What If My Extended Essay Gets Published Accidentally in a Journal?

What Happens If Your Extended Essay Is Published Accidentally?

Accidents happen. Maybe you uploaded a draft to a free plagiarism checker that saved it to a database. Maybe you submitted your EE to a student research journal and forgot to withdraw it. Or maybe a teacher unknowingly shared it on a school website.

If your Extended Essay ends up published before submission, here’s what you can expect:

1. Your EE may be flagged. The plagiarism checker will likely identify it as already existing in a database or online source.
2. The IB coordinator is alerted. Your school’s IB coordinator will receive a notice of suspected plagiarism.
3. You’ll need to prove authorship. Drafts, supervisor feedback, and saved notes are critical. They show that the essay is genuinely your own work.
4. The investigation begins. The IB and your school will assess whether the publication was intentional or accidental.
5. The outcome depends on evidence. If you clearly prove authorship, your EE will still be graded. If not, the IB may disqualify it.

How the IB Decides on Cases Like This

The IB Academic Integrity Policy guides all decisions. The IB considers intent, authorship, and fairness when handling flagged Extended Essays.

• If it was accidental: For example, uploading to a forum without realizing it would make it public, IB will likely accept your EE once authorship is proven.
• If it looks deliberate: If the IB believes you tried to pass off work as your own or gain unfair advantage, it may withhold your diploma.
• If authorship can’t be proven: The EE could be rejected, meaning you would not earn the diploma even if you passed all your other subjects.

This is why keeping careful records — drafts, notes, emails with your supervisor — is essential.

How to Prevent Accidental Publication

Avoiding mistakes is much easier than explaining them later. Here are concrete steps to protect your EE:

• Do not upload your essay to free plagiarism checkers. Many of them store your text.
• Save your drafts privately. Use password-protected folders, personal cloud storage, or school-approved platforms.
• Avoid student journals until after IB. While it’s tempting to share your research, wait until you receive your diploma.
• Keep track of versions. Save different drafts, with dates, so you always have proof of authorship.
• Double-check sharing settings. If you use Google Docs or similar tools, make sure your document is not set to “public.”

What If You Want to Publish Your Extended Essay After IB?

Once your EE has been graded and your IB diploma awarded, you are free to publish it. Many students:

• Submit their EE to high school research journals.
• Use it as a starting point for university applications or projects.
• Adapt it into a longer research paper at university.

In fact, publishing your Extended Essay after IB can be a great way to showcase your research ability. The key is to wait until the IB has completed its assessment.

Crisis Checklist: What to Do If Your EE Gets Published

If you realize your Extended Essay has been published by mistake, act quickly:

1. Tell your IB coordinator immediately. Don’t wait until it’s flagged — being proactive helps.
2. Collect your drafts and notes. Gather every version of your essay, including supervisor comments.
3. Contact the publisher if possible. Ask for your essay to be taken down from the journal, website, or forum.
4. Document the situation. Keep a record of when and how the mistake happened.
5. Cooperate with the investigation. Be honest — IB examiners can usually tell the difference between dishonesty and genuine error.

FAQs About Extended Essays and Publication

1. What if my Extended Essay is flagged but I wrote it myself?
You’ll be asked to prove authorship. Earlier drafts, notes, and supervisor comments usually resolve the issue.

2. Could I lose my diploma if my EE gets published accidentally?
Only if you cannot prove authorship or if the IB believes dishonesty occurred. Genuine mistakes are usually forgiven when supported with evidence.

3. Can I share my EE with friends or family before submission?
Yes, privately. Just avoid public platforms or sites that save copies of your work.

4. Should I publish my EE after IB?
Yes, if you want. Many students share their essays once results are finalized. It can even strengthen university applications.

5. What if my teacher accidentally uploads my EE?
Inform your coordinator right away. Since supervisors also keep records, they can confirm your authorship to the IB.

Conclusion

The Extended Essay is meant to showcase your originality, research skills, and ability to think critically. But if it’s accidentally published, don’t panic. As long as you can prove you are the author, the IB will recognize your work as legitimate.

The key takeaway: keep your EE private until after submission. Use secure storage, avoid public sites, and save multiple drafts. Once your IB results are finalized, you’re free to publish your Extended Essay proudly — and many students do, turning it into a springboard for future academic success.

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