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Browse top scoring exemplars of IB World Studies EE with A-E grades, examiner-style feedback, criteria breakdowns, and real student Extended Essay exemplars.
The help center covers plans, billing, marking and troubleshooting, and you can message us from there.
This page is designed to help you understand the assessment criteria for the World Studies Extended Essay (WSEE) and guide you in self-evaluating your work. By breaking down the rubric and providing clear explanations, you'll be better equipped to assess your essay's strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, a free embedded grader is available to streamline the self-assessment process.
Before you begin evaluating your essay, ensure you have the following materials ready:
The WSEE is assessed using five criteria, totaling 34 marks. Each criterion evaluates a specific aspect of your essay.
What It Tests: Your ability to formulate a clear research question and apply appropriate methods to address it.
High Performance: A sharply focused research question with a well-justified methodology.
Medium Performance: A clear research question with a methodology that is somewhat appropriate but lacks full justification.
Low Performance: An unclear or unfocused research question with an inappropriate or poorly justified methodology.
Common Mistakes:
Mark Band Descriptors:
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent focus and method. | Clearly defined research question; well-justified and appropriate methodology. |
| 3-4 | Good focus and method. | Clear research question; methodology is appropriate but lacks full justification. |
| 1-2 | Limited focus and method. | Unclear research question; methodology is inappropriate or poorly justified. |
| 0 | No evidence of focus and method. | Research question and methodology are absent or wholly inadequate. |
What It Tests: Your grasp of the subject matter and how well you integrate knowledge from the chosen disciplines.
High Performance: Demonstrates deep understanding with effective integration of interdisciplinary insights.
Medium Performance: Shows understanding but with limited integration of interdisciplinary perspectives.
Low Performance: Superficial understanding with minimal or no integration of disciplines.
Common Mistakes:
Mark Band Descriptors:
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent knowledge and understanding. | Deep understanding with effective interdisciplinary integration. |
| 3-4 | Good knowledge and understanding. | Clear understanding with some interdisciplinary integration. |
| 1-2 | Limited knowledge and understanding. | Superficial understanding with minimal interdisciplinary integration. |
| 0 | No evidence of knowledge and understanding. | Lacks understanding and interdisciplinary integration. |
What It Tests: Your ability to analyze, evaluate, and construct a coherent argument.
High Performance: Presents a well-structured argument with insightful analysis and evaluation.
Medium Performance: Develops an argument with some analysis and evaluation but lacks depth.
Low Performance: Weak argument with little analysis or evaluation.
Common Mistakes:
Mark Band Descriptors:
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 10-12 | Excellent critical thinking. | Insightful analysis and evaluation with a coherent argument. |
| 7-9 | Good critical thinking. | Clear analysis and evaluation with a structured argument. |
| 4-6 | Satisfactory critical thinking. | Some analysis and evaluation with a basic argument. |
| 1-3 | Limited critical thinking. | Minimal analysis and evaluation with a weak argument. |
| 0 | No evidence of critical thinking. | Lacks analysis, evaluation, and coherent argument. |
What It Tests: The organization, layout, and formal elements of your essay.
High Performance: Well-organized with consistent formatting and adherence to guidelines.
Medium Performance: Generally organized with minor formatting inconsistencies.
Low Performance: Poorly organized with significant formatting issues.
Common Mistakes:
Mark Band Descriptors:
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | Excellent presentation. | Well-organized with consistent formatting and adherence to guidelines. |
| 2 | Good presentation. | Generally organized with minor formatting inconsistencies. |
| 1 | Limited presentation. | Poorly organized with significant formatting issues. |
| 0 | No evidence of presentation. | Lacks organization and adherence to guidelines. |
What It Tests: Your reflection on the research process and personal learning.
High Performance: Insightful reflection demonstrating significant personal and intellectual growth.
Medium Performance: Adequate reflection showing some personal and intellectual development.
Low Performance: Superficial reflection with little evidence of growth.
Common Mistakes:
Mark Band Descriptors:
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent engagement. | Insightful reflection demonstrating significant personal and intellectual growth. |
| 3-4 | Good engagement. | Adequate reflection showing some personal and intellectual development. |
| 1-2 | Limited engagement. | Superficial reflection with little evidence of growth. |
| 0 | No evidence of engagement. | Lacks reflection and evidence of personal or intellectual development. |
The embedded grader will provide a score for each criterion, which you can sum to get your total out of 34. This total corresponds to a grade boundary, typically as follows:
If your score falls between bands or you're uncertain, focus on the criteria where you scored lower and consider revising those sections.
Improvement Actions:
Get annotated suggestions, strengths, and actionable feedback for your work.
The help center covers plans, billing, marking and troubleshooting, and you can message us from there.
View your feedback in the context of the subject rubric and broken down by criteria strands.
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