What are SEHS EE examples?

SEHS EE examples are real student coursework samples that help you understand structure, rubric expectations, and the standard of work expected in IB Extended Essay.

How should I use these examples?

Use them to compare structure, evidence, feedback, and scoring patterns. Do not copy the topic or wording; use the examples to improve your own planning and revision decisions.

Are these examples useful for understanding IB marking?

Yes. Examples with score and feedback signals help you connect concrete student work to the assessment criteria and understand what stronger submissions tend to do well.

IB SEHS EE Examples

IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) Extended Essay Grader

Lots of students struggle to decode their Sports, Exercise and Health Science Extended Essay grade and assessment.
This is a free grading tool that breaks down the IB SEHS EE rubric into plain English, so you understand exactly where your 4,000-word research project stands across all five assessment criteria.
The embedded grader makes self-evaluation faster and more accurate than manual rubric checking, so you're never left guessing.

Note

The grader works in two modes:

Draft Mode: Quick assessment of your work-in-progress. Input your current sections and get instant feedback on which criteria need more work before you finish writing.
Full Mode: Complete evaluation of your finished EE. Input your final project details across all criteria and get a comprehensive grade breakdown with specific improvement suggestions for each section.

Quick Start Checklist

Before using the grader, ensure you have these key elements ready:
1. Research Question - Clear, focused SEHS question that can be answered through secondary research and analysis
2. SEHS Focus - Must be firmly based on sports science theory covering anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, psychology, or nutrition
3. Academic Sources - Minimum 15-20 credible sources including sports science journals, research papers, and scientific publications
4. SEHS Analysis - Critical evaluation of sports science evidence with data interpretation and theory application
5. Word Count Verification - Maximum 4,000 words (excluding bibliography, footnotes, and appendices)
6. Complete Structure - Introduction, Investigation, Analysis, Conclusion, Bibliography, and Reflections
7. Supervisor Meetings - Evidence of 3 mandatory reflection sessions with your EE supervisor
8. Ethical Considerations - Discussion of research ethics and participant welfare where relevant

Rubric Breakdown

Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 marks)

This criterion tests how clear and focused your SEHS research question is.
It evaluates whether your methodology is appropriate for sports science investigation.

Mark Band	What it Means	Evidence You Must Show
0	No clear focus or method	Research question unclear or not SEHS-related
1-2	Limited focus and method	Basic research question with minimal methodology explanation
3-4	Adequate focus and method	Clear SEHS-related question with appropriate research methodology
5-6	Excellent focus and method	Sharply focused sports science question with sophisticated research approach maintained throughout

Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)

This evaluates your grasp of SEHS concepts and sports science knowledge.
It tests how well you apply sports science theory and demonstrate subject expertise.

Mark Band	What it Means	Evidence You Must Show
0	No relevant knowledge	No connection to SEHS theory or concepts
1-2	Limited knowledge	Basic understanding with minimal sports science application
3-4	Good knowledge	Clear understanding with appropriate SEHS terminology and concepts
5-6	Excellent knowledge	Sophisticated understanding with expert use of sports science concepts and terminology

Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 marks)

This is the most important criterion - worth 35% of your total grade.
It assesses your ability to analyze sports science data, evaluate research evidence, and synthesize findings.

Mark Band	What it Means	Evidence You Must Show
0	No critical thinking	Purely descriptive, no sports science analysis
1-3	Limited critical thinking	Some analysis but mainly descriptive
4-6	Adequate critical thinking	Clear analysis with some sports science evaluation
7-9	Good critical thinking	Strong analysis and evaluation of sports science evidence
10-12	Excellent critical thinking	Sophisticated analysis with original sports science insights and balanced evaluation

Criterion D: Presentation (4 marks)

This assesses professional presentation and academic formatting.
It includes structure, sports science communication, and adherence to academic conventions.

Mark Band	What it Means	Evidence You Must Show
0	Poor presentation	Unclear structure, poor formatting, missing sports science diagrams
1-2	Adequate presentation	Generally clear with some formatting issues
3-4	Excellent presentation	Professional structure, clear sports science communication, proper citations

Criterion E: Engagement (6 marks)

This tests your personal engagement with the sports science research process.
It's based on your reflection sessions and demonstrates your intellectual development.

Mark Band	What it Means	Evidence You Must Show
0	No engagement	Minimal reflection, no evidence of personal involvement
1-2	Limited engagement	Basic reflection with some personal connection
3-4	Good engagement	Clear reflection showing sports science thinking development
5-6	Excellent engagement	Sophisticated reflection demonstrating deep SEHS research engagement

How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool

The embedded grader calculates your total score out of 34 marks across all five criteria.
Here's how to interpret your results:
1. 24-28 marks (Grade A territory): Excellent work with sophisticated sports science research. Minor refinements needed.
2. 19-23 marks (Grade B range): Strong project with good SEHS analysis. Focus on critical evaluation and sports science theory synthesis.
3. 14-18 marks (Grade C level): Competent work meeting basic requirements. Strengthen sports science analysis and evidence evaluation.
4. 9-13 marks (Grade D range): Adequate foundation but needs significant improvement. Review research focus and SEHS understanding.
5. Below 9 marks (Grade E): Major revision required across most criteria. Restructure approach and strengthen sports science fundamentals.

Tip

If you're between bands, focus on Criterion C (Critical Thinking) - it offers the biggest impact for improvement.

Grade Boundaries & Converting Your Mark

IB Extended Essay grade boundaries are consistent across subjects but can vary slightly by session:

IB Grade	Mark Range (out of 34)	Percentage	Description
A	27-34	79-100%	Excellent
B	21-26	62-76%	Good
C	14-20	41-59%	Satisfactory
D	7-13	21-38%

Tip

Grades D or E in your EE mean you cannot receive the IB Diploma, regardless of other grades.
Your EE grade combines with TOK to contribute up to 3 bonus points to your total IB score.

Subject-Specific Tips

Exercise Physiology Focus:
1. Investigate cardiovascular adaptations, metabolic responses, training effects, or performance optimization.
2. Include physiological mechanisms and quantitative data from controlled studies.
Biomechanics Focus:
1. Examine movement analysis, injury mechanisms, technique optimization, or equipment effects.
2. Use kinematic data, force measurements, and motion analysis studies.
Sports Psychology Focus:
1. Analyze mental performance factors, motivation theories, team dynamics, or psychological interventions.
2. Include validated psychological measures and intervention effectiveness data.
Sports Nutrition Focus:
1. Study dietary strategies, supplement effects, hydration impacts, or metabolic adaptations.
2. Use nutritional biochemistry and performance outcome research.
Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation:
1. Investigate injury mechanisms, prevention strategies, rehabilitation protocols, or return-to-sport criteria.
2. Include epidemiological data and .

Common Mistake

And quick fixes:

Too broad research question → Focus on specific sports science phenomena with clear population and measurable outcomes
Insufficient SEHS sources → Use minimum 15-20 peer-reviewed papers from sports science journals and recent research
Purely descriptive content → Include critical analysis, data synthesis, and theoretical evaluation
Weak sports science theory → Connect findings to anatomical structures, physiological processes, biomechanical principles, or psychological theories
Poor methodology explanation → Clearly explain your research approach and source evaluation criteria
Missing practical applications → Discuss real-world implications for athletes, coaches, or sports medicine
Inadequate sports science communication → Use proper terminology, , and

FAQs

Can I conduct original experiments for my SEHS EE?
1. Not recommended - focus on literature analysis and secondary data synthesis rather than primary research.
How current should my sports science sources be?
1. Prioritize recent research (within 3-5 years) especially for rapidly evolving areas like sports technology and training methods.
Should my EE connect to my IA topic?
1. No, avoid overlap - choose a different SEHS focus or research approach for your EE.
What level of scientific detail is expected?
1. Include physiological mechanisms and biomechanical principles but ensure accessibility to educated readers.
How important are sports science diagrams?
1. Very important - include anatomical diagrams, performance data graphs, biomechanical illustrations, and training periodization charts.
Can I focus on specific sports or populations?
1. Yes, sport-specific or population-specific analysis provides focused scope and practical relevance.
Should I include statistical analysis?
1. Where relevant - meta-analysis techniques and quantitative synthesis enhance research quality.

Use the Free SEHS Extended Essay Grader Now

Stop guessing about your grade.
The comprehensive grading tool evaluates your EE against all five official criteria, giving instant feedback on strengths and improvement areas.
Input your project details and get a preliminary grade calculation that helps you focus revision efforts where they matter most.
SEHS-specific analysis helps you master the sports science research and critical evaluation that separate excellent from average SEHS Extended Essays.