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International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• 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

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

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IB Extended Essay: Notes & Outlines

• Research Questions
• Past Essays
• Notes & Outlines
• Works Cited Page
• In-Text Citations
• Assessment Criteria
• Reflections
• Supervisor Info
• Net Valley Library This link opens in a new window

No matter which note-taking strategy you choose, be sure you: 

• Decide on a strategy and stick with it
• Paraphrase everything (Writing in your own words helps you understand)
• T race every idea in your notes back to a source
• Write just enough to remember what you meant, but not copy everything 
• Use symbols, abbreviations, diagrams, drawings 

How to Paraphrase

The rule of 4: Each note must contain

• Quoted material (in quotation marks)
• Your Comment

Research Notes Templates: Choose one and stick with it

• Grid Style: Google or Word
• Category Style: Google or Word
• Notecard Style: Google or Word

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Video : How to log-in

Outline Templates

How and Why to Outline, via Purdue OWL

Basic Outline - The headings you plan to use, in order

• Basic Outline Template   (Word Doc)

Detailed Outlines - Headings, supporting ideas, your analysis, cited sources

• Detailed Outline Template  (Word Doc via E. Sturbridge)
• Detailed Outline  (PDF via Leslie Gallager)
• Grid Style Outline ( Word or Google )

MLA Style Paper Template  (Word Doc)

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IB Psychology EE examples

Filter exemplars, to what extent does global self-esteem influence academic performance, to what extent is mental cognitive specific imagery an effective strategy in enhancing skill specific performance for individual athletes, want to get full marks for your ee allow us to review it for you 🎯, how does maintaining high levels of oxytocin would influence positive behaviors that impact the longevity of romantic relationships in adults, how does major depressive disorder impact the academic performance of youth, to what extent do the big five personality traits play a role in predicting the risk of alzheimer’s disease, fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, to what extent do genetics play a role in male homosexuality, to what extent does conflict contribute to the effectiveness of teamwork, to what extent does intensive care treatment lead to the development of ptsd post- discharge, to what extent does oxytocin affect interpersonal trust in young adults, to what extent do social networking sites increase rates of anxiety in adolescents, how could family-based therapies such as cff-cbt, fft, and fft-hr be implemented in the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder, to what extent is group art therapy effective in treating the negative effects of schizophrenia, to what extent is bilingualism an additive advantage in accelerating cognitive development during early childhood, to what extent do violent video-games increase aggressive behaviour in adolescents, to what extent was age a significant predictor of the subjective feeling of the passage of time during the covid-19 pandemic, to what extent is the use of psilocybin an effective therapeutic approach in patients suffering from treatment-resistant depression (trd), to what extent does music influence the different components of working memory, an analysis of the impact of social and emotional impairment on children with adhd, social media use and mental health during covid-19, to what extent is cognitive-behavioral therapy (cbt) a more effective intervention for post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) in adults compared to prolonged exposure therapy (pe), to what extent is art therapy effective in treating anxiety, analysis of sociocultural effects - western media on the etiology of anorexia nervosa present in adolescent females, to what extent is exposure to corporal punishment before preadolescence correlated with decreased emotional regulation, to what extent do violent video games contribute to aggressive behaviour in adolescents, how effective is debiasing in reducing the influence of cognitive biases in decision making, to what extent can the infliction of corporal punishment by parents cause aggression in children, to what extent does lack of support influence the development of depressive symptoms in transgender people among other sociocultural factors, to what extent does stress negatively influence an individual’s performance on examinations, how do action video games influence the cognitive processes of memory and attention, practice essay: to what extent does mass media play a role in normalizing unethical food choices, to what extent is schizophrenia developed through inheritance, ee draft: integration of societal factors within the lives of adolescents: analysis on mental and physical well-being, to what extent does autism play a role in the onset of depression, to what extent are immigrant adolescents more susceptible to internalizing behaviours.

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IB Extended Essay (EE)

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• Business & Management
• Computer Science
• Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)
• Human Rights
• Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)
• Mathematics
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Visual Arts
• World Religions
• World Studies

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The IB Diploma Programme psychology course is the systematic study of behaviour and mental processes.

Since the psychology course examines the interaction of biological, cognitive and sociocultural influences on human behaviour, it is well placed in group 3, individuals and societies. Students undertaking the course can expect to develop an understanding of how psychological knowledge is generated, developed and applied. This will allow them to have a greater understanding of themselves and appreciate the diversity of human behaviour. 

The holistic approach reflected in the curriculum, which sees biological, cognitive and sociocultural analysis being taught in an integrated way ensures that students are able to develop an understanding of what all humans share, as well as the immense diversity of influences on human behaviour and mental processes. The ethical concerns raised by the methodology and application of psychological research are also key considerations of the IB psychology course.

Psychology subject brief

Subject briefs are short two-page documents providing an outline of the course. Read the standard level (SL) and/or higher level (HL) subject brief below. 

Essay Writing

An essay is a formal piece of writing that methodically analyses and evaluates a topic or issue. It is designed to give a reasoned, thoughtful and objective opinion on the issue, and is a formal piece of writing which typically includes an introduction, body and conclusion. A detailed description of an essay structure (provided by the State Library of Victoria) and an example of an excellent psychology essay (provided by the International Baccalaureate) are outlined below, and further information can be found in the links (here):

• Research Scaffold

Introduction

Your introduction should:

• establish and explain your argument
• define any complex words in the question
• give any background information needed for your argument to make sense
• be one or two paragraphs long.

The best introductions quickly establish the argument and grab the reader's attention. Although all introductions need to follow a similar formula, there are ways to make your introduction a bit different and more interesting.  (Ergo, 2016)

There are usually 3–6 paragraphs in the body of an essay, and each paragraph should:

• present one new idea that adds to your argument
• start with a topic sentence summarising the main idea for discussion
• follow with an example and a brief explanation of how the point adds to your argument
• be connected by a linking sentence describing the relationship between the two paragraphs. ( Ergo, 2016 )

The first sentence in each paragraph is called a topic sentence. Topic sentences:

• explain the point you're going to make in the paragraph
• are clear and concise
• link back to your argument and introduction
• build on the points made in the previous paragraphs
• when read together, summarise your argument.

If you recorded your key points in your essay plan, you've already written your topic sentences. Take your key points, write them in a single sentence and then write a paragraph discussing each one. ( Ergo, 2016 ).

Your conclusion is the last paragraph of your essay and the last thing your reader will read, so it needs to be memorable. A conclusion:

• links back to the introduction
• summarises your key points
• restates your main idea
• should never contain any new information.

Once you've covered these basic elements, think about the ‘So what?' factor – whether your essay stands out from the crowd. Ask yourself:

Why should anyone care about what I've written in this essay? 

How do my ideas add to what we know about the topic?

If you can answer these questions, you're on your way to a great essay.  ( Ergo, 2016 )

Introduction - Example

Autism is a common disorder affecting 1 child in every 166 (Centres for disease control and prevention (CDC), 2006). According to the American Psychiatric association, it is defined by impairment in social interaction and communication skills, as well as an occurrence of repetitive behaviour (APA, 2000). A child diagnosed with autism can debatably obtain normal functioning through measures of therapy, and thus recover from the disorder. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a widely known treatment for autism. The goal of ABA intervention is to enable an autistic child to best function independently and successfully in various environments (Green, Taylor, Luce, & Krantz, 2005). ABA is most successful in combination with early intervention. At a younger age, the brain is at a more adaptable state. According to research, ABA in unison with early intervention allows, in most cases, for a decrease in the severity of autistic characteristics. The extent to which Applied Behaviour Analysis is effective in treating autism is discussed.

Body - First Paragraph Example

Autism is classified as a pervasive development disorder(PDD) due to three common features that appear during early stages of life. These three characteristics are “impaired reciprocal social interaction, impaired communication skills, and restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities” (Berkell, 1999, p.7). The diagnostic features of autism are best described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR. At least six of the criteria must be present for the diagnosis of autism. Of these six, additional requirements exist in each area. Impairment in social interaction is one key feature of autism. This can be marked by abnormal nonverbal behaviours, such as eye contact, facial expression, and body gesture or postures. Failure to develop appropriate peer relationships for age and development, and lack of spontaneous sharing of interests or achievements are two additional examples that demonstrate impaired social interaction. Furthermore, a lack of “social or emotional reciprocity” mark this impairment (APA, 2000, p.70). A child must have at least two of these social criterions in order to be considered autistic (APA, 2000).

Conclusion - Example

Applied Behaviour Analysis appears to be a therapy that works well with the diagnosis of autism. Awareness of case studies, along with personal success stories, can give hope to parents and doctors. Although ABA should never be viewed as a cure, it can help to alleviate characteristics of autism. Therapists and parents must be dedicated to the case at hand, and if so, some improvement can be made. ABA is a recommendable therapy because of the chance of recovery, which is every parent’s dream.

IB psychology IA - learn how to nail your upcoming IA!

Unleash your full potential with the ultimate guide to writing a winning IB Psychology IA in 2023! Discover the latest tips, tricks and insights to score high & Nail IB.

Table of content

Criterion 1 - introduction (6 marks), criterion 2 - exploration (4 marks), criterion 3 - analysis (6 marks), criteria 4 - evaluation (6 marks), presentation.

You'd know how they say IB Psychology is an accessible curriculum, only to realize lessons later that it is an ocean in itself. The vast course requiring you to learn many case studies and theories can be termed anything but easy. More so, when it comes to IB Psychology IA rubrics, without proper guidance, it can quickly become a nightmare!

Worry not! 

Here's an IB Psychology IA guide to show you how to write your IB Psychology IA. Before you, we present the only IB Psychology IA checklist you will ever need to complete your IB Psychology IA!

First and foremost, check out the link to our  How To Score A 7 In IB Psychology IA - Webinar 2020  held last November. Hear an experienced Psychology IBDP Instructor - Paulomi Choudhury, share valuable pointers for the IB Psychology IA, and get that Psychology Internal Assessment rolling!

There needs to be more concrete information on how to go about one's IB Psychology IA. While pursuing a study of one's interest should do the trick, it is usually only valid if one's IA meets IB's requirements. This article will guide you to understand and eventually implement those guidelines to nail your Internal Assessment.

Before we move any further, you must note that the IB Psychology IA rubric has seen a change since M19(May '19 examinations) in terms of the Introduction and Evaluation criteria, i.e., A student can score well without necessarily replicating an original work/study. But since copying a study is a tried and tested formula, you should adhere to it.

Moving on, let's explore some important points regarding the IB Psychology IA rubrics that will help you get a clearer picture of the exploration IB expects you to prepare:

• IB Psychology IA for SL  weighs 25% of the overall score . Simultaneously, for IB HL Psychology IA, the weightage is   only 20% since the HL curriculum includes an additional Paper 3  comprising three short answer questions on research approaches. 
• The IB guidelines require you to replicate a study with only one Independent and one Dependent Variable. You could also modify the original research, focusing on only one Independent and one Dependent Variable. The IB has strict guidelines for the number of Independent and Dependent variables, and you should take extra care since identifying variables in a study can often get confusing.
• The Experimental Investigation is supposed to be conducted in groups of 2-4 students only. This means that the group will only coordinate the procedure, materials list, and data collection and compilation. You should write the reports individually, and though the IAs of a group could be similar, they should be different. 
• Native Language
• Education Level
• Socio-Economic Status
• Handedness.
• Animal Experiments
• Deprivation studies(example, sleep, food)
• Ingestion or Inhalation
• Using children under 12 as participants

The word limit should be at most 1500 for SL and 2000 for HL.

Now that we've gone through these important points let's discuss the structure and the components of your internal psychology assessment.

Drafting a strong Introduction is vital to the entire report. Following the  marking scheme  will ensure you cover all that the Introduction of your Investigation is expected to. 

• Give context: Background of the concept/theory stated and explained in detail.
• Define important terminology used in the investigation.
• The Aim, Procedure, and Results of the replicated Original Study are described briefly and cited. 
• Establish a link between your investigation and the Theory you're replicating(if possible, do it explicitly).
• State the aim of your experiment: Aim should be concise, briefly outlining what you wish to accomplish with your study and highlighting the Independent and dependent variables.
• Explain the relevance of your study(give an application of the same).
• State and operationalize the Independent and Dependent Variables in the Experimental Hypothesis.
• Null Hypothesis.  

One of the most manageable parts to score in is if you understand how IB expects you to go about the Exploration component of your IA, you're sure to get marked well! Exploration refers to the how of the investigation. How you do your research, the list of materials you're using, the relevant justification, and so on. All in all, this section expects you to justify the decisions your group took while replicating the study.

• Identify, Mention, and Explain the design and sampling technique used in your study. Generally, Independent Samples design(two or more groups subject to varying conditions) finds you used more often, but Repeated Samples design is an equally important design technique. It would be best to have valid reasons for opting for the particular design technique you do.  
• Along similar lines, mention and explain why you chose a particular sampling technique for your study. The most commonly used sampling technique for IA experiments is an Opportunity Sample, but it is essential to justify your choice of the sampling technique used in either case. 
• Next, make sure you explain the choice of participants in your study.
• Ensure you explain the confounding and controlled variables and state their influence on the study.
• List the materials and explain your choice. 
• Remember to describe each step on the go when you write the procedure in points or as a paragraph.
• The critical part that examiners look for in your report is proof that your study is ethical. It is best to mention how the participants filled out the Informed Consent Form and reference the appendix with the exact copies (including Consent Forms, Briefs, and Debriefs).
• This component of your report showcases your interpretation of the data. This is challenging since students must apply accurate statistics for their data, thereby losing maximum marks in this section. Below mentioned are the steps you must follow to guarantee you're on the safe side. 
• You are required to  apply both Descriptive and Inferential Statistics appropriately (Read that again).
• For Descriptive Statistics, you should give one measure of central tendency(mean, median, mode) and one measure of dispersion(standard deviation, variance, range, semi-interquartile range). 
• While Descriptive Statistics is used to organize the data, Inferential Statistics is used to infer and draw conclusions about the study/theory. 
• Remember, the statistics must be stated in words and linked to the hypothesis. 
• A labelled Graph should be correctly presented, and the hypotheses properly addressed (You must graph the data).
• Highlight the importance of your data concerning the hypothesis.
• The top band criteria require you to interpret the statistical findings in the context of the study's data.

Evaluation is another component where students make errors quite often. Evaluation of your study implies mentioning its Strengths and Limitations. There are quite a few pointers you need to take extra care of while writing the Evaluation, as given below:

• The investigation's findings should be referred to as the background theory/model and not just the hypothesis. Linking the results to the replicated study is less crucial than relating it to the Theory. Most students need to improve at this part and lose marks.
• the Research Design,
• the Sample, and 
• the Procedure
• Emphasize the explanation and justification.
• Impact on the study, Have you used a different research design.
• Limitations of the Design used.
• While listing the modification for every limitation stated, explain how it would benefit your study. 
• How might particular characteristics have influenced the experiment?
• Do not write - Sample Size should be larger, as a modification.
• Highlight the strengths of the sampling technique used by you. 
• Discuss in light of the time used by your group to carry out the study, the materials used, the Procedure (whether it was standardized), et cetera.
• Refrain from mentioning significant mistakes in your Procedure. If you assess any such errors, try rectifying them instead of saying them.

Note that there is no point in giving generic modifications as they would not be directly relevant to your investigation. 

Before summarizing the criteria mentioned above, let's also go through other necessary (but less spoken of) aspects of your investigation.

How you structure and present your investigation is essential to getting a top score. Some vital information that goes right at the top before your introduction includes:

• Title of the study.
• Student details - Name, Alphanumeric Code, etc.
• Submission date, Number of Words, etc.
• Table of Contents with relevant headings.
• Mention citations in the text, and include a works cited page showing your work's transparency. Academic Honesty is something IB is very strict and particular about, and your investigation should reflect the Honesty of your work.
• Both APA Bibliography and MLA citation formats are acceptable. 
• Raw Data used in your study.
• Calculations used for Statistical Data
• Blank Consent Form (as per the ethical document standards)
• Standardized instructions
• Brief and Debrief scripts (as per the ethical document standards)
• Materials used

And that's all for now!

We hope this article helped clear all your queries regarding the IB Psychology IA rubrics and wish it serves as a foundation for your Psychology IA journey. Unless you understand what the IB expects from your Psychology Investigation, writing an IA will only seem more complicated than it really is. We took you through the process step by step while keeping the standard IB guidelines in context.

Before we wrap it up, we highly recommend you to watch our  How To Score A 7 In IB Psychology IA- Webinar 2020 , as there is no one better than an IBDP examiner to guide you through the process. 

Also, as Paulomi Choudhury mentioned, you don't have to look for topics elsewhere. Your  Oxford Course Companion  has many theories you could replicate, and what better than the studies included in your curriculum? 

So, it's a wrap!

Want some A-quality guidance? Look no further; at Nail IB, we have assembled premium content for you to ace your IBs, and you should check out our resources for a smooth IB experience. Click  here  for top-notch IB resources or to assess how your prep is going! 

This article will be a foundation for you to get going on that IB Psychology IA Investigation of yours!

IB Resources you will love!

Nan + free ib flashcards, -1 + free ia samples, nan + ib videos by experts, -1 + ib sample practice questions, ib resources for nan + subjects.

• Abnormal Psychology
• Assessment (IB)
• Biological Psychology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Criminology
• Developmental Psychology
• Extended Essay
• General Interest
• Health Psychology
• Human Relationships
• IB Psychology
• IB Psychology HL Extensions
• Internal Assessment (IB)
• Love and Marriage
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Prejudice and Discrimination
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Research Methodology
• Revision and Exam Preparation
• Social and Cultural Psychology
• Studies and Theories
• Teaching Ideas

How to answer an SAQ 7 Simple Steps

Travis Dixon July 29, 2019 Assessment (IB) , Revision and Exam Preparation

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The following 7 steps can be taken in order to create excellent short answer responses (SARs)* for Paper 1, Section A. Scroll down for a video explaining the same concept. For teachers, this also makes giving feedback  much  easier.

You could write an excellent short answer response by following the following 7 simple steps.

1. Restate the question

This is a great thing for students to get comfortable doing because in the essays they can get 1 mark just by doing this properly. This is why I like SARs and essays to begin the same way. One sentence, maybe two.

2. State the study (or studies) that will be used in the answer

Steps 1 and 2 are in the introduction. We can also teach these as transferable writing skills because they’re simply doing what any good introduction does – telling the reader what to expect (i.e. providing context for the answer). One sentence, maybe two.

• Top 5 Mistakes in SARs and How to Avoid Them ( Link )
• Example Short Answer Responses – Downloadables ( Link )
• What is the difference between “Outline” and “Describe” ( Link )

3. Define the key term (or terms) in the topic

Some people recommend doing this to begin the answer, and that’s fine, but personally I rather this being the first sentence or two of the central argument. One reason is because I like students to begin an SAR by restating the question and their essays the same way. The other reason is because I think it makes for a pretty good opening to a central argument and shows good knowledge. One sentence, maybe two.

In this post I include some advice on what key terms to define and which to avoid.

4. Explain the topic

All SAQs are asking students to show their knowledge and understanding of a topic so students must have a central argument that both answers the question and shows they “get it.” After all, the purpose of the exams to show that students are competent psychologists so somewhere there needs to be evidence of this and it comes in the explanation of the topic. A major mistake students make in SARs is focusing  only  on the study and completely forgetting about this important step.

Check out one of the exam question banks (e.g Biological bank here ) and see if you can identify the central arguments students should be making in response to these questions

5. Summarize the supporting study

When preparing for IB Psychology exams it’s important to bear in mind the two central questions we are addressing:

• How and why do humans think and act the way they do?
• How do we know?

Thus, all good SARs should respond to these two questions in some way. Steps #3 and #4 address the first question while Steps #5 and #6 address the second.

Good exam answers must show KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. Memorizing definitions and studies is easy but only shows knowledge – explaining topics and the studies is more difficult but is important to show understanding.

6. Explain what the results of the study say about the topic

This is perhaps the most common error in all IB Psychology answers, including SARs and Essays. It is imperative that a summary of a study does not end with the results but goes further and links the study back to the question. For example, if using Loftus and Palmer in an SAR about reconstructive memory it can’t just end with the speed estimates and the %s of participants who saw broken glass, but the answer must go further and explain how these results show that memory is reconstructive in nature.

Read More: How to turn descriptions into explanations ( Link )

Exam reports often lament that there is “too much description” but this is misleading – you can’t have too much description as description of a study (aims, methods, results) shows knowledge.  What the report should say is “not enough explanation” which means linking the study back to the question and the central argument and showing its significance to the topic. i.e. what does the study show or suggest about the topic? This explanation shows understanding.

7. Conclusion (optional)

This could simply be a one sentence statement that neatly restates the central idea of the answer, but it’s not needed. One sentence max!

Don’t believe it’s this simple? Make sure your subscribed and you’ll get the next post in your email: An Example Exam Answer in 7 Simple Steps.

*SAQs and SARs mean the same thing. I prefer the term short answer responses because that’s what students are writing – responses.

Travis Dixon is an IB Psychology teacher, author, workshop leader, examiner and IA moderator.