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WAB Faculty & Staff

EE: World Studies

Extended Essay Resources

EE Guide for World Studies

EE Guide

Look at :​

  • Overview
  • Choice of topic
  • Treatment of the topic
  • Interpreting the EE assessment criteria

Sample EEs with final marks

EE Subject Report

Comments from examiners about what is good and what needs work from a recent Extended Essay session.  Good to review so you have an idea of a) what they look for while assessing and b) mistakes to avoid.

World Studies Overview and 6 themes

An EE in world studies gives students the opportunity to undertake an interdisciplinary study of an issue of contemporary global significance.

“Interdisciplinary” in this context refers to research that draws on the methods, concepts and theories of two Diploma Programme subjects. It is strongly recommended that students are undertaking a course of study in at least one of the subjects chosen for their essay.

“Contemporary” in this context refers to events that took place during the student’s lifetime.

Students are required to

  • identify an issue of global importance
  • identify a local manifestation of the issue of global importance
  • develop a clear rationale for taking an interdisciplinary approach and use the conceptual framework and vocabulary of two Diploma Programme subjects.

Diploma Programme subject groups (possible subjects for World Studies)

Group 1 – Studies in language and literature 

  • Language A: literature – 55 languages offered
  • Language A: language and literature – 16 languages offered
  • Literature and performance (also group 6) – 3 languages offered

Group 2 – Language acquisition

  • Language B –23 languages offered
  • Language ab initio –12 languages offered
  • Classical languages – 2 languages offered

Group 3 – Individuals and societies 

  • Business management  
  • Economics 
  • Geography
  • Global Politics 
  • History 
  • Digital Society 
  • Philosophy  
  • Psychology  
  • Social and cultural anthropology 
  • World religions (SL only)  
  • Environmental systems and societies (also group 4)

Group 4 – Sciences  

  • Biology  
  • Chemistry
  • Computer science  
  • Design technology  
  • Environmental systems and societies (also group 3)  
  • Physics  
  • Sports, exercise and health science (SL only)

Group 5 – Mathematics  

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL
  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation SL
  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL

Group 6 – The arts  

  • Music  
  • Theatre  
  • Visual arts  
  • Dance  
  • Film  
  • Literature and performance (also group 1)