By Kimberly Senf - Extended Essay Coordinator & Senior Librarian
The Extended Essay process is a defining milestone for full IB Diploma students and an essential part of completing their IB Diploma. All students undertaking the IB Diploma write a 4000-word essay on a topic of their choosing that is thoroughly researched and includes a variety of academic sources. This essay offers them the unique opportunity to explore a topic of personal interest that connects to one of their IB subjects. It is part of the core of the IB Diploma Program for Grade 11 & 12 students, along with Creativity, Activity, Service and Theory of Knowledge.
The Extended Essay is an independent research project that allows students to develop advanced research and writing skills. Many first-year university students will not encounter a task of this scope, and fine-tuning their skills while still in high school gives IB students a strategic advantage for their university years. Determining which subject-specific databases to use, navigating a university library and managing a project over two school years are all skills that these students have achieved by the end of this process. Students also hone their academic writing skills through the multi-step process of editing their lengthy papers. They learn to structure their essays effectively, integrate research sources, and articulate their analysis in a formal academic style.
This year’s cohort of full IB Diploma students showcased determination and a keen interest in achieving the best outcomes throughout the process of researching and writing their essays. The topics vary widely each year and this group’s research questions were no different. The IB Subjects that these students wrote their essays in are Classical Languages, Economics, History, Language and Literature, Math, Psychology and Theatre. You can see the full list of research questions at the end of this article.
While the Extended Essay is meant to be an independent undertaking on the part of each student, they do meet regularly with their assigned supervisor and with the Extended Essay Coordinator. These check-ins ensure that students are on track and provide an opportunity to untangle any obstacles or issues they encounter along the way.
The Extended Essay process is more than a research paper; it is a transformative experience that fosters independence, time management, and intellectual curiosity. By the time students complete their essays, they are not only well-prepared for the rigours of university-level writing but also proud of their achievements in tackling a challenging academic endeavour. At Elmwood, we commemorate this substantial achievement with cupcakes after their final draft and reflections have been submitted. A sweet way to celebrate the achievement of our IB Diploma students.
2025 IB Diploma Candidate Research Questions:
Classical Languages (Latin) - In what ways does Pyrrhus, the son of Achilles, portray or fail to portray Roman values in Seneca's Troades as he strives to measure up to his father?
Economics - What is the influence of electric vehicle subsidies on increasing the consumption of electric-powered vehicles to reduce negative consumption externalities of fuel-burning transportation greenhouse gas emissions in Canada?
History - To what extent was Allied cryptanalysis responsible for the defeat of German and Italian troops in the North African Campaigns 1940 – 1943?
History - What were the leading reasons for the silence of Black, Jewish, and Chinese civil rights groups towards the policy of Japanese internment during WWII?
Language and Literature - What impact does the panopticon portrayed by Margaret Atwood in The Heart Goes Last have on the protagonists’ behaviour and characterization as the plot progresses?
Mathematics - How do Pascal's Triangle and the Fibonacci sequence illustrate the fundamental principles of discrete functions in mathematical patterns and sequences, and how do they apply to real life?
Psychology - To what extent does involvement in dance foster heightened cognitive intelligence abilities in children vs adults?
Theare - How does Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway adaptation of Hamilton utilize the portrayal of time to enrich the narrative?