Overview of the IB Extended Essay Assessment Criteria
The IB Extended Essay (EE) is externally assessed using a set of clearly defined criteria. Understanding how these criteria work is essential—not only for maximizing your final score, but also for structuring your research, writing with purpose, and reflecting effectively throughout the process.
Each criterion rewards a specific aspect of academic thinking. High-scoring EEs are not longer or more complicated—they are precise, focused, and aligned with what examiners are trained to look for.
Criterion A: Focus and Method
Criterion A evaluates how clearly your research question is defined and how well your investigation is planned and structured within the conventions of your chosen subject.
To score highly, your EE must:
- Present a sharply focused and clearly worded research question
- Use a methodology that is appropriate for the subject
- Maintain coherence between the research question, method, and essay structure
Strong essays justify why a particular approach was chosen and show deliberate planning rather than accidental structure.
Common weaknesses include vague research questions, mismatched methods, or essays that drift away from the original focus.
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding
This criterion assesses how well you understand the subject context and how accurately you use subject-specific terminology and concepts.
High-level responses:
- Demonstrate strong subject knowledge relevant to the research question
- Use terminology precisely and confidently
