IB Economics Extended Essay Grader
- Lots of students struggle to decode their Economics Extended Essay grade and assessment.
- This is a free grading tool that breaks down the IB Economics 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
Quick Start Checklist
- Before using the grader, ensure you understand these key elements ready:
- Research Question - Clear, focused Economics question that can be answered through secondary research and theoretical analysis
- Economics Focus - Must be firmly based on economic theory covering microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, or development economics
- Academic Sources - Minimum 15-20 credible sources including economic journals, research papers, government data, and international organization reports
- Economic Analysis - Critical evaluation of economic evidence with data interpretation and theory application
- Word Count Verification - Maximum 4,000 words (excluding bibliography, footnotes, and appendices)
- Complete Structure - Introduction, Investigation, Analysis, Conclusion, Bibliography, and Reflections
- Supervisor Meetings - Evidence of 3 mandatory reflection sessions with your EE supervisor
- Ethical Considerations - Discussion of research ethics and data reliability where relevant
Rubric Breakdown
The Economics EE is assessed based on five criteria, totaling 34 marks.
Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 marks)
- This criterion tests how clear and focused your Economics research question is.
- It evaluates whether your methodology is appropriate for economic investigation.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent focus and method. | Sharply focused economic question with sophisticated research approach maintained throughout |
| 3-4 | Good focus and method. | Clear Economics-related question with appropriate research methodology |
| 1-2 | Basic focus and method. | Basic research question with minimal methodology explanation |
| 0 | Work does not meet standard. | Research question unclear or not Economics-related |
Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)
- This evaluates your grasp of Economics concepts and economic theory knowledge.
- It tests how well you apply economic theory and demonstrate subject expertise.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent knowledge and understanding. | No connection to Economics theory or concepts |
| 3-4 | Good knowledge and understanding. | Basic understanding with minimal economic application |
| 1-2 | Basic knowledge and understanding. | Clear understanding with appropriate Economics terminology and concepts |
| 0 | Work does not meet standard. | Sophisticated understanding with expert use of economic 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 economic data, evaluate economic arguments, and synthesize findings.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 10-12 | Excellent critical thinking. | Sophisticated analysis with original economic insights and balanced evaluation |
| 7-9 | Good critical thinking. | Strong analysis and evaluation of economic evidence |
| 4-6 | Basic critical thinking. | Clear analysis with some economic evaluation |
| 1-3 | Limited critical thinking. | Some analysis but mainly descriptive |
| 0 | Work does not meet standard. | Purely descriptive, no economic analysis |
Criterion D: Presentation (4 marks)
- This assesses professional presentation and academic formatting.
- It includes structure, economic communication, and adherence to academic conventions.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 3-4 | Excellent presentation | Professional structure, clear economic communication, proper citations |
| 1-2 | Adequate presentation. | Generally clear with some formatting issues |
| 0 | Poor presentation | Unclear structure, poor formatting, missing economic diagrams |
Criterion E: Engagement (6 marks)
- This tests your personal engagement with the economic research process.
- It's based on your reflection sessions and demonstrates your intellectual development.
| Mark Band | What It Means | Evidence You Must Show |
|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | Excellent engagement. | Sophisticated reflection demonstrating deep Economics research engagement |
| 3-4 | Good engagement. | Clear reflection showing economic thinking development |
| 1-2 | Basic engagement. | Minimal reflection; little to no evidence of personal engagement. |
| 0 | Work does not meet standard. | No reflection or evidence of engagement. |
How to Interpret Your Grade from the Tool
- The embedded grader calculates your total score out of 28 marks across all criteria except E, your reflections.
- Here's how to interpret your results:
- 24-28 marks marks (Grade A territory): Excellent work with sophisticated economic research. Minor refinements needed.
- 19-23 marks (Grade B range): Strong project with good economic analysis. Focus on critical evaluation and economic theory synthesis.
- 14-18 marks (Grade C level): Competent work meeting basic requirements. Strengthen economic analysis and evidence evaluation.
- 9-13 marks (Grade D range): Adequate foundation but needs significant improvement. Review research focus and Economics understanding.
- Below 9 marks (Grade E): Major revision required across most criteria. Restructure approach and strengthen economic 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% | Mediocre |
| E | 0-6 | 0-18% | Elementary |
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
Microeconomics Focus:
- Investigate market structures, consumer behavior, firm strategies, or regulatory effects.
- Include elasticity analysis, welfare economics, and market efficiency concepts.
Macroeconomics Focus:
- Examine fiscal policy, monetary policy, economic growth, or business cycles.
- Use aggregate models, multiplier effects, and policy transmission mechanisms.
International Economics Focus:
- Study trade policies, exchange rate effects, economic integration, or globalization impacts.
- Include comparative advantage, balance of payments, and international capital flows.
Development Economics Focus:
- Investigate economic development, poverty reduction, institutional effects, or sustainable growth.
- Use development indicators, growth models, and policy effectiveness analysis.
Economic History Focus:
- Analyze historical economic events, policy changes, economic crises, or long-term trends.
- Include econometric analysis, institutional changes, and comparative historical analysis.
Common Mistake
And quick fixes:
- Too broad research question → Focus on specific economic phenomena with clear scope and measurable outcomes
- Insufficient Economics sources → Use minimum 15-20 academic sources from economic journals and recent research
- Purely descriptive content → Include critical analysis, data synthesis, and theoretical evaluation
- Weak economic theory → Connect findings to microeconomic principles, macroeconomic models, or international trade theory
- Poor methodology explanation → Clearly explain your research approach and source evaluation criteria
- Missing practical applications → Discuss real-world implications for policymakers, businesses, or economic development
- Inadaquate economic communication → Use proper terminology, clear diagrams, and precise economic language
- Word count violations → Stay within 4,000 words; only first 4,000 words are marked
- Generic conclusions → Base conclusions on specific economic evidence and quantitative analysis
- Poor academic referencing → Use consistent citation style and credible economic sources
FAQs
- Can I conduct original surveys for my Economics EE?
- Not recommended - focus on secondary data analysis and theoretical synthesis rather than primary research.
- How current should my economic sources be?
- Prioritize recent research (within 3-5 years) especially for rapidly evolving areas like digital economics and environmental policy.
- Should my EE connect to my IA topic?
- No, avoid overlap - choose a different Economics focus or research approach for your EE.
- What level of mathematical detail is expected?
- Include economic models and quantitative analysis but ensure accessibility to educated readers.
- How important are economic diagrams?
- Very important - include supply/demand curves, economic models, policy diagrams, and data visualizations.
- Can I focus on specific countries or regions?
- Yes - country-specific or regional analysis provides focused scope and practical relevance.
- Should I include econometric analysis?
- Where relevant - regression analysis and statistical techniques enhance research quality.
- How detailed should my literature review be?
- Provide comprehensive coverage of key studies with critical evaluation rather than descriptive summary.
- Can I use government reports?
- Yes - government data and international organization reports are valuable sources for economic analysis.
- What makes an Economics EE stand out?
- Current economic relevance, sophisticated analysis, quantitative evaluation, and original synthesis of economic research.
Use the Free Economics 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.
- Economics-specific analysis helps you master the economic research and critical evaluation that separate excellent from average Economics Extended Essays.
