research questions example ib

IB Extended Essay: Research Questions

Research Questions
Past Essays
Notes & Outlines
Works Cited Page
In-Text Citations
Assessment Criteria
Reflections
Supervisor Info
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IB Command Terms

Command terms are the key terms and phrases used in examination questions.

See the lists below for the terms and definitions for each IB subject

Visual Arts command terms
Biology command terms
Chemistry command terms
Math command terms
Language and Literature command terms
Economics command terms
Physics command terms

Sample research questions

Source: IBO.org

Question Starters

Source: Oxford Course Companion, p.17

Research Questions: Class of 2020

Visual Arts: To what extent are the developments in American military aircraft nose designs from World War 2, Vietnam War and Gulf War more connected to individual crew preference than to the visual culture of America, 1940 - 1990?

English A: To what extent does William Shakespeare employ Elizabethan elements in Romeo and Juliet to build towards the eventual tragedy?

English A: To what extent did news media outlets, specifically CNN and Fox News, use different reporting methods to portray the candidates in the 2016 United States presidential election?

English A: How do aspects of real-life societies inform and shape A Clockwork Orange and The Handmaid’s Tale?

English A: How were African Americans portrayed in American sitcoms from 1980 to 2000?

English B: To what extent does 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green reflect 'The Hero's Journey'?

English B: To what extent does social media influence or have an effect on the english language usage?

English B: To what extent does the usage of AAVE affect an individual’s social status and mobility?

English B: To what extent does the development of the Super Bowl mirror specific aspects of American cultural, social, and economic trends?

Psychology: To what extent is the phenomenon of Karoshi, the overworking of office workers in Southeast Asia, interconnected with symptoms of depression?

Psychology: To What Extent is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, as an addition to traditional pharmacotherapy necessary for the successful treatment of Schizophrenia?

Psychology: To what extent is Δ9-THC an effective antidepressant that can be used to treat patients with depression?

Chinese B: 论新时代网络语言对现代汉语有何种影响？

Chinese B: 中国嘻哈歌手如何运用歌词传播中华文化？How do Chinese Hip-hop Artists Promote Chinese Culture through Lyrics?

Economics: To what extent have increases in rental prices (2017-2018) shrunken the market for Korean restaurants in Chegongmiao, Shenzhen?

Economics: How does President Moon's minimum wage policy affect convenience store market in Seocho 1-dong, South Korea?

Business: To What Extent Does the WeChat Application in Tencent's Business Model Play a Role in its Success?

Business: To what extent has Samsung's acquisition of Harman Kardon helped in increasing revenue and access to new markets?

Research Questions: Class of 2019

World Studies (Biology & Economics): How does mountain gorilla (Gorilla beringei beringei) ecotourism support and strengthen local economies while ensuring the mountain gorillas’ health and survival?

English A, Category 3: How are skincare companies like: Neutrogena, Nivea, and Dove promoting white supremacy?

English B, Category 2B: To what extent do the changes in Cersei’s and Daenerys’s character development in the HBO series Game of Thrones show they are ultimately both motivated for and by power?

Visual Arts: To what extent did visual qualities in Coco Chanel’s Little Black Dress 1913, influence black dresses created by Chinese fashion designer Vivienne Tam and haute couture designer Yiqing Yin in regards to development in visual elements and societal acceptances in the 21st century?

Business Management: “To what extent was Apple Inc.’s acquisition of Beats Electronics, LLC an effective growth strategy?”

Math, Group 5: Investigating the Korean MERS outbreak using the SEIR model: How would hypothetical diseases be simulated if variables of the SEIR model were to be altered?

Business Management : To what extent has the benefits offered by Shekou International School helped them retain staff?

Economics: To what extent has the subsidy that was introduced in 2016 for hybrid electric vehicles led to a rise in demand for domestic car producers in Baden Württemberg?

Chemistry: How does the addition of salt (NaCl) which modifies the salinity affects the interfacial tension and stability of oil-in-water emulsion?

World Studies (History & Literature): What aspects of the anti-vaccination movement, and “The Crucible” relate to mass hysteria during the Salem Witch Trials?

Psychology: To What Extent Do Behavioural Addictions Fit The Criteria for ‘The Disease Model of Addiction’?

World Studies (Economics & Politics): To what extent has the political decision to host the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro affected Brazils’ economy and the financial welfare of its citizens?

Physics: To what extent does the volume of water affect the altitude gained by adding a constant pressure?

Psychology: To what extent are sociocultural and biological factors major causes of elderly people’s depressive behavior?

World Studies (History & Economics): To what extent did the LGBTQ community contribute to making attractive neighborhoods in the US and why are they pushed to leave them now?

Economics: To what extent is the cafe market in Shekou, Shenzhen, monopolistically competitive?

Economics: “Which is the most important factor that changes the real estate price rate in Magok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul Korea?”

Business Management: To what extent has McDonald’s marketing strategies played a major role in becoming a prominent fast-food company in Korea?

World Studies (Physics & Geography): To What Extent is the Design of the Standard Houses that Gawak Kalinga Builds Able to Withstand the Seismic Hazards Present in Manila?

World Studies (Economics & Music): To what extent is electronic music’s economy expanding?

Visual Arts: To what extent did artistic influences and material sources impact the chair designs of Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Zig-Zag (1934), Verner Panton Panton S (1956), and Tom Dixon, Capellini, S Chair (1991)?

Business Management: To what extent has Apple Inc.’s prioritization of product innovation and advertising led to sales of iPhone X?

World Studies (Psychology & Geography): How do the combined effects of Socioeconomic Status and Diabetes increase prevalences of Alzheimer’s Disease in different regions within China (PRC)?

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Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 9:39 AM
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The IB Extended Essay: Topic ideas and research Questions

Details of the EE
Topic ideas and research Questions
Subject Guides & documents you need
Writing a research paper
Check the list of available subjects here
Read the IB's criteria for your subject
Read an exemplar essay in your subject
Decide on a topic within this subject
This means you will need to do some research!
During the first meeting with your advisor, discuss the research you've done, your ideas, and the requirements for your subject.
Your revised research question proposal is due May 16.

Adapted from O'Farrell, Finbar. Approach your assessment the IB Way: Extended Essay. pg. 13

Examples of marked EEs in all subjects

From the IB website Have a look at the specific subject you plan on writing your EE for a marked example. You will be able to identify what you need to be successful.

Design Technology

Guide on writing an EE in DT The pdf explains everything clearly and is full of ideas and topics to write about.

Question: Has the introduction of new materials improved the performance of modern racing bicycles?

Question: What are the most ethical and efficient methods--through current technologies--private organizations can use to make Mars habitable for Human life?

History or Geography

Question : In what ways did the Cold War impact American public education? Question: To what extent have Maori non-violent struggles for their land been effective? Question: How could the UN intervention in the Rwandan genocide be justified? Question :Is it politically possible for the US government to win the drugs war? (Politics)

Question: How are the depictions of Marie Antoinette in politics and portraiture significant to the French revolution and the fall of the French Monarchy?

Question: To what extent was film able to further pro-Nazi sentiment in Germany during the early 1930s to mid 1940s?

Question: To what extent were the Vietnam War and cultural shifts occurring in the 1960s and early 1970s vital factors in the development of the student activism on college campuses in the United States and abroad?

Question: To what extent was Matthew Perry’s 1853 arrival in Edo Bay the leading motivator for Japan’s rapid modernization during the Meiji Restoration?

Question: What made the Federal Theatre Project such a success when after only four years of operation it was disbanded by the House of un-American Activities Committee?

Question: To what extent were Kepler’s scientific discoveries revolutionary and how did they impact the development of science in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries?

Question: In what ways did the Hitler Youth organization impact the youth of Nazi Germany?

Question: How did the works of classical Greek philosophers influence the domestic policy of Thomas Jefferson?

Question: How did the Bushido Code influence the meaning of tattoos in Asian culture?

Question: In what way did the Catholic Church affect politics in the Kingdom of Spain during the Dark Ages?

Question: What are the impacts of melting ice in the North and South Poles on the coastlines of the continental United States?

English EEs - ideas for Language and Literature

The EE Guide says the following on p 112 (EE Guide 2018, revised Jan 2017) - remember EACH subject has their own EE guides too.

Quote The EE may relate to work students have already completed during the course, but they must also demonstrate relevant wider reading and individual study. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the topic of their EE does not overlap with any other work they are preparing for assessment in language A—for example, the written assignment in the literature course, or the written task in the language and literature course.

Question: How did Eugene Gladstone O'Neill express the themes of family relationship and sadness in his work Long Day's Journey Into Night?

Question: How does the writing of Japanese horror artist and novelist Junji Ito contrast with the writing of American horror novelist Stephen King?

Question: How do the final movies of the Harry Potter series compare to the final book? What has been changed or depicted differently in terms of characterization and storylines?

Sport Science

Question: How does age affect the process of instant muscle reaction?

Economics or ITGS

Question: What impact does public healthcare have on low income households in the United States compared to those in Canada?

Question: To what extent has deforestation influenced Indonesia's economic and environmental growth?

Physics, Chemistry or Biology Ideas

Question: How have climate change and forestry practices contributed to the spread of the mountain pine beetle in the Pacific Northwest in recent decades, and what does the outbreak show us about the ecological intricacies of climate change?

Question: What evidence is there to support the theory of life on Mars?

Question: How does the DNA sequence of a transthyretin (TTR) gene affect whether Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy (FAP), Familial Amyloidotic Cardiomyopathy (FAC) or Senile Systemic Amyloidosis (SSA) form?

Arts - Visual/Performing

Question : What female stereotypes did Brecht employ in his plays, and how can these be compared and contrasted in performance, based on an analysis of a selection of Brecht's plays? Question : Picasso: individual genius or cultural thief?

Question: How does Rachmaninoff apply thematic development in his composition, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini ?

Question: How do the Peanuts comics, written by Charles Schultz, show visual language?

Question: How did the casting of the leading lady in Cole Porter's Anything Goes affect each production on Broadway?

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Last Updated: Apr 5, 2020 2:09 PM
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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the complete ib extended essay guide: examples, topics, and ideas.

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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Extended Essay Writers

What Is the Research Question in IB?

Luke MacQuoid

As a seasoned IB writer, I’ve seen firsthand how the International Baccalaureate (IB) program molds students into knowledgeable individuals. Central to this transformation is the concept of research questions. Understanding the research question meaning is crucial in the IB context. It’s more than just a query; it’s the heartbeat of your entire project.

Definition of Research Question

In my experience, a research question forms the foundation of your academic inquiry. It’s a carefully formulated, thought-provoking statement that guides your writing. Think of it as the map for your intellectual path.

So, what is research question? This is the pillar upon which the entire project stands. From my perspective, a research question in the IB context is a clear, focused query that drives your investigation and shapes your learning.

In the IB, research questions are critical in shaping the direction of a student’s exploration. They are thoughtfully formulated queries that challenge students to think critically and analytically. According to general IB criteria, a good research question should be specific, measurable, and appropriately complex, reflecting the program’s rigorous standards.

Formulating these questions requires a blend of creativity and academic rigor. A well-formulated research question in IB should lead to a meaningful investigation and ultimately contribute to a deeper understanding of the subject. It should be open-ended enough to allow for thorough exploration yet focused enough to be answerable within the constraints of the project.

The beauty of research questions in IB lies in their ability to inspire students to engage with their subjects profoundly and personally. These questions encourage students to go far from textbook learning, allowing them to apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios. It improves their learning experience and prepares them for academic and professional challenges.

So, the research questions meaning is very straightforward. These are engines that drive intellectual curiosity and academic growth. For example, a well-formulated question in an essay can transform an ordinary project into extraordinary writing.

Types of Research Questions in IB

As an IB educator, I have encountered a fascinating array of research questions, each tailored to the unique demands of the IB curriculum. These questions, crucial in steering the course of a student’s inquiry, come in various forms. Firstly, let’s look at the different options that one might encounter in the IB program:

Descriptive Questions . These questions describe the characteristics of a phenomenon or a subject. For example, “What are the main themes in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’?”
Comparative Questions . Such questions involve comparing different elements, like “How do the economic policies of Country X differ from those of Country Y?”
Causal Questions . These questions are about investigating cause-and-effect relationships. An example could be, “What is the impact of global warming on polar bear populations in the Arctic?”
Predictive Questions . These look to predict a future outcome based on current trends or data, such as “What will artificial intelligence’s impact on job markets by 2030?”
Exploratory Questions . These questions are used to explore new areas with little existing knowledge. For instance, “What potential applications could nanotechnology have in renewable energy?”

Now, integrating these types of questions in research project requires careful consideration. The choice of question type should align with the objectives of your study and the methodology you plan to employ. For instance, a comparative or causal question might be most appropriate if your project involves a detailed analysis of historical events. On the other hand, if you’re venturing into a relatively unexplored area, an exploratory question could be more fitting.

Furthermore, the formulation of these questions demands precision and clarity. In the IB context, where research is not just about finding answers but also about understanding complexities and developing critical thinking, framing your question can significantly influence the depth and scope of your investigation.

Research Questions in Different IB Subjects

I’ve observed that research questions vary significantly across different IB subjects. Each subject has its unique focus and approach, which dictates the nature of the research questions formulated by students.

Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

In these subjects, research questions often probe into the workings of the natural world. For instance, in Biology, a student might ask, “How does the introduction of a non-native species affect the biodiversity of a local ecosystem?” Chemistry students might formulate questions like, “What are the effects of varying pH levels on the rate of an enzymatic reaction?” In Physics, a question could be, “How do different materials affect the efficiency of solar cells?”

Mathematics

These research questions typically involve investigating mathematical theories or applying mathematical models to solve real-world problems. A question might be, “How can calculus be used to optimize the design of a roller coaster for maximum safety and excitement?”

Research questions in History often involve analysis of past events to understand their causes and consequences. A typical question could be, “What were the key factors leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and what were its global implications?”

In Geography, students might consider the interaction between humans and their environment. A possible research question could be, “How have urbanization trends in the past decade impacted the natural landscape of the Amazon rainforest?”

Language and Literature

These subjects might focus on literary analysis or linguistic studies. A student might ask, “How does the use of symbolism in Orwell’s ‘1984’ contribute to its dystopian theme?” or “What are the linguistic impacts of social media on teenage communication?”

Visual Arts

Research questions here often involve looking at the artistic techniques, history, or the impact of art on society. A question could be, “How has modern digital technology influenced traditional photography techniques?”

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

In TOK, students formulate types of research questions about the nature of knowledge and learning. An example might be, “What is the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world?”

Real-World Examples of IB Research Questions

Drawing from my rich experience in the International Baccalaureate program, I can share some real-world examples of IB research questions:

“How does the concentration of industrial pollutants in local water sources affect the biodiversity of aquatic invertebrates?” This question was posed by a student investigating environmental impact and showcased an impressive blend of fieldwork and laboratory analysis.
“Can using natural, locally sourced materials effectively create cost-efficient solar cells?” A student curious about renewable energy and sustainable technology researched this innovative idea.
“What is the efficiency of different shapes of wind turbine blades in generating electricity under varying wind conditions?” This question reflects a student’s engagement with renewable energy sources and practical application of physics principles.
“How can mathematical modeling be used to predict and manage traffic flow in urban areas?” This project demonstrated the student’s interest in applying mathematical theories to solve everyday challenges.
“What were the socio-economic impacts of the Silk Road on ancient civilizations?” A student digs into this historical research question to highlight the interconnectivity of cultures and economies in ancient times.
“How have changes in land use patterns in the Amazon Rainforest affected local climate conditions over the past 50 years?” This inquiry into human-environment interactions required historical data analysis and an understanding of ecological concepts.
“How have modern digital technologies influenced traditional Japanese printmaking techniques?” A student artistically highlights the intersection of technology and traditional art forms.
“How do cultural perspectives influence the interpretation of scientific data in different communities?” This TOK question challenged students to think about the nature of knowledge and its interpretation.

These examples illustrate the vast scope of research within the IB curriculum. Each question is a testament to the student’s ability to identify and investigate complex issues, demonstrating academic rigor and deep engagement with the world.

Common Mistakes in Formulating IB Research Questions

Numerous students need help with the challenging task of formulating research questions. While many succeed, there are common pitfalls that can hinder the process:

A common mistake is creating a research question that is too broad. Questions like “What is the impact of climate change?” lack specificity and can lead to overwhelming information. It’s essential to narrow down the focus.
Some students, to impress, choose overly complex or highly technical topics. However, if the question is too intricate, it might be challenging to find sufficient resources or to address it thoroughly within the constraints of the project.
As far as I know, each IB subject has specific criteria for research. A standard error is choosing a question that doesn’t align with these criteria, leading to challenges in meeting the assessment objectives.
From my experience, students sometimes select a research question based on what they think will be impressive rather than what genuinely interests them. This lack of personal engagement can result in a lackluster project.
Conversely, some questions are too narrow, limiting the scope of research. For instance, a question that can be answered with a simple yes or no, such as “Does light travel faster than sound?” lacks depth and does not allow for extensive research or analysis.
It’s essential to consider the feasibility of the research. Some students overlook the availability of resources , time constraints, or the need for specific expertise or equipment.
Connecting theoretical concepts with practical examples or case studies is crucial, particularly in TOK or the Extended Essay. A research question that fails to make this connection can lead to a disjointed and unsatisfying inquiry.

Need help with your IB extended essay?

From research and analysis to structuring and editing, our skilled mentors will be by your side, helping you craft an exceptional extended essay that not only meets the word count and stringent IB criteria but also reflects your passion for the selected IB group .

Also, remember that ethical considerations are paramount in subjects like Psychology or Biology. Choosing a question that ignores these aspects can compromise the study and conflict with IB’s ethical guidelines.

In summary, formulating an exceptional research question is a skill at the heart of your IB path. It’s a point that should ignite curiosity and drive your investigation forward. A well-defined research question is your first step toward a successful IB project. So, good luck, and remember that our team of Extended Essay Writers is always ready to help!

Luke MacQuoid has extensive experience teaching English as a foreign language in Japan, having worked with students of all ages for over 12 years. Currently, he is teaching at the tertiary level. Luke holds a BA from the University of Sussex and an MA in TESOL from Lancaster University, both located in England. As well to his work as an IB Examiner and Master Tutor, Luke also enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with others through writing articles for various websites, including extendedessaywriters.com blog

Current IB Students

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Research Question

Write a preliminary research question. Try to incorporate an IB command term in the student research question.
Make a list of the steps necessary to carry out the research required for writing the IB Extended Essay - choosing the subject and topic, doing the required reading of IB rules and guidelines, writing the initial research question, and more.

RQ Resources:

Steps to Developing a Research Question

Practice Exercise: Formulating Well-Focused Research Questions

IB Command Terms and Glossaries

Research Question Formats for History Extended Essays

Developing a Research Question

The chosen a subject and topic that interests the student and carried out some preliminary reading. What are the next steps?

Consider the emerging questions. The student should now begin posing open-ended questions about the student topic. These questions will usually be framed "how", "why", or "to what extent."
Evaluate the question. Once the student has posed possible research questions the student should evaluate them. This evaluation should be based on whether the question is clear , focused , and arguable .
Clear - Will the reader understand the nature of my research? Will it direct the research being undertaken?
Focused - Will the research question be specific enough to allow for exploration within the scope of the task (that is, the number of words and time available)?
Arguable - Does the research question allow for analysis, evaluation and the development of a reasoned argument?
Consider research outcomes. Once the student has decided on a research question, the student should start thinking about the direction the research might take. The student could do this by:
suggesting possible outcomes of the student research
outlining the type of argument, the student might make and how the student research might support this
considering options if the research available is not sufficient to support a sustained argument

Sample Research Questions The table below gives some examples showing the difference between unclear and unfocused research.

Practice exercise: Formulating well-focused research questions

Developing a narrow, focused research question is an integral part of the extended essay process. A research question will provide a path to guide the student through the student research and writing.

The student must now start some preliminary reading around the issue or topic. Remember that the student will most likely need to revise the research question once the student start to undertake the research. In this sense the research question should always be considered provisional until the student has enough research data to make a reasoned argument.

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IB Extended Essay Research Question: The Complete Guide

by Antony W

September 2, 2023

We’ve written dozens of EEs in the last 12 months. In our experience, the Extended Essay research question is the most important part of the project. Get this right and you’ll be on your way to completing an essay that earns you 34 points.

The problem is:

Getting the research question right isn’t often as straightforward. Given that it’s the backbone of your research and the essay, it’s easy to feel the pressure that comes with the need to develop a research question that fits the scope of the project.

In this post, we give you some handy tips that can help you come up with a relevant research question for your Extended Essay project.

Key Takeaways

An Extended Essay research question is the question you intend to answer throughout the 4,000-word assignment.
You first have to choose a subject, select a topic, and then formulate your research question from the topic.
The research question must be concise, direct to the point, and fall within the scope of the Extended Essay assignment.

Tips for Extended Essay Research Question

Here are some useful tips to help you develop the most relevant research question for your Extended Essay assignment:

1. Choose an Interesting Topic

The first step to coming up with a relevant research question for your Extended Essay is to choose an interesting topic.

Choosing an interesting topic – or an area you’ve always wanted to explore – means three things:

You’ll not look at or treat the EE as a burdensome task.
You’ll have an easy time developing your research question.
You’ll easily immerse yourself in the topic and easily crank up the 4,000 words in the shortest time possible.

By immersing yourself in the topic that intrigues you, your enthusiasm will also shine through in the final grade of your Extended Essay.

You need to understand that engagement is one of the grading criteria outlined in the IB EE Grade Descriptor Document.

Reflection is important to achieve the highest marks in this criterion. These reflections should convey a significant level of intellectual and personal engagement to the topic that you choose.

2. Develop Your Research Question

Now that you have an interesting topic already selected, it’s time to develop a research question for the Extended Essay.

Here’s how to do it:

Your research question should be more specific than you initially think.

For example:

The question “Why do only some people act aggressively?” is exceptionally broad. It would require more than 4,000 words to answer.

A more suitable research question for an extended essay can be something like “to what extent does the MAOA gene contribute to violent behavior?”

Narrowing down your focus requires thorough research. In our example, the only way you would arrive at the idea of investigating the MAOA gene is if you had conducted extensive research on the topic.

The ultimate goal is to eliminate ambiguity in your research question. When narrowing it down, you must provide precise definitions for each term used.

If you are exploring the philosophy in Albert Camus’ writings, it is essential to specify that you are investigating absurdist philosophy and clarify its meaning.

3. Focus on a Research Question You Can Answer

Many students struggle to write Extended Essays because of choosing the wrong topic and formulating the wrong research question.

Such mistakes are common, but you don’t want to fall into this trap because it can set you back in terms of time, resources, and effort.

Understand that thorough research is crucial to determine the availability of background information necessary to address your question.

Mechanisms can be challenging to grasp. In the case of your EE research question, you must dedicate time to find out whether there’s enough existing information on the mechanism you intended to explore.

If you notice that there isn’t enough information to warrant continuing with exploring the research question, you should consider something else altogether.

The last mistake you want to make is to write a paper that will veer into excessive theoretical speculation. Sometimes simply rephrasing the research question into something different can go a long way to make a huge difference.

4. Avoid Making Assumptions

This primarily applies to subjects in the humanities.

Suppose you’re a history student planning to write an Extended Essay on Italy during World War 2.

After following the previous tips on how to write an Extended Essay research question, you may come up with a research question that looks something like this:

“How did Mussolini’s unethical policies weaken Italian morale during the Second World War?”

While this research question appears focused, it contains words like “unethical” and “weaken”. Here, we already assume the cruel nature and negative impact of Mussolini’s policies.

It would be more advantageous to maintain an objective and academic tone by avoiding such biased terms. A better starting point would be to ask whether Mussolini’s policies did or did not weaken morale.

5. Ask Someone to Proofread Your Research Question and Share Their Opinion

Did you happen to spot the typo in the research question provided earlier? If you did, it highlights the importance of having someone else review your work.

Having another person proofread your EE research question goes beyond simply correcting typos. They may also uncover hidden assumptions that you might have overlooked.

To receive the most valuable feedback on all aspects of your EE, consider asking someone with experience.

While your peers are a viable option, it would be even better to seek guidance from individuals who understand the requirements for achieving an A grade. Therefore, your teacher or former students from your school would be good choices.

About the author

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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Knowledge Base
Starting the research process
10 Research Question Examples to Guide Your Research Project

10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project

Published on October 30, 2022 by Shona McCombes . Revised on October 19, 2023.

The research question is one of the most important parts of your research paper , thesis or dissertation . It’s important to spend some time assessing and refining your question before you get started.

The exact form of your question will depend on a few things, such as the length of your project, the type of research you’re conducting, the topic , and the research problem . However, all research questions should be focused, specific, and relevant to a timely social or scholarly issue.

Once you’ve read our guide on how to write a research question , you can use these examples to craft your own.

Note that the design of your research question can depend on what method you are pursuing. Here are a few options for qualitative, quantitative, and statistical research questions.

Cite this Scribbr article

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McCombes, S. (2023, October 19). 10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project. Scribbr. Retrieved April 15, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-question-examples/

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HS IB Extended Essay Guide: Research Questions

Getting Started
Research Questions
References & Citations
Reflection (RPPF)
World Studies Extended Essay
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Past Essays
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Citing Images, Tables, & Graphs

What is a good Research Question (RQ)?

The research question is intended to be answered through researching and writing the ee. it appears on the title page, included in the introduction, and could be visible as a header throughout the essay. .

It should:

be clear and focused
provide a path through which you can undertake achievable research
use key words that connect with the topic, and the DP subject or world studies areas of study
support the development of an argument

Source: IBO

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Subject - Topic - Question Practice Activity

Subject - Topic - Question practice activity Use this document to help: identify interests, narrow down your topic and limit your research question

RQ starters

RQ Question Starters A list of common question starters that may help you design your own research question or convert a working title into a question format.

Sample Research Questions

Sample Research Questions: 2023 Grads

Sample Research Questions - 2022 Grads

Sample Research Questions: 2021 Grads

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Extended Essay (IB): Developing a line of inquiry

The Inquiry Process
EE Seminar 1
EE Seminar 2
IT Workshop 1
EE Investigation Days
EE Writing Days
Choosing a subject and topic
Developing a line of inquiry
Finding and selecting sources
Working with ideas
Expressing your ideas
Using ManageBac
Supervisor resources
Who can help?

Your line of inquiry will develop throughout the first part of your inquiry, starting with a vague unfocussed idea of which subject and topic you may be interested in, and ending up as a clear and focused research question which guides the rest of your inquiry and shapes your final essay.

Don't be tempted to fix your question too early - often it is only as you undertake your initial research that you begin to understand how to shape your question so that it is narrow enough to focus your inquiry but broad enough to allow a balanced discussion.

Connecting with your topic

If you haven't already worked through the Choosing a subject and topic tab, you should do that now. Connecting with your topic means both making sure you are familiar with the Subject-Specific Guidelines (and Ethical Guidelines, where appropriate) and developing a broad overview of your topic.

You cannot begin to seriously investigate your topic and to decide on your question until you have undertaken some significant background reading (print, online, or both). Don't forget to keep a note of what you are reading in your Research Log - it's so frustrating when you remember that you came across a really good book or website during this 'browsing' stage, but you can't find it again!

One of the most important features of this 'getting to know your topic' stage, is developing a list of key terms that will help you to search for the resources you need. Most of the time, if you find yourself complaining that "there isn't any information on my topic" in a database of journals, or on the Library catalogue it is because you haven't developed a broad enough list of search terms. Equally, if you are finding too many resources but none of them is really focused enough on the topic you need, this will be because your search terms are too narrow.

This keywording resource will allow you to build your own set of keywords as you get to know your topic. This will save you a great deal of time in the long run as you will refine your search strategy and not find yourself doing the same searches over and over again. It will also help your supervisor and the Library staff to help you if you are struggling to find suitable resources.

Topic vs title vs research question in the EE

"a note on topic, title and research question.

It is important that students understand the distinction between the terms topic , title and research question .

The topic of the extended essay is the subject, issue or theme that you are investigating within a specific DP subject or world studies area of study. The topic, which develops during the initial thinking about the EE, should later be reflected in the wording of the title.
be short, descriptive and succinct
not be phrased as a question
use key words that connect with the topic and the DP subject or world studies area of study
attract the interest of the reader.
be clear and focused
provide a path through which you can undertake achievable research
use key words that connect with the topic, the title, and the DP subject or world studies area of study
support the development of an argument."

(From the I B Extended Essay Guide: Research and Writing Process )

Steps to developing a research question

(From The IB Extended Essay Guide: The Research and Writing Process )

Examples of research questions

Research Log

As your EE progresses, your research question will develop. Use the Research Log to record your initial thoughts and the changes you make along the way. This will help you with your reflections too.

You should also use this document as a record of the background reading you do, making sure to include all of the information you need for your bibliography.

Mindmapping

Mind maps can be very useful tools for thinking with, from 'brainstorming' initial ideas to organising your research and developing your arguments. There are a number of free mind-mapping sites on the internet. Why not give one a try?

Researchers Reflection Space (RRS)

A Researcher's Reflection Space is simply a place where you keep a 'running commentary' of how your inquiry is going. In it for example, you might keep notes of how your question is evolving, interesting resources you have found and any notes you have made on them, your list of keywords, any questions you have for your supervisor or a member of Library staff, your inquiry timeline and how you are feeling about your inquiry at the moment. There is a dedicated space for this in ManageBac , but it is not compulsory to use that. You might prefer a physical notebook or folder or perhaps a OneNote document or Word document. It is helpful if you can share your RRS with your supervisor to help them to keep track of your progress. You will find more information about this in the Reflecting tab of this Subject LibGuide.

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Example essays

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) programme resource centre, a key resource for educators at IB World Schools, includes several examples of extended essay titles .

These highlight the diverse range of topics covered by International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students during their extended essays.

Some examples are:

“An analysis of costume as a source for understanding the inner life of the character”
“A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery after a period of supervised improved nutrition.”
“Doing versus being: language and reality in the Mimamsa school of Indian philosophy.”
“The effects of sugar-free chewing gum on the pH of saliva in the mouth after a meal.”
“To what extent has the fall in the exchange rate of the US dollar affected the tourist industry in Carmel, California?”
“What level of data compression in music files is acceptable to the human ear?”

Also available in the programma resource centre , the Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures has guidance on choosing a subject for the extended essay.

The PRC is only available to existing IB World Schools.

You can also purchase examples of essays in the IB Store . These essays fulfil the requirements for an ‘A’ grade in the extended essay.

If your school is not one already, learn how to become an IB World School in order to implement the DP.

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Guide to the IB Extended Essay in 2024

January 24, 2024

If you’re an International Baccalaureate student getting ready to write your IB Extended Essay, you might be experiencing some very understandable trepidation. But have no fear—we’re here to help you understand what’s required of you, how to plan ahead (IB extended essay topics), and how you’ll be graded (IB extended essay rubric). Keep reading for a good dose of preparation and confidence before you begin the journey. In this article, we’ll cover:

What is the IB Extended Essay?

The ib extended essay—required content, ib extended essay topics.

IB Extended Essay—Sample Essays

IB Extended Essay Tips

Ib extended essay rubric, ib extended essay—more resources.

The IB Extended Essay is a 4,000-word paper that asks you to immerse yourself in research and academic writing. A required part of the IB program, the Extended Essay is a chance to dig deep into a topic that fascinates you.

Although it’s no small task, the IB Extended Essay is an opportunity to gain practical research and writing skills that will come in handy again in college. As you write, you’ll learn how to:

Identify credible sources
Formulate a research question and limit your scope of research
Communicate ideas to an audience
Develop a well-supported argument

The IB Extended Essay is largely an independent, self-directed project, but don’t worry—the IB program doesn’t throw you into the deep end. You do get to select a mentor (usually a teacher at your school) to help guide you through the process. As you write, you’ll be required to meet with your mentor three times. As part of your final evaluation, your mentor will interview you in a final reflection section called a viva voce . During the viva voce, your mentor will check for plagiarism and malpractice, ask you to reflect on challenges and difficulties, and prompt you to discuss what you’ve learned through the research and writing process. Your mentor will then generate a report that factors into your final grade.

Your final essay must include the following:

Contents page
Introduction
Body of the essay
References and bibliography

For this essay, it will be up to you to generate a topic; the International Baccalaureate does not provide prompts. However, your essay will need to fit within one of six provided subject areas . You’ll choose from the following list of IB Extended Essay Topics:

Language and literature
Language acquisition
Individuals and societies
Mathematics

IB Extended Essay Topics (Continued)

At a glance, the subject areas might look limited, but the topics you can choose to write about are actually wide-ranging. The “Individuals and societies” category includes social science topics like economics, history, world religions, and philosophy. And, if you’re leaning toward “Science,” you can choose from classic subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics, or related topics like environmental systems or health science, among others.

The IB also offers a special “World Studies” option for students interested in researching global issues. This subject would allow you to center your writing on global issues such as migration, global health, cultural exchange, or climate change.

Wondering what an outstanding IB Extended Essay looks like? The International Baccalaureate provides quite a few sample student essays online . Here are five essays that earned A grades.

Language and literature: An exploration of an aspect of the narrative voice in Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita

Environmental Systems and Societies: The economic impact of the 1995 reintroduction of grey wolves to Yellowstone National Park

Psychology: To what extent do social networking sites (SNS) usage lead to experience of anxiety in adolescents?

Music: Composition techniques in the 1st movement of Johannes Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, Op. 73

Business Management: Corporate Culture at Oracle

1) Pick something you’re passionate about

As you can see from the titles above, the IB Extended Essay is a great place to delve into a niche topic that fascinates you. Since you’ll be spending many months on this essay, you’ll want to pick a topic you genuinely enjoy spending time learning about. It’s also smart to choose something you’ve already learned about in your IB classes so that you have a strong foundation of knowledge to start with. In music class, do you love pondering why music makes us feel a certain way? Maybe an essay about music theory will keep your gears turning. Do you come alive trying to solve seemingly impossible problems in physics class? Now’s your chance to put those equations into action.

Since this essay is all about your academic interests, it’s also a good idea to pick a topic that’s relevant to what you plan to study in college. Selecting a relevant topic will provide you with significant exposure to the field and will also give you something meaningful to talk about in your college admissions essays.

2) Limit your scope

What’s the meaning of life? Why do wars happen? What is time? Some questions are just way too big to answer, and your IB Extended Essay is not a good place to tackle expansive, philosophical questions. Instead, think of this essay as a place to investigate one piece of a big question. If, let’s say, you’re generally interested in what helps women reach positions of leadership in business, this is a good place to examine how one or a few companies approach this issue. Or, if you’re interested in studying what inspires surrealist painters, you’ll want to pick one or a few painters to research, likely all from the same time period. For both these topics, you’d need a whole textbook to tackle the full question, but limiting your scope will make it much easier to write a clear and cohesive 4,000 words.

On the other hand, it’s possible to narrow your focus too much. It would be impossible, for example, to write 4,000 words about a single sentence in a novel. Make sure you talk about scope early and often with your mentor. Together, you can find the perfect Goldilocks scope for your project that’s not too big and not too small.

3) Choose a good mentor

Speaking of mentors, choosing wisely will help you enormously as you embark on your IB Extended Essay. You’ll want to make sure you choose someone with existing knowledge in your research topic. Your English teacher may be able to give you great writing advice, for example, but they won’t be able to guide your research and scope if you’re writing about marine animals or modern dance.

Before you approach a teacher, make sure you have at least one topic idea (or even a few ideas) in mind so that you can make sure they’ll be a good fit to supervise your project. When you meet with them, find out what their mentorship style is like. Make sure they’ll have time to read several drafts of your essays, meet with you a few times, and give you feedback. Some IB schools will require your IB Extended Essay mentor to sign an agreement form too, so make sure you find out what paperwork is required in advance.

4) Get organized, way organized

The IB Extended Essay is not something you can crank out the night before it’s due. The essay is meant to be a substantive, in-depth, thoughtful, and thoroughly researched analysis, and Rome simply isn’t built in a day. This might be the longest paper you’ve written to date, and this project might require more research than you’ve been asked to do before. Timelines vary by school, but you’ll likely spend between eight months and a year working on your IB Extended Essay. So, how will you pull it all off? For these 8-12 months, organization will be your guiding light. We recommend you:

Get started early. If your essay is due November of your senior year, start generating topic ideas during your junior year right after winter break.
Create a long-view schedule for yourself. What will you accomplish each month of your process?
Give yourself deadlines. Once you choose a mentor, suggest 2-3 draft deadline dates so that you will be held accountable throughout the writing process.
Find a note-taking system that works for you. You’ll be reading many articles and books and it’s hard to keep track of all your sources. Create a document or spreadsheet where you keep track of the sources you’ve found and check them off as you read. As you finish reading a text, type up important quotes and a few notes explaining how it connects to your topic and to your other texts.

5)Write a messy first draft

Writing never comes out perfect the first time, even for New York Times bestselling authors and the most experienced researchers. In your first draft, give yourself permission to get all your thoughts out, no matter how unstructured or rambling they are. Call this your brainstorming draft. When you’re ready to revisit it, see what patterns emerge, what common ideas you can group together, what beginning buds of ideas you can make bloom into full-fledged analysis.

6) Communicate for an audience

When you’re used to producing writing that only your teacher reads, it can be hard to remember to write for an audience. But at the end of the day, writing is communication , and the best writing is clear and thorough communication that anyone could pick up and read. For your IB Extended Essay, you’ll want to remember that many people will be reading your final essay, and not all of them will be experts in the niche topic you choose to study. Ask yourself: how can I explain my research to an audience who doesn’t already agree with my analysis?

To communicate to an audience, you’ll want to:

Provide lots of general background information on your topic.
Don’t assume your reader is familiar with your sources. Introduce them as if they’re guest speakers about to walk up to a podium and deliver a lecture.
After including quotes, facts, and figures, be sure to explain what those sources mean in your own words and how they connect to your bigger-picture argument.
Don’t assume your arguments are self-evident. In this essay, communicating for an audience means supplying ongoing interpretation and analysis, even if it feels like you’re explaining the obvious. Your reader isn’t on your research journey with you, so your points might not be so obvious to your reader.

Although your IB Extended Essay provides a report that factors into your grade, your essay will also be assessed by external examiners the IB. Per the IB Extended Essay Rubric , essays are graded on a scale from 0 to 34 based on 5 different criteria:

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)

As you can see, Critical Thinking is the most significant rubric category. This means that the IB wants to see you arrive at your own unique analysis of your topic, drawing connections between sources and data, and making well-supported arguments. This means they want a lot of you: your ideas, your interpretations, your thoughts. Make sure you emphasize that in your essay, but of course don’t forget the other categories.

The score a student receives corresponds to a letter grade scale that is slightly different than what we’re accustomed to in the U.S. Here’s the letter grade to numerical score breakdown:

You must earn a D or higher to receive your IB Diploma. To learn more about the different criteria included in the IB Extended Essay Rubric, you can explore the IB’s full guide to the Extended Essay .

We hope you found our look at the IB extended essay rubric and IB extended essay topics to be helpful. Ready to dive into research? You may want to read our 10 Expert Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension before you hit the books.

And if you’re a high school student in the process of mapping out your pathway to college, take a look at a few other useful guides:

IB vs AP—Which Classes are Best for College Admission?
How to Earn College Credit in High School
High School Course Requirements for College Admission
SAT Score Calculator
ACT Score Calculator
High School Success

Christina Wood

Christina Wood holds a BA in Literature & Writing from UC San Diego, an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in English at the University of Georgia, where she teaches creative writing and first-year composition courses. Christina has published fiction and nonfiction in numerous publications, including The Paris Review , McSweeney’s , Granta , Virginia Quarterly Review , The Sewanee Review , Mississippi Review , and Puerto del Sol , among others. Her story “The Astronaut” won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a “Distinguished Stories” mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology.

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Extended Essay: Example Research Questions

Extended Essay- The Basics
Step 1. Choose a Subject
Step 2. Educate yourself!
Using Brainstorming and Mind Maps
Identify Keywords
Do Background Reading
Define Your Topic
Conduct Research in a Specific Discipline
Step 5. Draft a Research Question
Step 6. Create a Timeline
Find Articles
Find Primary Sources
Get Help from Experts
Search Engines, Repositories, & Directories
Databases and Websites by Subject Area
Create an Annotated Bibliography
Advice (and Warnings) from the IB
Chicago Citation Syle
MLA Works Cited & In-Text Citations
Step 9. Set Deadlines for Yourself
Step 10. Plan a structure for your essay
Evaluate & Select: the CRAAP Test
Conducting Secondary Research
Conducting Primary Research
Formal vs. Informal Writing
Presentation Requirements
Evaluating Your Work
Last Updated: Apr 12, 2024 2:56 PM
URL: https://libguides.westsoundacademy.org/ee

70+ IB Physics IA Topics and Research Questions

Table of contents

Writing Metier

Hey there, fellow IB Physics enthusiasts! I know that the world of Physics IA topics can be overwhelming, but worry not! I’m here to walk you through a handpicked selection of IA topics and research questions that will pique your interest and score impressive marks.

No more long, boring introductions that have nothing to do with what you are here for. Let’s get straight to it, shall we?

Physics IA Topic Ideas and Research Questions

Mechanics and energy topics.

1. Angular Momentum

How does the angular momentum of a rotating object change with its mass distribution?

2. Energy Conservation in Simple Harmonic Motion

How is energy conserved in a simple harmonic oscillator, and how does the mass of the oscillator affect this?

3. Centripetal Force in Circular Motion

How does the radius of a circle affect the centripetal force required to keep an object in circular motion?

4. Efficiency of Machines

How does the efficiency of a simple machine (like a pulley) vary with the load applied?

5. Air Resistance and Terminal Velocity

How does the shape and size of an object affect its terminal velocity when falling through air?

6. Elastic and Inelastic Collisions

How does the type of collision (elastic vs inelastic) affect the conservation of momentum?

7. Buoyancy and Archimedes’ Principle

How does the shape of an object affect the buoyant force acting on it?

8. Pressure in Fluids

How does the depth of a fluid affect the pressure exerted at that depth?

Thermal Physics Ideas

9. Heat Transfer and Insulation

How does the type of material affect the rate of heat transfer through conduction?

10. Thermal Expansion

How does the coefficient of linear expansion vary for different materials?

11. Heat Engines

How does the efficiency of a heat engine vary with the temperature of the heat source?

12. Phase Changes and Latent Heat

How does the rate of phase change in a substance relate to the amount of latent heat supplied?

13. Blackbody Radiation

How does the intensity of blackbody radiation vary with temperature?

14. Thermodynamics of Gases

How does the pressure of a gas change with its volume (investigating Boyle’s law)?

15. Heat Capacity of Solids

How does the heat capacity of a solid vary with its mass and composition?

16. Radiative Heat Transfer

How does the distance between objects affect the rate of radiative heat transfer?

Oscillations and Waves Topics

17. Sound Waves and Resonance

How does the frequency of a sound wave affect the resonance in a closed tube?

18. Wave Speed and Medium

How does the speed of a wave vary with the properties of the medium through which it travels?

19. Interference Patterns

How does the spacing between slits affect the interference pattern produced in a double-slit experiment?

20. Doppler Effect

How does the speed of a source affect the observed frequency (investigating the Doppler effect)?

21. Polarization of Light

How does the angle of incidence affect the polarization of light passing through a polarizing filter?

22. Standing Waves

How does the length of a string affect the formation of standing waves?

23. Wave Reflection and Transmission

How does the angle of incidence affect the reflection and transmission of waves at a boundary?

24. Harmonics in Musical Instruments

How do different musical instruments produce harmonics, and how does this relate to the quality of sound produced?

Electricity and Magnetism Ideas

25. Magnetic Fields and Currents

How does the magnitude of a current affect the magnetic field produced around a wire?

26. Capacitance and Dielectrics

How does the type of dielectric material affect the capacitance of a capacitor?

27. Electromagnetic Induction

How does the rate of change of magnetic flux affect the induced electromotive force?

28. Electric Fields

How does the arrangement of charges affect the electric field produced in a region?

29. Faraday’s Law

How does the number of turns in a coil affect the induced voltage according to Faraday’s law?

30. RC Circuits

How does the resistance and capacitance in an RC circuit affect the time constant of the circuit?

31. Magnetic Forces on Moving Charges

How does the velocity of a charged particle affect the magnetic force experienced in a magnetic field?

32. Electromagnetic Waves

How does the frequency of an electromagnetic wave affect its propagation through different mediums?

Modern Physics IA Topics

33. Photoelectric Effect

How does the frequency of incident light affect the kinetic energy of emitted electrons in the photoelectric effect?

34. Nuclear Decay

How does the half-life of a radioactive material relate to the number of nuclei present?

35.Quantum Tunneling

How can quantum tunneling be demonstrated and what are its implications in modern technology?

36. Special Theory of Relativity

How does the special theory of relativity explain the behavior of objects moving at high speeds?

37. Quantum Entanglement

How can quantum entanglement be demonstrated, and what are its implications for modern physics?

38. Fusion and Fission

How do nuclear fusion and fission processes release energy, and how can this be measured?

39. Particle Physics

How can the properties of fundamental particles be investigated using particle accelerators?

40. Cosmology and the Big Bang Theory

How does the Big Bang theory explain the origin and evolution of the universe?

Optics and Light Physics Topics and RQs

41. Refraction and Snell’s Law

How does the angle of incidence affect the angle of refraction in various mediums?

42. Diffraction Patterns

How does the width of a slit affect the diffraction pattern observed on a screen?

43. Fiber Optics

How does the angle of light entry affect the total internal reflection in a fiber optic cable?

44. Polarization of Light

How does the angle of a polarizing filter affect the intensity of transmitted light?

45. Lenses and Focal Length

How does the curvature of a lens affect its focal length and image formation?

46. Color and Wavelength

How does the wavelength of light affect the perceived color?

47. Laser Light Properties

How does the coherence of laser light affect its behavior in various experiments?

48. Light Intensity and Inverse Square Law

How does the distance from a light source affect the intensity of light, and how can this be used to verify the inverse square law?

Astrophysics and Cosmology IA Ideas

49. Hubble’s Law and the Expanding Universe

How does Hubble’s law provide evidence for the expansion of the universe?

50. Stellar Spectroscopy

How can the composition of stars be determined through spectroscopy?

51. Galactic Rotation Curves

How do galactic rotation curves provide evidence for the existence of dark matter?

52 Solar Activity and Earth’s Climate

How does solar activity, such as solar flares and sunspots, affect Earth’s climate?

53. Exoplanets and Habitability

How can the habitability of exoplanets be assessed based on their atmospheric composition and distance from their star?

54. Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

How does the cosmic microwave background radiation provide evidence for the Big Bang theory?

55. Gravitational Waves

How have gravitational waves been detected, and what do they reveal about the events that produced them?

56. Dark Energy and the Fate of the Universe

How does the concept of dark energy explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, and what implications does this have for the fate of the universe?

If you require expert physics paper writing assistance , Writing Metier is always ready to help.

Quantum Mechanics Topics

57. Quantum Superposition

How does the principle of superposition explain the behavior of particles in quantum mechanics?

58. Quantum Entanglement

How can quantum entanglement be experimentally demonstrated, and what implications does it have for information transfer?

59. Quantum Tunneling

How can quantum tunneling be demonstrated in a laboratory setting, and what are its applications in modern technology?

60. Wave-Particle Duality

How does the double-slit experiment demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light and matter?

61. Quantum Computing

How does quantum computing leverage the principles of quantum mechanics to enhance computational power?

62. Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle

How does the Heisenberg uncertainty principle limit the precision with which certain pairs of physical properties can be simultaneously known?

63. Quantum Teleportation

How does quantum teleportation work, and what are its potential applications?

64. Quantum Cryptography

How does quantum cryptography enhance the security of information transmission?

Environmental Physics IA Topics and RQs

65. Climate Change and Greenhouse Effect

How do greenhouse gases contribute to climate change, and what experimental evidence supports this?

66. Renewable Energy Sources

How can the efficiency of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, be maximized?

67. Energy Conservation in Buildings

How does the design of buildings affect energy consumption, and what strategies can be employed to minimize energy use?

68. Physics of Earthquakes

How can the principles of physics be applied to understand the mechanisms of earthquakes and to develop strategies for minimizing their impact?

69. Oceanography and Sea Level Rise

How does the melting of polar ice caps contribute to sea level rise, and what are the potential impacts on coastal regions?

70. Atmospheric Physics

How do physical processes in the atmosphere influence weather patterns and climate?

71. Physics of Recycling

How can the principles of physics be applied to enhance the efficiency of recycling processes?

72. Noise Pollution and Acoustics

How does noise pollution affect the environment and human health, and what strategies can be employed to mitigate its effects?

Enough for today?

As you approach your IB Physics IA, it’s evident that physics encompasses a broad spectrum of topics ripe for exploration.

Each category we’ve outlined offers a distinct avenue to investigate the complex and fascinating principles that govern our universe. I tried to provide a list that will be suitable for various IB subject combinations with your IA in Physics.

Whether your preference leans towards the intricacies of quantum mechanics or the grandeur of astrophysics, a research question awaits your scrutiny and analysis.

More simillar articles with IA topic suggestions:

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Now is the moment to engage fully with a project that aligns with your academic interests and aspirations.

Wrapping Up

We have now covered a wide range of potential topics and research questions for your IB Physics IA. The next step is yours to take. Remember, the most impactful projects stem from a genuine interest and a deep-seated curiosity about the chosen topic.

Your dedication and enthusiasm for your selected topic will naturally translate into a rewarding and successful project. I wish you a productive and insightful experience in the captivating field of physics.

Get assistance with IB Physics IAs

And if you need assistance with topic selection or writing a custom Physics IA, Writing Metier is here to land you a hand!

Free topic suggestions

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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100 IB Extended Essay Topic Ideas!

One of the biggest keys to the Extended Essay is choosing which subject you want to write your work in and developing that crucial research question. Read on to find inspiration for topics across a wide range of subjects.

Extended Essay: The Love/Hate aspect of the IB

One of the biggest keys to the Extended Essay is choosing which subject you want to write your work in and developing that crucial research question. Annoyingly, coming up with that idea and research question can be the toughest part of the entire process. Writing 4,000 words about something you are interested in is a big ask and it often feels impossible to narrow down your thoughts. To make everything super clear, here are 100 Extended Essay Topics for you to draw inspiration from! Use these as a springboard to create your own research question !

Get Support from A Top Tutor Today

At Lanterna we have over 300 tutors who smashed their Extended Essay. They know exactly how to get an A in your EE and can give you tips and tricks on how you can do the same. What are you waiting for? Get your own tutor today !

How to Begin Your IB Extended Essay

To make everything super clear, here are 100 Extended Essay Topics for you to draw inspiration from! Use these as a springboard to create your own research question !

Get Support from a Top Tutor Today

At Lanterna, we have over 300 tutors who smashed their Extended Essay. They know exactly how to get an A in your EE and can give you tips and tricks on how you can do the same. What are you waiting for? Get your own tutor today!

10 Steps to Writing an Extended Essay

Before we look at specific topics for your essay, let’s recap the 10-steps you’ll need to follow to complete your extended essay.

1. Define the Topic and Draft the Research Question

2. Create a Timeline

3. Identify and gather Sources

4. Set Deadlines

5. Plan the structure according to the total word count

6. Evaluate

7. independent Research

8. Write the extended essay draft

10. Present

By following the steps above, you should be able to produce a logical and coherent rationale to follow when writing the extended essay for your IB diploma programme.

By starting with a solid research question, you’ll be able to put an extended essay of global significance together, from the research and writing process all the way through to your final submission with a favourable extended essay grade.

Below, we’re sharing 10 topics across 10 subjects to inspire your next IB extended essay.

1. How the change of habitat affects an X organism?

2. How does climate affect the growth of X plant?

3. Can photosynthesis take place without sunlight?

4. What is the effect of age and gender on the photoreceptor cells in the human retina?

5. How is climate change impacting the appearance of coral reefs?

6. An evaluation of how antioxidants work in our bodies?

7. Does hand sanitizer, hand soap or antibacterial wipes have the greatest ability to inhibit the growth of E. Coli?

8. To what extent do live cultures in yogurts/milk/other dairy products reduce the concentration of lactose present over the course of a 2 hour incubation period at x°C?

9. What is the relationship between population density between X and population size of X?

10. What is the relationship between indoleacetic acid, a growth hormone, and the growth of X (a crop)?

11. How does human influence impact an aquatic ecosystem?

12. How can one organize a pollution check along a X canal in X?

13. What is the effect of the increased ecological footprint in the Amazon ?

14. What are the forest and woodland restoration in Siberia, Russia and which one is most effective?

15. How does human interference cause ecological imbalances in an X city/country/continent?

16. What is the impact of urban development on the bee population in X city?

17. What are the differences in the conversation efforts in Yosemite National Park (California, USA) and the Lake District National Park (UK)?

18. To what extent have healthcare policies in X country influenced their human population curve?

19. How have changes in environmental systems influenced the value system of X country?

20. How has X landfill site affected the surrounding terrestrial ecosystem?

21. What is the profitability of airline companies ?

22. How does unemployment affect the market?

23. Why did X recession occur?

24. How did the financial Policy affect the economy in X?

25. How effective are government policies in reducing overconsumption of alcohol (specifically hard liquor)?

26. To what extent are public buses and subways substitute goods in a country?

27. How did the tax reform in country x affect its growth and development? (many countries to choose from)

28. To what extent was weak government policy responsible for the Latin American financial crisis of 1997?

29. How effective is the Big Mac Index in measuring purchasing power parity?

30. To what extent would the UK suffer from leaving the European Customs Union if Brexit happens?

31. Is there an association between viewing violence on television and the display of violent acts?

32. What motivational climate should a coach employ in order to achieve optimal performance in athletes?

33. How does X hormone affect human behavior ?

34. Compare theories explaining altruism in human behaviour

35. Discuss short-term and long-term consequences of exposure to violence

36. Why do relationships change or end?

37. Discuss how social variables (poverty, parenting, educational environment) may the affect cognitive environment.

38. To what extent do mirror neurons play a role in empathy? (2014)

39. To what extent does Mindfulness help people cope with General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

40. To what extent is drug therapy effective in the treatment of bipolar disorder?

41. Does the British Parliamentary reforms act of 1832 deserve its title as the great reform act?

42. To what extent are there similarities in Hitler and Mussolini’s Rise to Power?

43. To what extent did Mao’s tackle the problems which he faced?

44. Was Tsar Alexander II of Russia reforms a success or failure?

45. To what extent was the bombing of Dresden in 1945 justifiable?

46. To what extent can Sweden be considered neutral during WWII ?

47. The impact of structural economic weakness on the collapse of the Soviet Union.

48. How were women treated differently in 1920s and 1950s Great Britain?

49. Why did Israel win the Six Day War of 1967?

50. What role did economics play in the unification of Germany from 1834 to 1871?

English Literature

51. What are the Compare and Contrast Jane Austen Books?

52. How does Joseph Conrad’s portray Racism in A Heart of Darkness?

53. How does Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman critique today’s capitalist society? The American Dream?

54. To what extent does Chris McCandless in Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild escape familial influence?

55. What are the similarities and differences between J.K. Rowling’s characterization of Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?

56. How does Yaa Gyasi use structure in her novel Homegoing to portray the evolution of time?

57. What is the impact of the social context on Holden Caufield and Huckleberry Finn?

58. How does Sylvia Path’s use of Inanimate objects in Bell Jar?

59. How is the empowerment of Feminine portrayed in the Lord of the Rings?

60. Compare the political rhetoric as used in the inaugural addresses of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.

61. The design, construction and calibration of an apparatus for measuring lipid concentration in milk.

62. What is the effect of a change in the optimal lift on the horizontal gliding distance of an aircraft?

63. How does the sugar concentration affect the refractive index of water?

64. How does temperature affect the viscosity of X juice/soda?

65. Is the relationship between temperature and conductivity and insulators and conductors?

66. What is the Oberth Effect?

67. What is the temperature dependence of work performed on an AA battery?

68. How can the rotational frequency of a fan driven by a flame measure distance?

69. Do wine bottles of different shapes behave as Helmholtz resonators?

70. How does the diameter of a wheel affect stability in different weather conditions?

71. What factors influence the location of industries in country/city X?

72. An investigation into the significance of preserving the quality of water in a continent/country/city?

73. An investigation into the degree to which City X can be considered a Sustainable City/Community.

74. To what extent is Biodiversity being managed successfully in city X?

75. To what extent does the education and employment of women affect Country x’s fertility rate?

76. To what extent do gender, educational attainment, and working parameters influence obesity risk?

77. To what extent has urban development affected human thermal comfort levels in Country/city x (a country/city that has developed in a rapid rate over the past decades)?

78. To what extent is the Company x corporate waste management program effective, demonstrating environmental sustainability?

79. To what extent is biodiversity being managed successfully at National Park X?

80. What types of urban design encourage high rates of vandalism in X neighbourhoods?

81. The kinetics of Enzymatic Reactions.

82. How do Iron Intake Diets differ in X country?

83. What are the different factors that affect the iodine values in cooking oils?

84. What is the effect of standing time and temperate on the acid content in X juice or soda?

85. Can caffeine in tea or coffee be reduced?

86. What is the effect of temperature on the souring of milk?

87. What are the sources of error in calorimetry?

88. Does brushing your teeth affect the pH in your mouth after eating?

89. How does changing the concentration of the reagents affect the formation and spacing between Liesehang rings in the reaction between X chloride and X when conducted in a test tube?

90. What effect does the coating of aspirin tablets have on the hydrolysis of aspirin?

Social and Cultural Anthropology

91. How clothing relates to the cultural anthropology of X culture.

92. The extent to which social media networks affect different societies.

93. The relationship between ritual, myths and faith in an X society.

94. The history of rituals in X culture.

95. How different marriage rituals inform the cultural anthropology of X culture.

96. Climate change and its impact on the evolution of different creatures on the planet.

97. Understanding the social and cultural anthropology of the supernatural in X culture.

98. An analysis of body modification in relation to social and cultural anthropology.

100. Chaste systems and social ranks in societies.

There are so many class subjects that can form the basis of your extended essay, including these popular six subjects:

– Information technology

– Computer science

– Health science

– World studies

– Visual arts

– Business management

Extended essays are a great way to improve your writing skills in academic writing. Essays of a high standard that demonstrate critical thinking and in depth analysis can be submitted to academic journals. These have the potential to reach the global society.

Start Writing Your Extended Essay Topic

We hope this gave you some great inspiration for the variation of topics available for your Extended Essay . The research question you select is what will carry you through the entire process, so be sure to choose wisely!

Remember, if you are looking for more help with your Extended Essay, make sure to check out our guide which will tell you exactly how to plan, structure, research and write your Extended Essay!

Grab Free Extended Essay Resources!

No matter the subject groups in your diploma program, we’re here to help all of our IB students. Whether you’re writing about social and cultural anthropology, business management, design technology, or scientific methods for your IB diploma, Lanterna has you covered.

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25 History IA Topic Ideas!

Are you about to start your History internal assessment? We know the struggle. One of the most difficult parts about the task is finding a good History IA topic because it feels like you can just write about anything. The IB breaks it down into 7 main different types of topics that you can choose, […]

IB Extended Essay

How to Finish Your Extended Essay Over Summer!

Completing their extended essay before they begin DP2 is the dream of most IB students. In reality, however, few achieve it. In this blog, we’ll explore how to finish your extended essay over summer without feeling overwhelmed! Part 1: Get Some Rest! Don’t forget that the reason you have a summer break is to take […]

Top 5 Essentials for Studying Physics

As the school year just started and some people are stressed about their upcoming journey in the IB Diploma Programme, we wanted to take the time to discuss perhaps one of the most infamous subjects for its difficulty … physics. It gets some bad rep and many people think that they’re just not “meant” for […]

2016-2017 IB Extended Essay: Sample IB EE's

Workshop 1: Getting started
Workshop 2: EE Options
Workshop 3: Selecting a topic
Workshop 4:Research Questions
Workshop 5: Supervisors and Reflections
Finding Books & Ebooks
Primary Sources
Citation Guide
Subject guidance
Sample IB EE's
Biology (2018 new rubric)
Biology Light Intensity
Does Age Have an Effect on Short-term Memory of 6 to 18 Year Old Students?

Chemistry:

Chemistry 1
What are the Alternative Fuels for the Depleting Fossil Fuels and which is the Best Fuel in Accordance with the Energy Output?
A Copper Ions
Chemistry 3

Design Technology

Does Hull Trim and Balance Affect the Speed of a Boat?

Individuals & Society:

Market Form of the Retail Petroleum Supply Industry in Parklands
Economics 1
Economics 2
Economics 3

I have an exemplar but the file is too big to upload. If you are interested in this topic I can share the essay with you.

Geography 2
History EE (2018 new rubric)
To What Extent was the Establishment of the State of Israel in Palestine in 1948, Influenced by Theodor Herzl?

Information Technology in a Global Society

Philosophy 1
Philosophy 2
Philosophy 3
Philosophy 4
Psychology EE (2018 new rubric)
Applied Behavior Analysis and Early Intervention: The Extent of Recovery from Autism
Psychology 1
Psychology 2
Psychology 3

Social & Cultural Anthropology

Social & Cultural Anthropology 1
Social & Cultural Anthropology 2

World Religions

To What Extent do the Core Scriptural Teachings of Sikhism Permit them to Marry Outside of the Religion?
World Religions 1
World Religions 2

Language Acquisition:

French: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Literature & Language

Journeys in the Inferno and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Toni Morrison

Math:

Cryptography and Rubik's Cube: An Investigative Analysis
Pascal's Triangle

Visual Arts:

How Does the work of Yinka Shonibare Illustrate the Changing Role of African Art in a Global Society?
Ballet's Accessibility and Costumes Affecting Society's View of the Art Form
Visual Arts 1
Visual Arts 4

Interdisciplinary Essays:

Environmental Systems & Societies

ESS Extended Essay (2018 new rubric)

World Studies

World Studies EE History, Economics, & Politics (2018 new rubric)
Does the Production of Dairy and Meat from Dairy Cows in the United States affect the Environment and Well Being of Animals and Humans?
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Resources for IB Coordinators

Formulating a Research Question

formulating a research question.

I have created this document to support students in formulating their research question, which is a part of the process that they often find difficult and time consuming.

The document is a summary of the information on the International Baccalaureate’s Extended Essay website

I go through this document with students in the DP Core class and get them to use it in conjunction with the example questions for their subject on the International Baccalaureate’s Extended Essay website . This document is also shared with the Extended Essay supervisors and I encourage the students to present their draft questions to their supervisor in their first meeting.

The document covers the following:

Distinguishing between a title and a research question.

Step 1. Choose your subject area.

Step 3. Suggest a question.

Step 5. Restate your question using a different command term.

Step 7. Reflection.

Subscribe today for £15 a month, or only £45 for the whole year, to get access to all of the resources on this website.

Click here to become a member and access over 350 downloadable resources.

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Choosing a Chemistry IA Research Question

Student staring at board trying to find inspiration for project

Choosing a Research Question for the Internal Assessment

Confused about what a Research Question is? This guide will help you understand what they are and how to pick a good one.

The Internal Assessment (IA) is a mini-research project. It is an opportunity to show-off your chemistry skills and knowledge and investigate interesting ideas without the pressure and constraints of the written exams.

The IA requires you to design and carry out an original investigation into a topic of interest related to IB chemistry, then produce a 6 – 12 page report of your findings. Worth 20% (the same as paper 1), the project and report should be of a high standard – the very best ones are of university research standard.

Central to your IA is the research question , around which your entire project revolves.

What is a research question?

Your research question states the aim and context of your investigation. It may be phrased as a statement or a question and it can be in more than one part, provided that each part is properly defined and focused on a common aim.

Importantly, it needs to be fully focused and clear , meaning someone reading it should understand what you investigated, the context, and what you did experimentally. The research question should not simply be a restatement of your project title.

Choosing your research question

The research question is a focused summary of your project aims, so the process of choosing one and refining it ensures you’ve thought properly about your project and is a good exercise to go through.

The flow diagram below is one I’ve used with my past students to help them identify their research question, variables and hypothesis:

Flowchart showing how to develop a research question and hypothesis

To use this method:

Think about the ‘big idea’ behind your potential project and identify the chemical reaction at its centre. (Note that for projects involving measurements of physical properties or molecular modelling, you might have a physical system or a molecule instead of a chemical reaction).
Think about which factors will affect the reaction, focusing on only those that are relevant and that can be measured and controlled
Determine what it is you will deliberately change, how you will change it ( e.g. how many values), and what you are going to measure as the outcome

Research question variables

Your research question should contain your independent and dependent variables (note this is a recommendation, not a rule).

Independent variable : the thing you are going to deliberately change in order to see the outcome.
Dependent variable : the variable you will measure.

You will also need to identify controlled variables, which are things that if not controlled and kept constant, will potentially affect the experimental outcome.

It’s vitally important that your independent variable is scientific and quantifiable ( i.e. you can measurably vary it).

Here are some examples of weak or uninteresting independent variables and how they could be improved:

Is the research question different to a hypothesis?

You should be able to generate a hypothesis describing how your dependent variable will change for a given number of independent variable values (usually, a range of 3-5 values).

So, what’s a hypothesis? It’s your prediction about the outcome of your experiment. Your hypothesis predicts how your independent variable will affect the outcome (dependent variable). You then test the prediction by experiment and will either find your results support your research question hypothesis, or don’t support it.

Refining your research question

Suppose a student wants to investigate whether “superfoods” contain more vitamin C than other foods (this sort of food chemistry project is popular).

Here are some of their potential research questions:

Vitamin C content of vegetables – this is a project title, not a research question
Analysis of vitamin C in vegetables – this is not focused enough
Analysis of vitamin C content of superfoods using redox titration – this is better but the focus is unclear
Using redox titration to determine whether the vitamin C concentration of so-called superfoods is higher than normal vegetables – this is better since it’s fully-focused, provides context for the investigation and contains the dependent variable.

But wait, this is NOT a good project idea!

The independent variable here is type of vegetable. This is not a quantifiable variable ! The outcome of the project is not rooted in scientific principles that can be investigated and correlated, so this would be a weak IA.

You must choose a project where you will change something over a range of values and then measure an outcome.

Tablet brands or types of fruits are not independent variables. There is specific guidance on this in the Science IA Guidelines, which state: “ The straightforward comparison of two organisms or “brands” probably represents a weak RQ since the underlying cause of any difference does not arise from any scientific principle ”.

Avoid weak and poorly-connected RQs

IAs sometimes seem to have a weak connection between the research question and what was actually done. This often occurs when a student wants to research a ‘big question’ that involves complex systems, many variables, and would realistically take a year to investigate. Because they can’t do that, they end up taking the ‘big question’ and reducing it down to a more mundane research question. Here are some examples:

Meeting the personal engagement criteria

Ensure your project is something you are genuinely curious about and can show that in your report
Ensure that you take ownership of the project and steer it using your own initiative
Ensure that it’s clear in your report that you have engaged with your chose topic
Be creative in your approach to designing your experimental programme

Don’t just copy an existing IA you found online, such as one from my list here !

Meeting the originality criteria

You have to pick a project that enables you to show initiative and creativity, and that is demanding to investigate.

It must not involve experiments where the outcome is well-known and well-documented (what’s the point of investigating it?)
It therefore can’t be a commonplace school science experiment.
It should be more challenging and original than the class practicals you should have done as part of the chemistry IB

It also shouldn’t be something you can find the answer to in you IB chemistry textbook or in the IB chemistry data booklet e.g. how surface area affects reaction rate or determining the enthalpy of combustion of butane

Which projects work well?

Projects that can often be reliably executed are physical chemistry projects involving data collection experiments. Often, you will be able to find very reproducible experimental procedures that you can adapt for your project idea For example:

measuring rates of reaction
measuring activation energies
determining enthalpy changes by calorimetry
titrations (acid-base or redox) to determine unknowns
spectroscopy or colorimetry to investigate mineral, vitamin or ion concentrations

However, just because physical chemistry projects tend to work well in the lab and produce good results, it does not mean you are guaranteed to get a top mark by picking one. You are marked on the quality of your research and report, not just how well the experiments worked and how good your results are.

Project selection questions

To help choose a good IA, it’s a good idea to ask yourself the following questions about your project:

Is your topic relevant to the IB chemistry syllabus?
Do you have genuine curiosity for this topic and will you be able to communicate that in your report?
Is your research question suitably demanding with a strong scientific setting?
Will your research question allow you to show creativity and initiative in the project?
Is your project original?
If the project is novel and risky, are you likely to be able to satisfy the assessment criteria in other ways?
Are the project outcomes non-obvious?
Will you be able to complete the project in around ten hours?
Can you show that the scientific context for your project is clear, valid and supported by your background research?
Have you carried out a risk assessment to identify potential health and safety issues?
Is the project feasible on ethical grounds? (it cannot involve any animal experimentation for example)
What are the main apparatus, skills and techniques required?
Are the required apparatus and chemicals available and not too expensive?
Do you need to learn any new experimental techniques to carry out your project?
Will the project generate data that you can analyse and present in your report?
Will you need to use secondary data?
Can you demonstrate maths and graphing skills in your report?
What are your main experimental errors and how can you plan for these?
How will you ensure your results are reliable?
How will you ensure fair-testing?

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AQA A-Level Chemistry Paper 3 Hard Questions

Hard Exam Questions from AQA A-Level Chemistry Paper 1

2023 IB Chemistry Syllabus Update: What’s Changed?

Hard A-Level Chemistry Questions: AQA AS Paper 1 and 2

Limiting and excess reactants in chemistry

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[…] Secondly, some of the projects below are just plain bad for reasons I’ve outlined in my post about research questions. […]

IB History IA examples

Type a search phrase to find the most relevant History IA examples for you

Not sure what to search for? You can always look through our example History Internal Assessments below for inspiration.

All History IA Examples

Filter exemplars, to what extent was fdr governmental intervention responsible for the end of the great depression in the us, to what extent was nato’s intervention in the libyan civil war of 2011 a humanitarian intervention, want to get full marks for your ia allow us to review it for you 🎯, to what extent were the bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki necessary to end the second world war, to what extent can patriarchal factors be considered to be the most significant cause for the marginalisation of the south korean comfort women during and after the pacific war, to what extent can the 'clean hands' scandal be defined as a revolution of italian politics in the years between 1992 and 2012, fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, how significant was hawaii’s reciprocity treaty with the us in 1875 in causing the annexation of hawaii in 1898, how important was the 1486 malleus maleficarum to germany's witch-hunting craze in the sixteenth century, to what extent were mao zedong and his agricultural policies responsible for the great chinese famine of 1959-61, how significant were the impacts of the suez crisis on british foreign policy, to what extent was the lavender scare fuelled by anti-communism, to what extent was martial law imposed in poland on 13th december 1981 to pre-empt the invasion of the ussr, how significant was black jesus in shifting christian ideals during the harlem renaissance of the 1920s, to what extent is the representation of bengalis as victims during the 1971 bangladesh genocide accurate, by january 1933, to what extent was the appointment of hitler as chancellor inevitable, what happened at the luding bridge during the long march, to what extent did soviet infiltration of indian media and politics from 1955-1985 consolidate ideological dominance over the western bloc in the indian subcontinent, how significant was the first world war as a cause of the october revolution, to what extent was ferdinand marcos responsible for the 1971 plaza miranda boming, to what extent was bureaucratic corruption the major cause of the peasant rebellion during chongzhen’s ming dynasty (1627-1644), to what extent did bismarck have a strategy to ensure german unification between 1860 and 1870, to what extent did president truman's measures improve immigration conditions for jews displaced by the holocaust between 1945 and 1953, to what extent were the vietnam war protests and their trial a representation of the cultural divide created in 1955-1970, to what extent was the purpose of mao's 'hundred flowers' campaign genuinely to allow more freedom of speech, to what extent was the us federal government's involvement the most significant factor in causing the bleeding kansas period (1854-1859), how far did italian architecture reflect fascist ideology between 1925 and 1943, how significant was the ccp’s yanan pro-peasant policy (1937-45) in mobilising manchurian peasant support (1945-8), to what extent was u.s. foreign policy successful in winning over the support of the american public for american involvement in the vietnam war, how far did rákosi's motives for the show trial of lászló rajk in 1949 resemble stalin's motives for the show trial of nikolai bukharin in 1938, to what extent was poor tactical planning during operation barbarossa responsible for nazi failure in the ussr between 1941-1943, to what extent was paramilitarism more responsible than the guerrillas for the increase in human rights violations in colombia between 1990 and 2006 (18 marks), to what extent did the outcome of the trial brown v board of education (1954) contribute to dismantling jim crow laws, to what extend did the german intervention during the spanish civil war (1936 – 1939) influence the outcome of the conflict, to what extent was the outcome of the cuban missile crisis responsible for the removal of khrushchev in 1964, to what extent did the mongol invasions of eurasia from the years 1250-1345 lead to positive socio-economic developments in the region, to what extent was contras’ resistance during the nicaraguan civil war dependent on us involvement, to what extent were economic conditions in hungary responsible for the outbreak of the hungarian revolution in 1956, why did the us choose diplomatic sanctions rather than economic sanctions or military sanctions as a response to the japanese-chinese manchurian crisis of 1931-1932, to what extent was us intervention in the korean war to support south korea, in what ways did the conservative outlook on the role of women of the polish people’s republic government under władysław gomułka shape women’s fashion trends in the years 1956-1970, what role did raymond poincaré undertake in setting the foundation for frances`s universal medical insurance and education from 1913 to 1929.

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A collection of guides and examples for the Gemini API.

google-gemini/cookbook

Folders and files, repository files navigation, welcome to the gemini api cookbook.

This is a collection of guides and examples for the Gemini API, including quickstart tutorials for writing prompts and using different features of the API, and examples of things you can build.

Get started with the Gemini API

The Gemini API gives you access to Gemini models created by Google DeepMind . Gemini models are built from the ground up to be multimodal, so you can reason seamlessly across text, images, code, and audio. You can use these to develop a range of applications .

Start developing

Go to Google AI Studio .
Login with your Google account.
Create an API key.
Use a quickstart for Python, or call the REST API using curl .

Capabilities

Learn about the capabilities of the Gemini API by checking out the quickstarts for safety , embeddings , function calling , audio , and more.

Official SDKs

The Gemini API is a REST API. You can call the API using a command line tool like curl , or by using one of our official SDKs:

Dart (Flutter)

Open an issue on GitHub.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome. See contributing to learn more.

Thank you for developing with the Gemini API! We’re excited to see what you create.

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The Art of Asking Smarter Questions

Arnaud Chevallier,
Frédéric Dalsace,
Jean-Louis Barsoux

With organizations of all sorts facing increased urgency and unpredictability, being able to ask smart questions has become key. But unlike lawyers, doctors, and psychologists, business professionals are not formally trained on what kinds of questions to ask when approaching a problem. They must learn as they go. In their research and consulting, the authors have seen that certain kinds of questions have gained resonance across the business world. In a three-year project they asked executives to brainstorm about the decisions they’ve faced and the kinds of inquiry they’ve pursued. In this article they share what they’ve learned and offer a practical framework for the five types of questions to ask during strategic decision-making: investigative, speculative, productive, interpretive, and subjective. By attending to each, leaders and teams can become more likely to cover all the areas that need to be explored, and they’ll surface information and options they might otherwise have missed.

These five techniques can drive great strategic decision-making.

Idea in Brief

The situation.

With organizations of all sorts facing increased urgency and uncertainty, the ability to ask smart questions has become key. But business professionals aren’t formally trained in that skill.

Why It’s So Challenging

Managers’ expertise often blinds them to new ideas. And the flow of questions can be hard to process in real time, so certain concerns and insights may never be raised.

Strategic questions can be grouped into five domains: investigative, speculative, productive, interpretive, and subjective. By attending to each, leaders and teams are more likely to cover all the areas that need to be explored—and they’ll surface information and options they might otherwise have missed.

As a cofounder and the CEO of the U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, Jensen Huang operates in a high-velocity industry requiring agile, innovative thinking. Reflecting on how his leadership style has evolved, he told the New York Times, “I probably give fewer answers and I ask a lot more questions….It’s almost possible now for me to go through a day and do nothing but ask questions.” He continued, “Through probing, I help [my management team]…explore ideas that they didn’t realize needed to be explored.”

Arnaud Chevallier is a professor of strategy at IMD Business School.
Frédéric Dalsace is a professor of marketing and strategy at IMD.
Jean-Louis Barsoux is a term research professor at IMD and a coauthor of ALIEN Thinking: The Unconventional Path to Breakthrough Ideas (PublicAffairs, 2021).

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Research Questions
Research Questions: Class of 2020. Visual Arts: To what extent are the developments in American military aircraft nose designs from World War 2, Vietnam War and Gulf War more connected to individual crew preference than to the visual culture of America, 1940 - 1990? English A: To what extent does William Shakespeare employ Elizabethan elements ...
Extended Essay: Step 5. Draft a Research Question
On this page you can find help with developing your preliminary research question. See: Steps to Developing a Research Question. Sample Research Questions. Practice Exercise: Formulating Well-Focused Research Questions. IB Command Terms and Glossaries. Research Question Formats for History Extended Essays
The IB Extended Essay: Topic ideas and research Questions
During the first meeting with your advisor, discuss the research you've done, your ideas, and the requirements for your subject. Decide on the most suitable research question. Your revised research question proposal is due May 16. Adapted from O'Farrell, Finbar. Approach your assessment the IB Way: Extended Essay. pg. 13.
The Complete IB Extended Essay Guide: Examples, Topics, and Ideas
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.
Defining IB Research Questions: A Guide for Students
From my perspective, a research question in the IB context is a clear, focused query that drives your investigation and shapes your learning. In the IB, research questions are critical in shaping the direction of a student's exploration. They are thoughtfully formulated queries that challenge students to think critically and analytically.
Current IB Students / Formulating the Research Question
Formulating the Research Question. Write a preliminary research question. Try to incorporate an IB command term in the student research question. Make a list of the steps necessary to carry out the research required for writing the IB Extended Essay - choosing the subject and topic, doing the required reading of IB rules and guidelines, writing ...
IB Extended Essay Research Question: The Complete Guide
Key Takeaways. An Extended Essay research question is the question you intend to answer throughout the 4,000-word assignment. You first have to choose a subject, select a topic, and then formulate your research question from the topic. The research question must be concise, direct to the point, and fall within the scope of the Extended Essay ...
10 Research Question Examples to Guide your Research Project
The first question asks for a ready-made solution, and is not focused or researchable. The second question is a clearer comparative question, but note that it may not be practically feasible. For a smaller research project or thesis, it could be narrowed down further to focus on the effectiveness of drunk driving laws in just one or two countries.
LibGuides: HS IB Extended Essay Guide: Research Questions
HS IB Extended Essay Guide: Research Questions. Getting Started; Databases; Research Questions; ... The research question is intended to be answered through researching and writing the EE. It appears on the title page, included in the introduction, and could be visible as a header throughout the essay. ... Sample Research Questions: 2023 Grads ...
Developing a line of inquiry
To guide IB students through the Extended Essay process. "A note on topic, title and research question. It is important that students understand the distinction between the terms topic, title and research question.. The topic of the extended essay is the subject, issue or theme that you are investigating within a specific DP subject or world studies area of study.
Examples
These highlight the diverse range of topics covered by International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) students during their extended essays. Some examples are: "An analysis of costume as a source for understanding the inner life of the character". "A study of malnourished children in Indonesia and the extent of their recovery ...
Step-by-Step Guide to a Perfect IB Physics EE Research Question
Each IB Physics EE research question in this blog post is generated using the following exact steps: Start with a general topic (e.g. the physics of sound) Write a starter question designed to generate ideas for narrowing down. Decide on your research question by focussing only on one independent variable and one dependent variable.
Guide to the IB Extended Essay in 2024
Her story "The Astronaut" won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a "Distinguished Stories" mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology. IB Extended Essay Guide - We look at the rubric, essay topics, and offer advice for penning a stellar composition in 2024.
Extended Essay: Example Research Questions
Extended Essay: Example Research Questions. A guide to the research and writing process required for students completing the IB Extended Essay. Extended Essay- The Basics. Step 1. Choose a Subject. Step 2. Educate yourself!
IB Chemistry IA Ideas and Research Questions
Many students are unsure how to relate the IB chemistry topics to a real-world situation or problem that they can investigate. To help with this, I've produced a list of chemistry IA ideas, together with some example Research Questions (RQ). I've grouped them together according to the main experimental technique or measurement method.
70+ IB Physics IA Topics and Research Questions
Mechanics and Energy Topics. 1. Angular Momentum. How does the angular momentum of a rotating object change with its mass distribution? 2. Energy Conservation in Simple Harmonic Motion. How is energy conserved in a simple harmonic oscillator, and how does the mass of the oscillator affect this? 3. Centripetal Force in Circular Motion.
100 IB Extended Essay Topic Ideas!
An analysis of body modification in relation to social and cultural anthropology. 100. Chaste systems and social ranks in societies. There are so many class subjects that can form the basis of your extended essay, including these popular six subjects: - Information technology. - Computer science. - Health science.
Sample IB EE's
Sample IB EE's; Search this ... Workshops Toggle Dropdown. Workshop 1: Getting started ; Workshop 2: EE Options ; Workshop 3: Selecting a topic ; Workshop 4:Research Questions ; Workshop 5: Supervisors and Reflections ... Subject guidance ; Sample IB EE's; header. IB Diploma Program. Extended Essay Research Guide; Class of 2025 - Sample ...
Formulating a Research Question
This document is also shared with the Extended Essay supervisors and I encourage the students to present their draft questions to their supervisor in their first meeting. The document covers the following: Distinguishing between a title and a research question. Work through the following steps to test your research question. Step 1.
Choosing a Global Politics Extended Essay Research Question
Here are some RQ examples. Students can explore quite a big variety of types of questions for their Global Politics EE. Here are some explanations of what topics you would explore, with example questions for each: How media portrayals can differ from government information. For example: "A comparison of how the Hong Kong protests of late 2014 ...
Choosing a Chemistry IA Research Question
The research question is a focused summary of your project aims, so the process of choosing one and refining it ensures you've thought properly about your project and is a good exercise to go through. The flow diagram below is one I've used with my past students to help them identify their research question, variables and hypothesis:
IB Biology IA: 60 Examples and Guidance
Here are examples with details of potential research questions, written by expert IB Biology tutors and teachers, that could inspire your Biology IA: 1 - Investigating the effect of different types of sugars on the rate of fermentation by yeast. To investigate the effect of different concentrations of a specific herbicide on the growth rate of ...
IB History IA examples
What role did Raymond Poincaré undertake in setting the foundation for Frances`s universal medical insurance and education from 1913 to 1929? IA History HL 7. High scoring IB History Internal Assessment examples. See what past students did and make your History IA perfect by learning from examiner commented examples!
GitHub
This is a collection of guides and examples for the Gemini API, including quickstart tutorials for writing prompts and using different features of the API, and examples of things you can build. Get started with the Gemini API. The Gemini API gives you access to Gemini models created by Google DeepMind. Gemini models are built from the ground up ...
The Art of Asking Smarter Questions
In their research and consulting, the authors have seen that certain kinds of questions have gained resonance across the business world. In a three-year project they asked executives to brainstorm ...

IB Extended Essay: Research Questions

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Research Questions: Class of 2020

Research Questions: Class of 2019

The IB Extended Essay: Topic ideas and research Questions

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IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

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

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

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

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

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

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

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

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Key Takeaways

Tips for Extended Essay Research Question

1. Choose an Interesting Topic

2. Develop Your Research Question

3. Focus on a Research Question You Can Answer

4. Avoid Making Assumptions

5. Ask Someone to Proofread Your Research Question and Share Their Opinion

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Sample Research Questions: 2023 Grads

Sample Research Questions - 2022 Grads

Sample Research Questions: 2021 Grads

Extended Essay (IB): Developing a line of inquiry

Connecting with your topic