EE Advice To Y1 IB Students

Each year, a new crop of Year 1 students embark on the yearlong Extended Essay journey: selecting a research subject and topic, refining a research question, doing actual primary or secondary research, writing their paper, and simultaneously reflecting on their process along the way. Though their teachers and supervisors can provide many useful pieces of advice, students often want to learn from peers who have recently gone through the process. 

After consulting with our IB Year 2 (Y2) cohort of 38 students, I have grouped the advice into two main categories: Planning & Preparation and Writing & Editing. The Y2 cohort had a variety of science EEs, and there is special advice at the end for students considering this route.

As Y1s embark on their journey this December, we hope they will take advice from their Y2 peers. 

Planning & Preparation

• Topic Selection:

  • Choose a topic you're genuinely interested in.

  • Avoid topics that seem “easy” or “trendy”.

  • Consider your strengths and weaknesses.

  • "Choose a compelling topic that you may not know much about yet."

• Research:

  • Conduct thorough research before starting to write.

  • Cite sources as you research.

  • "Do really good research first. Find studies or understand your materials before starting to write."

• Time Management:

  • Allocate specific time for your EE during the summer.

  • Break down the task into smaller, manageable steps.

  • "Allocate time throughout summer, EMPHASIS ON ALLOCATE."

  • "Do it during summer, you're better off pulling summer all-nighters rather than while doing your IAs."

  • "Don't assume that you will get an extension just because you had poor time management"

• Supervisor Relationship:

  • Maintain a good relationship with your supervisor.

  • Be proactive and ask questions.

  • "I'm glad that I talked to my supervisor a lot."

Writing & Editing

• Writing Process:

  • Start writing early, even if it's a rough draft.

  • Write more than you need and then edit.

  • "Write as much as possible then cut down and edit later."

  • "There's no need to hurry in writing your essay. Go at your own pace."

• Structure and Organization:

  • Create a clear outline before you start writing.

  • Organize your information and sources.

  • "Outline your EE before summer (during your defense) to avoid procrastination or writer's block."

• Proofreading and Editing:

  • Proofread carefully and check for errors.

  • Get feedback from others.

  • "Check at least 3 times before you submit the EE."

Specific Advice for Science EEs

• Experimentation:

  • Plan your experiment carefully.

  • Prepare your equipment in advance.

  • Be realistic about your expectations.

  • "If you'd like to write an EE on the sciences (physics/chemistry/bio), always schedule the processes and have the equipment ready before summer."

• Data Analysis:

  • Collect and analyze your data thoroughly.

  • Use appropriate statistical methods.

  • "If you are choosing a data-based science, you need to read A LOT of studies and research papers."

• Writing Style:

  • Use clear and concise language.

  • Follow the guidelines for scientific writing.

  • "If you are not confident in English and want to write EE in English because you don't want to conduct an experiment or because it seems "easy", pick a different subject."

Remember! Careful planning, hard work, and perseverance are the keys to a successful EE journey. Good luck!