IB Psychology SL Extended Essay Example

The student communicates the topic clearly and keeps the investigation anchored to CBT, depression, neuroplasticity, and epigenetic change.

The student states a focused research question and uses evaluative wording that allows them to weigh evidence rather than just describe it.

The student shows a generally sensible secondary-research approach by using a range of scholarly sources relevant to the topic.

The student's method would be stronger if they explained how they selected studies and why some broader evidence was included.

At times the essay moves beyond what the evidence can firmly show, especially when describing mechanism-level certainty.

The two biological themes are both relevant, but the connection between them could be organised more clearly from the start.

The student demonstrates solid knowledge of depression, CBT, neuroplasticity, epigenetics, and related biological pathways.

The student uses psychological and biological terminology accurately in most places and usually explains it in a way that supports the argument.

The student applies key studies in a relevant way and often connects the evidence back to the clinical question rather than leaving it isolated.

Some definitions and explanations are too absolute, especially when describing methylation, inheritance, and biological change.

A few studies are applied a little broadly, which weakens the precision of the evidence for MDD specifically.

At points the student treats correlational or indirect findings as if they show more direct mechanism than they actually do.