Is the IB Extended Essay viva voce graded?

Not as a separate mark, but it matters a lot. The viva voce informs your final reflection and supports what is written for engagement. In practice, it helps strengthen Criterion E, which is worth up to 6 marks. That’s a meaningful chunk of the total. A calm, specific conversation can help your supervisor capture your decision-making clearly. A vague conversation can make your engagement sound generic, even if the work was real.

Can I bring notes into the viva voce?

Yes, and you should. Bring brief prompts, not a script you plan to read word-for-word. The best notes are “turning points” from your RRS: research question changes, method changes, source evaluation moments, and timeline pivots. Notes help you stay precise under pressure. They also keep you focused on the process, which is what the viva voce is designed to reveal. If you need help building those prompts, start with an RRS structure from RevisionDojo and keep it simple.

What if I struggled or made mistakes during my IB Extended Essay?

You can say that, and it can actually help. The key is to frame struggle as a research problem you responded to, not a dramatic plot twist. Name the challenge, explain what you tried, and evaluate what changed as a result. This shows intellectual honesty and growth, which is exactly what Criterion E rewards. Mistakes are common in real research; pretending you had none often sounds less authentic. Your goal is reflection with evidence, not perfection.