpected insights and demonstrate transformation over time .
2. Supporting the Development of the Essay
Reflection isn't just about insight—it's about improvement. By pausing to evaluate:
- Was your research method working?
- Did you need to adjust your scope?
- Which sources were most useful?
You can refine your essay continually. Reflection turns mistakes into pivots, ensuring your final work is more focused, coherent, and academically rich .
3. Providing Evidence of Intellectual Initiative
Your reflections are proof of ownership:
- You framed your research question.
- You chose methodologies.
- You tackled obstacles head-on.
These actions illustrate initiative, which is valued under IB’s authenticity criteria. Strong reflections demonstrate not only what you researched, but how you did it and why your choices mattered .
4. Contributing to Your Final Grade (Criterion E – 6 Marks)
Your reflections account for up to 6 marks (~18%) of your total EE score under Criterion E. To maximize this, your reflections should be:
- Insightful (not just descriptive)
- Relevant to your research process
- Personal and specific
- Continuous—showing progression at each key stage .
5. Structured Reflection Points
IB specifies three mandatory reflection sessions, each with its own purpose:
- Initial Reflection — After choosing your topic and research question.
- Interim Reflection — Midway through research, assessing direction and challenges.
- Final Reflection (Viva Voce) — After submitting the essay, focusing on learning outcomes and next steps .
6. Fostering Metacognitive Skills
Reflection trains you to:
- Recognize learning patterns and gaps
- Identify strengths and weaknesses
- Develop methodical planning and resilience
These Approaches to Learning (ATL)—especially critical thinking, research, and self-management—aren’t just relevant to the EE; they build lifelong learning habits across all subjects .
What Makes a Good Reflection?
Reflections stand out when they are:
- Evaluative, not descriptive: e.g., "I chose archival sources because I needed historical perspectives, which improved context" rather than "I read archival sources."
- Specific and honest: e.g., "I struggled to access one dataset, so I adjusted my question accordingly."
- Linked to ATL skills: Mention time management, evaluation techniques, or research methods.
- Concise and clear: Remember—the total word count across all reflections is limited to 500 words .
Key Summary
- Reflection demonstrates engagement, growth, and intellectual independence
- Acts as evidence of improvement and refined methodology
- Contributes significantly to your overall EE score (Criterion E)
- Builds lifelong metacognitive skills
Final Thoughts
Reflection is more than just meeting an IB requirement—it’s a tool for insight, a moment to pause and reflect with honesty, and a statement of your academic maturity. Use these moments to chart your growth, refine your strategies, and reveal the intellectual strength that sets your EE apart.
