What Are IB’s Expectations for Academic Honesty in the Extended Essay (EE)?

Importantly, the IB does not distinguish between intentional and unintentional misconduct when determining penalties. A lack of understanding of citation rules is not considered a valid defense.

Students are expected to understand and apply correct referencing practices throughout the research and writing process.

Penalties for Academic Misconduct in the EE

The consequences of misconduct in the Extended Essay can be severe.

Significant unattributed material can result in no grade being awarded for the EE. Since the EE contributes to the core points, this alone can prevent a student from receiving the IB Diploma.

Less severe breaches may still lead to mark reductions, investigation flags, or formal warnings. In all cases, the credibility of the work is compromised.

Because the EE is externally assessed, issues are often detected during moderation, when it is too late to revise or correct mistakes.

The Role of Schools and Supervisors

IB World Schools are required to promote a strong culture of academic honesty. Supervisors are responsible for guiding the research process, not directing the content.

Schools are expected to ensure that students:

• Understand citation and referencing expectations
• Keep evidence of independent work, including drafts and planning notes
• Receive guidance focused on inquiry and reflection rather than editing

Maintaining multiple drafts is strongly recommended, as it helps demonstrate the development of ideas and independent authorship if questions arise.

Best Practices to Stay Academically Honest

To remain fully compliant with IB expectations, students should:

• Write all sections of the EE themselves, without external rewriting
• Cite every source of information, ideas, data, or inspiration
• Use a consistent referencing style such as APA, MLA, or Chicago
• Save drafts regularly to show progression of thought
• Ask supervisors for clarification whenever unsure about citation or tool use

Academic honesty is not about avoiding help—it is about using support responsibly and transparently.

AI Tools and Academic Integrity

The use of AI tools requires particular care. AI may be used for limited purposes such as brainstorming research questions or clarifying concepts. However, submitting AI-generated or AI-rewritten text as your own work is considered academic misconduct unless explicitly acknowledged.

Even when AI is used, students remain responsible for:

• Writing the final text themselves
• Verifying the accuracy of information
• Citing any external assistance appropriately

Failure to do so risks invalidating the EE.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can AI help me write my EE?
AI may support early idea generation, but it must not generate substantive content. All writing must be your own, and any external input must be acknowledged.

Can my supervisor correct my grammar?
Supervisors may point out issues, but they should not rewrite sentences or sections. The final language must remain yours.

Can I reuse material from my IA in the EE?
No. Reusing or slightly modifying work across diploma components is considered duplication and is not allowed.

Does the IB penalize accidental plagiarism?
Yes. Unintentional errors are still treated as academic misconduct and can result in serious penalties.

Conclusion

The Extended Essay is a test of research skill, critical thinking, and academic integrity. It must reflect your own voice, your own analysis, and your own effort—guided but never produced by others.

Clear citation, honest authorship, and transparent use of tools are essential. Any lapse can jeopardize not only your EE grade, but your eligibility for the IB Diploma itself.

If you want help building a personal academic honesty checklist, managing citations correctly, or tracking EE drafts responsibly, I can help you set that up step by step.