Extended Essay

The extended essay is a required component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP). It is an independent piece of research, culminating with a 4,000-word paper.

What is the significance of the extended essay?

The extended essay provides:

practical preparation for undergraduate research
an opportunity for students to investigate a topic of personal interest to them, which relates to one of the student's six DP subjects, or takes the interdisciplinary approach of a World Studies extended essay.

Through the research process for the extended essay, students develop skills in:

formulating an appropriate research question
engaging in a personal exploration of the topic
communicating ideas
developing an argument.

Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge.