EE: Assessment Criteria

Criterion A:  Focus and Method (6 points)

What It Means:  This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the topic and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.

Questions to ask:  

• Does this essay meet the requirements for the subject for which you are registering it?
• Is your research question stated as a question?
• Have you explained how your research question relates to the subject that you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you given an insight into why your area of study is important?
• Is your research question feasible within the scope of the task? Could your research question be “answered” or it is too vague?
• Did you refer to your research question throughout the essay (not only in the introduction and conclusion)?
• Did you explain why you selected your methodology?
• Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?
• If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?
• Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

What is included in the Introduction?

There are 4 things that should be clearly and explicitly included in the Introduction of the EE:

• Research Question (written in question form)
• The context for your topic
• Why it is worthy of investigation
• Methodological approach or source material you have used to arrive at your conclusion

Criterion B:  Knowledge and Understanding (6 points)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question; or in the case of the world studies extended essay, the issue addressed and the two disciplinary perspectives applied; and additionally, the way in which this knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through the use of appropriate terminology and concepts.

Questions to ask:  

• Have you explained how your research question relates to a specific subject you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you used relevant terminology and concepts throughout your essay as they relate to your particular area of research?
• Is it clear that the sources you are using are relevant and appropriate to your research question?
• Do you have a range of sources, or have you only relied on one particular type, for example, internet sources?
• Is there a reason why you might not have a range? Is this justified?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion C:  Critical Thinking (12 points)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the extent to which critical thinking skills have been used to analyze and evaluate the research undertaken.

Questions to ask:  

• Have you made links between your results and data collected and your research question?
• If you included data or information that is not directly related to your research question have you explained its importance?
• Are your conclusions supported by your data?
• If you found unexpected information or data have you discussed its importance?
• Have you provided a critical evaluation of the methods you selected?
• Have you considered the reliability of your sources (peer-reviewed journals, internet, and so on)?
• Have you mentioned and evaluated the significance of possible errors that may have occurred in your research?
• Are all your suggestions of errors or improvements relevant?
• Have you evaluated your research question?
• Have you compared your results or findings with any other sources?
• Is there an argument that is clear and easy to follow and directly linked to answering your research question, and which is supported by evidence? Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?
• If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?
• Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion D:  Presentation ( 4 points)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.

Questions to ask:  

• Have you read and understood the presentation requirements of the extended essay?
• Have you chosen a font that will be easy for examiners to read on-screen?
• Is your essay double-spaced and size 12 font?
• Are the title and research question mentioned on the cover page?
• Are all pages numbered?
• Have you prepared a correct table of contents?
• Do the page numbers in the table of contents match the page numbers in the text?
• Is your essay subdivided into correct sub-sections, if this is applicable to the subject?
• Are all figures and tables properly numbered and labelled?
• Does your bibliography contain only the sources cited in the text?
• Did you use the same reference system throughout the essay?
• Does the essay have less than 4,000 words?
• Is all the material presented in the appendices relevant and necessary?
• Have you proofread the text for spelling or grammar errors?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion D (4 marks)

1. Structure: the structure of the essay should be compatible with the expected conventions of a research paper in the relevant subject (see Subject-specific guide)
2. Layout: Title page, table of contents, page numbers, section headings(if appropriate), effective inclusion of illustrative materials (tables, graphs, illustrations, appropriately labeled), quotations, bibliography, and referencing. - The referencing system should be correctly and consistently applied and should contain the minimum required information. - The EE has not exceeded the maximum word limit.
3. Appropriate formatting.

• 12pt (Arial or New Times Roman)
• Double-space
• Page numbers

Required Elements

• Title page
• Table of Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• Conclusion
• References and bibliography

Title Page

It should include ONLY the following information:

• Title of the essay
• Research question
• Subject--If a language essay, state the category.  If WSEE, state the theme and the two subjects.
• Wordcount

**It should NOT include: the candidate, supervisor or school name

Table of Contents 

• Should be provided at the beginning of the EE.
• All pages should be numbered.

Useful tutorials:

MSWord:

• Heading Styles & Table of Contents in MSWord (click here to watch a simple video)

Body of the essay

• When structuring the body of your essay you should consider the expected conventions of the subject in which it is registered.
• Do not use "Body of the essay" as the heading.
• Sub-headings might be necessary in some subjects and should help the reader understand the argument.

Word Count (max.4000 words)

Included in Word Count:

• The Introduction
• The main body
• The conclusion
• Quotations
• Footnotes and/or endnotes that are not references

NOT Included in Word Count:

• The Table of Contents page
• Maps, charts, diagrams
• Tables
• Equations, formulas & calculations
• Citations/references
• The bibliography
• Headers
• Appendixes
• Reflections

There is more detail on each of the 3 reflections in the Reflections tab above.

Criterion E:  Engagement (6 points)

What It Means:  This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on planning and progress form).

Questions to ask:  

• Have you demonstrated your engagement with your research topic and the research process?
• Have you highlighted challenges you faced and how you overcame them?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your intellectual and skills development?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your creativity and intellectual initiative?
• Will the examiner get a sense of how you responded to actions and ideas in the research process?
  • For prompts to deepen your reflections, go to the Reflections tab above.

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)