IB Psychology SL Extended Essay Example

You communicate the broad educational focus clearly and show why the topic matters.

Your research question is stated and remains visible throughout the essay.

You use a relevant range of source types and show some awareness of methodological issues such as correlation, confounding, and ecological validity.

The scope is still too broad and key terms like school performance are not clearly operationalised.

The methodology is not explained clearly enough, especially how sources were selected and weighed.

Some background material is not tightly linked to the investigation, which weakens focus.

You show good understanding of THC, cannabinoid receptors, brain regions, and adolescent neurodevelopment.

You use subject-specific terminology in a generally accurate way.

You demonstrate awareness of research concepts such as longitudinal design, self-report bias, confounding variables, and correlation versus causation.

At times you present causal claims more strongly than the evidence supports.

Some concepts are applied too broadly, especially when you move from cognitive or mental-health evidence to school performance.

A few evaluations of studies are technically imprecise, such as treating sample size or bias in overly absolute terms.