What is the IB Extended Essay (EE)?

The EE is a 4000-word, independently researched essay which should be written on any of the Higher Level subjects the students undertake. The EE is like a mini thesis which is written under the supervision of the IB advisor (usually an IB teacher teaching the subject at your school).

Students will need to choose a research question as a topic, conduct independent research, and write an essay on their findings. The IB states that the essay should be a “formal piece of academic writing”, which means the student must cite their research.

The IB Extended Essay format is as follows:

-          A title page

-          Contents page

-          Introduction

-          Body of the essay

-          Conclusion

-          References and bibliography

Research Topic Categories:

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

Group 2: Language Acquisition

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

Group 4: Sciences

Group 5: Mathematics

Group 6: The Arts

Reflections in the EE

The IB requires a “reflection process” as part of doing the EE. The student will need to meet at least thrice with their supervisor to complete their reflection sessions. During these meetings, the student will have an opportunity to think about how they engaged with the research process. The supervisor will offer feedback, encourage you to think differently, and make the student evaluate their research process.

The final reflection session, the viva voce, is where your EE supervisor interviews you before writing their report which factors into your grade. The topics covered in the viva voce are checking plagiarism and malpractice, an evaluation of the project’s successes and difficulties, and what you learned during the EE.

How to choose your EE topic

Students choosing an EE topic should write about something they enjoy. Students will not be able to write a compelling essay if they do not like the topic they are writing about. Students should start thinking about which of their HL subjects they liked the most. For inspiration, students should look at past examples of essays to see how a research question is crafted. If a student really has no idea on what to research on, they should choose a topic which can help them get ahead in their future major or career – universities will love hearing about this!

Students also need to choose a topic with the appropriate depth – they cannot write about something that needs an entire book to explore. At the same time, they cannot write about something that is too narrow. If there is not enough research on a particular topic (there are only two articles on the subject) then it may be too narrow. If the student is still unsure as to whether they have a good research question, they should ask their EE supervisor.

Structure of the EE

Your EE will need a clear introduction and an outline of the research question and its focus. The body of the EE should be split into relevant sections. If the EE is about conducting a Science experiment or analysing data, the EE body should have a clear structure aligning with the Scientific Method. Students will need to present their research question, discuss their methodology, present the data, analyse the data, explain uncertainties, and draw conclusions.

Time Management

Students cannot leave their EE to the last minute, especially if it involves gathering primary data. They will be reading many articles, books, and other sources to do research about the topic. Students should start their research as soon as possible and keep track of the internal and external deadlines their school has regarding the EE, submitting drafts when they are due. Remember – there are reflection sessions to be undertaken with your supervisor, who probably will not be too happy if they are scheduled in a rushed and haphazard manner.

The EE grade is combined with your TOK grade to determine how many points you can count towards your IB Diploma. Students should not shirk their responsibilities regarding the EE – failing the EE or TOK would result in students not being able to attain their IB Diploma. As such, students should take the EE seriously and find out what they need to know before they start. Students should also avoid procrastinating as much as possible.

Get a 7 for IB Chemistry (HL/SL) with the IB Chemistry Clinic today!

As the name suggests, the IB Chemistry Clinic does not only fix a student’s grades - it helps students with critical components of the IB Programme, namely the Internal Assessment (IA) which is worth at least 20% of a student’s grade and their Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry.

The IA and EE are a non-negotiable part of the Chemistry curriculum - without them, students will not be able to graduate with an IB Diploma. However, there are many difficulties associated with conducting experiments for the IA and EE - many replications are required and the standard for the final deliverable - the research report - is high. Students need to undertake statistical testing and present their final results coherently and concisely.

Although the IB school provides mentors for the EE and teachers at school can guide students through their IA, attention to each student is often limited in a classroom setting and many students are left to figure things out by themselves. This results in difficulty completing internal deadlines on time, especially when a student needs to juggle all their 6 subjects and the additional components of the IB, along with their CCAs and other commitments.

The IB Chemistry Clinic is here to answer all your questions - whether it is about content knowledge or fixing errors in your experimental setup as you undertake your IA journey, our skilled tutors with a strong background in Chemistry research and 30 years of experience teaching Chemistry are here to help!

Contact us at +65 9616 1651 to book your slot today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to study for IB Chemistry?

Firstly, knowing the syllabus for IB Chemistry (either HL or SL) will help the student revise. Next, try practising with past year IB papers to get used to the exam format. If there are questions students do not know how to answer, they can revise the concepts regarding the question to help them answer them or clarify with a tutor or teacher.

What do you do in IB Chemistry?

IB Chemistry consists of exams at the end of the IB programme and an Internal Assessment where the student needs to perform independent research and experimentation and write a report regarding their methodology and findings.

How do I start giving tuition in Singapore?

Approach various tuition centres and ask whether they have tuition job openings. Alternative, aspiring tutors can join Telegram groups advertising tuition job and assignment opportunities.

Is IB Chem difficult?

Chemistry is one of the hardest IB subjects as students must be good at conceptual understanding of the topics tested as well as good at conducting independent research and writing.

Is chemistry the hardest IB subject?

Chemistry is one of the hardest IB subjects, along with IB History, and IB Maths Analysis and Approaches.

Is IB chemistry or biology harder?

IB Chemistry is ranked as more difficult as IB Biology, but both subjects require a different set of skills which students may find equally hard.

Is IB chemistry harder than A Levels?

The A Level exam is more difficult than the IB exam, but IB involves the Internal Assessment (IA) which features independent research which could be harder than the A Level exam.