extended essay visual arts rubric

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

What's Next?

Trying to figure out what extracurriculars you should do? Learn more about participating in the Science Olympiad , starting a club , doing volunteer work , and joining Student Government .

Studying for the SAT? Check out our expert study guide to the SAT . Taking the SAT in a month or so? Learn how to cram effectively for this important test .

Not sure where you want to go to college? Read our guide to finding your target school . Also, determine your target SAT score or target ACT score .

As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”

• Customer Reviews
• Extended Essays
• IB Internal Assessment
• Theory of Knowledge
• Literature Review
• Dissertations
• Essay Writing
• Research Writing
• Assignment Help
• Capstone Projects
• College Application
• Online Class

Visual Arts Extended Essay: The Complete Guide for IB Students

by  Antony W

May 8, 2023

An extended essay in visual arts allows you to conduct study in a particular area of visual arts that is of interest to you. The conclusion of the study should be a clear and structured piece of writing that tackles a topic or research question pertinent to the visual arts in an effective manner.  

The strongest EE in arts is the one that demonstrate a thoughtful selection of socially and culturally relevant topics, which frequently have a personal significance for the candidate in respect to his or her cultural identity, a potential university program, or present creative interests, such as studio work.

It is discouraged to rely solely on textbooks and the Internet, and no long essay in visual arts should rely solely on such sources.

You should only read your textbooks to the extent that they generate unique ideas, give models of disciplined, organized, and informed methods, and foster direct and personal engagement with the essay topic.

Choice of Arts Extended Essay Topic

When it comes to choosing a visual arts extended essay, we strongly recommend that you avoid themes that rely solely on summarizing generic secondary sources and those that are likely to result in an essay that is mostly narrative or descriptive in nature.

You must address a pertinent subject or research question and reach a specific, ideally individual, conclusion.

Choosing a topic that encompasses several areas of art history or a lengthy time span is likewise unlikely to result in a great essay. Restriction of the essay’s scope will help you to establish a clear focus and create opportunities for exhibiting in-depth comprehension and critical evaluation of your extended essay.

How Should You Treat Visual Arts Extended Essay Topic?

The topic you choose must have a clear and direct connection to visual arts. If the relationship is only tenuous, you risk introducing irrelevant material, which will confuse the investigation and undermine the case.

You should construct a research issue that is of personal interest and use a range of materials to support your claims, including textual analysis, the study of actual artworks or designed artifacts, and interviews with practitioners and subject-matter experts.

Questions that do not provide a systematic examination that exhibits critical creative analysis and in-depth comprehension are unlikely to be appropriate. In certain cases, it may become apparent early in the research process that there are insufficient sources to conduct such an examination. In such situations, consider a shift in emphasis.

In visual arts extended essays, the incorporation and discussion of pertinent visual reference material is of special relevance. However, such material must directly support and be relevant to the analysis/argument. It should be cleanly presented, appropriately acknowledged, and appear as near as feasible to the first reference in the body of the essay.

To stimulate personal investment in the extended essay, your work should include local and/or original sources wherever feasible. However, you may not have access to original materials in some circumstances. In such instances, high-quality replicas, movies, films, or photographs/Internet pictures are acceptable sources.

An argument should be well supported, with remarks and conclusions supported by evidence that is relevant and well-founded, as opposed to being based only on preconceived notions.

Visual Arts Extended Essay Topics Examples

Now that you know about the kind of topic you should choose for you visual arts extended essay, let’s consider some good and bad examples.

The worst example can be something like:

• The variation within human perception
• Architecture is functional art.
• Postmodernism
• Islamic architectural design

You want avoid these types of examples because they’re broad and therefore can’t fit within the scope of extended essay requirements .

You want to consider only the best topic for the project, particularly making sure you pick a subject that’s specific enough to form a research question that you can answer within the respective scope of the assignment.

Some of the best examples include but not limited to the following:

• What role did national themes have in the creative activity of Russian avant-garde artists associated with the Knave of Diamonds society?
• How did men and women’s clothes communicate National Socialist ideals?
• How does Yinka Shonibare’s work represent the evolving importance of African art in a global society?
• What are the origins of Romanesque architecture in Arles?
• Are there pop art elements in the design of Pakistani trucks?
• Titles for Protracted Essays
• Appropriateness of Picasso’s usage of the Mbangu mask in ‘Les Demoiselles d’Avignon’ in terms of cultural borrowing
• How does Ketna Patel’s work reflect the increasing influence of media culture on Asian cultures?
• How does Yinka Shonibare’s work represent the evolving significance of African art in a global society?
• How far did Andy Warhol’s “Death and Disaster” series develop his interest in morbidity?
• How Jesse Trevino’s cultural experiences influenced his artwork
• How would one identify the crucial balance between design and function for four pedestrian bridges of the 21st century?
• In what way does Damien Hirst’s art tackle the themes of Life and Death? (2013)
• To what degree has Federation Square’s design proven successful?
• When does photojournalism become an art form?
• How does Fra Angelico’s picture of The Annunciation represent him in Renaissance Florence?

Tips for Writing a Visual Arts Extended Essay

You are supposed to assess critically the sources you consulted while writing the essay by asking yourself the following questions:

• Which sources are essential to my ideas, beliefs, and assertions?
• Which sources are irrelevant to the analysis?

For the research question, you can:

• Utilize primary and secondary sources to develop and evaluate diverse perspectives.
• Use these primary sources to explore and explain particular aspects of the visual arts, with emphasis on a particular aspect of the visual arts collecting and analyzing reproductions of artwork.

You must also exhibit an understanding of various topics associated with the studied work.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the worth and limitations of the work you’re studying by analyzing its origin and function
• Show a continuous high level of creative comprehension by addressing the study subject comprehensively and effectively.

Relevant findings from this analysis must feature in your argument, not to mention that you should carefully support the arguments.  

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.

Extended Essay Guide: IB Assessment Criteria/Subject Specific Guides/Exemplars/Etc

• Purpose of Guide
• Writing Your Research Question
• Finding Resources
• Research Plan Ouline
• Drafting Your Paper
• The Introduction
• The Conclusion
• Citations/Bibliography
• Proofreading Your Paper
• IB Assessment Criteria/Subject Specific Guides/Exemplars/Etc

IB Resources

• Advice for Students
• Understanding the Assessment Criteria

English Resources

• English Subject Area Criteria Group 1 - The is the subject area you will choose if you want to write an essay on literature - essay written in your native language.
• English Exemplar
• Examiner Report Extended Essay graders point out common problems in each section of the rubric.Learn the pitfalls that students frequently make and be sure to avoid these errors in an effort to maximize points.
• EE Guide: Finding a Topic in Literature by Jennifer Berg Gaither Last Updated Sep 12, 2016 45 views this year

History Resources

• History Subject Area Criteria
• History Exemplar
• History Examiner Report Extended Essay graders point out common problems in each section of the rubric. Learn the following pitfalls that students frequently make and be sure to avoid these errors to maximize points.
• EE Guide: Finding a Topic in History by Jennifer Berg Gaither Last Updated Oct 30, 2016 158 views this year

Theater Resources

• Theater Subject Area Criteria
• Theater Examiner Report Extended Essay graders point out common problems in each section of the rubric. Learn the pitfalls that students frequently make and be sure to avoid these errors in an effort to maximize points.
• Theater Exemplar
• EE Guide: Finding a Topic in Theater by Jennifer Berg Gaither Last Updated Dec 13, 2016 101 views this year

Visual Arts Resources

• Visual Arts Subject Area Guide
• Visual Arts Exemplar
• Visual Arts Examiner Report Extended Essay graders point out common problems in each section of the rubric. Review the pitfalls that students frequently make and be sure to avoid these errors in an effort to maximize points.

Global Politics Resources

• Global Politics Subject Area Criteria Guide

Film Resources

• Film Subject Area Criteria
• Film Assessment Clarification
• Film Exemplar
• << Previous: Proofreading Your Paper
• Last Updated: Nov 15, 2016 1:55 PM
• URL: https://baltimorecitycollege.libguides.com/eeguide

IB Extended Essay: Past Essays

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

Check these CAREFULLY to be sure your topic fits with IB expectations!

• Language & literature (language A)
• Language acquisition (language B)
• Mathematics
• Visual Arts
• World Studies

Business Management

English a & b ee examples.

• English A EE Example
• English A EE Example 1
• English A EE Example 2
• English A EE Example 3
• English B EE Example
• English B EE Example 1
• English B EE Example 2
• English B EE Example 3
• English B EE Example 4
• English B EE Example 5
• English B EE Example 6

Philosophy EE Examples

• Philosophy Example 1
• Philosophy Example 2
• Philosophy Example 3
• Philosophy Example 4

Economics EE Examples

• Econ Example 1
• Econ Example 2
• Econ Example 3
• Econ Example 4
• Econ Example 5
• Econ Example 6
• Econ Example 7
• Econ Example 8

Review Past Papers

• From the IB:  papers from other students and how they scored
• Renaissance Library Past Essays :  Links to all subject area examples

Music EE Examples

• Music EE Example 1
• Music EE Example 2
• Music EE Example 3
• Music EE Example 4

Psychology EE Examples

• Psych EE Example 1
• Psych EE Example 2
• Psych EE Example 3

Chinese EE Examples

• Chinese EE Example 1
• Chinese EE Example 2
• Chinese EE Example 3
• Chinese A EE Cat 1
• Chinese A EE Cat 2
• Chinese A EE Cat 3
• Chinese B EE Example 1
• Chinese B EE Example 2
• Chinese B Example 3
• Business EE Example 1
• Business EE Example 2
• Business EE Example 3

Visual Arts EE Examples

• Visual Arts EE Example 1
• Visual Arts EE Example 2
• Visual Arts EE Example 3
• Visual Arts EE Example 4

Film EE Examples

• Film Example 1
• Film Example 2

Chemistry EE Examples

• Chemistry EE Example

Biology EE Examples

• Biology EE Example
• Biology EE Example 1
• Biology EE Example 2
• Biology EE Example 3

Physics EE Examples

• Physics EE Example
• Physics EE Example 1
• Physics EE Example 2
• Physics EE Example 3
• Physics EE Example 4
• Physics EE Example 5

Math EE Examples

• Math EE Example 1
• Math EE Example 2
• Math EE Example 3
• Math EE Example 4
• Math EE Example 5
• Math EE Example 6

World Studies EE Examples

• World Studies Example 1
• World Studies Example 2
• World Studies Example 3
• World Studies Example 4
• World Studies Example 5
• World Studies Example 6
• World Studies Example 7
• World Studies Example 8
• World Studies Example 9
• World Studies Example 10
• World Studies Example 11
• World Studies Example 12
• World Studies Example 13
• World Studies Example 14
• World Studies Example 15
• World Studies Example 16
• World Studies Example 17
• World Studies Example 18
• << Previous: Research Questions
• Next: Notes & Outlines >>
• Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 9:39 AM
• URL: https://sis-cn.libguides.com/ExtendedEssay

Extended Essay Writers

How to Write a Visual Arts Extended Essay for the Perfect Grade?

Luke MacQuoid

The Visual Arts extended essay is a crucial milestone in your IB way . In my extensive experience consulting on IB subjects, this work becomes a proving ground for your understanding, not just of art but of research and rigorous academic writing. Moreover, it can seriously boost your overall IB score. So, let’s get started!

What Is a Visual Arts Extended Essay?

What exactly goes into a Visual Arts extended essay? It’s elementary. Just consider it an academic thesis focused squarely on a Visual Arts subject . Based on my experience, this essay combines your artistic insights with stringent academic norms. It’s not just about liking or disliking a piece of art; it’s about interpreting it, critiquing it, and placing it in a broader context.

So, this research-intensive piece could range from the works of a particular artist to an artistic movement or even a thematic investigation, such as the representation of gender in 20th-century art. From my experience as a seasoned IB writer, I know that Visual Arts as a discipline has a keen eye for detail, both in observing art and in interpreting its meaning within broader social, historical, or theoretical contexts.

Visual Arts Extended Essay Word Count

If you’re a student like the hundreds I’ve advised, you’re probably concerned about hitting that word count target . Also, we need to emphasize a few important points here:

• Remember that the word count only includes the core parts of your essay (the introduction, the body, and the conclusion).
• Other elements like your table of contents, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices don’t count toward this limit. Knowing this can help you plan your essay more efficiently.

Usually, your Visual Arts extended essay should hover around 4,000 words. Yes, you heard it right! That might sound like a lot, but trust me, once you start writing, the text will flow. However, sticking to the word count is crucial for scoring well.

Grasping the IB Extended Essay Visual Arts Rubric

Ah, the rubric — a guiding light in the darkness of academic uncertainty! According to general IB criteria, it’s your best friend for understanding what examiners are looking for in your essay:

• Focus and Method . This first criterion evaluates how well you’ve defined your research question and the methodology you’ve used to address it.
• Knowledge and Understanding . This part measures the depth of your understanding of the topic you’ve chosen.
• Critical Thinking . The ability to critically evaluate different points of view, theories, or works of art is central to a high-scoring extended essay.
• Presentation . It includes structure, layout, and overall readability.
• Engagement . Finally, your level of personal engagement with your chosen topic is assessed.

From my experience, the knowledge of the IB extended essay Visual Arts rubric is crucial for a good score.

How to Choose IB Extended Essay Topics for Visual Arts?

When choosing a topic for your Visual Arts Extended Essay, passion is everything. Why is that? The more intrigued and engaged you are with your topic, the more enthusiasm will be reflected in your writing. Students who are passionate about their essay topic tend to do more research and write more persuasively, which improves the overall quality of their essays.

Options could range from studying the impact of Renaissance art on modern culture to the representation of women in 19th-century paintings. You see, the possibilities are numerous, but each comes with its challenges.

By the way, you can find so many Visual Arts extended essay topics on our blog and choose the most suitable one.

What to Avoid in Topic Selection

According to general IB criteria, choosing a topic that’s too general can cause your essay to lack focus and depth. Imagine trying to cover all of Abstract Expressionism in 4,000 words; you’ll barely scratch the surface!

Another pitfall to avoid is choosing a topic with insufficient material to research. While obscure topics can be interesting, they can also be problematic if you need more scholarly resources to support your thesis.

Also, avoid topics that have been done to death . While it may be tempting to choose a topic that seems easy or is popular among students, remember that you’ll need to bring something new to the table to score high marks.

Extended Essay in Visual Arts: Effective Research Plan

When writing an excellent extended essay in Visual Arts, a well-thought-out research plan is crucial. In my opinion, the cornerstone of your research plan should be a balanced mix of primary and secondary sources. Failing to prepare adequately could be your Achilles’ heel, so ensure you’re well-armed for the intellectual battle ahead.

Importance of Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources offer you raw data or firsthand evidence. These could be the artworks you’re analyzing, interviews with artists or experts, or even historical documents that relate to your subject. They are the backbone of your essay, giving it legitimacy and depth.

Secondary sources, on the other hand, provide you with expert opinions and analyses, usually of the primary sources you are studying. Scholarly articles, critical essays, and books fit this category. They help you form a broader understanding and context for your research.

Planning Your Time

Poor time management is the downfall of many IB students. Make a timeline, stick to it, and you’ll be golden. Your timeline should include:

• Topic Selection . Allow sufficient time to select a compelling topic.
• Initial Research . A time to gather your primary and secondary sources .
• Outline Creation . Take a few days to develop a comprehensive outline.
• First Draft . Give yourself a generous window of time to write your first draft.
• Peer and Advisor Reviews . Allow time for others to review your work and provide feedback.
• Revisions . Allow ample time for multiple rounds of revisions.
• Final Review . Leave a week for a last review, additional edits, and proofreading.

Once you have a schedule, stick to it. Set reminders, use project management tools, or even resort to good old-fashioned sticky notes-whatever it takes to keep yourself accountable.

How to Write a Visual Arts Extended Essay Effectively

In the Visual Arts, you’re not just an academic; you’re an artist at heart. The challenge is to find the sweet spot between rigorous academic writing and the free spirit of artistic expression. In my experience, those who can marry these two realms produce the most compelling and impactful essays.

Drafting and Structuring

Drafting is the stage where your detailed outline and exhaustive research take shape. For each paragraph, start with a clear topic sentence that focuses on a particular point you want to make related to your overarching thesis. It helps maintain the coherence and flow of your essay.

Visual Arts Extended Essay Outline

Let me tell you, I cannot stress enough the importance of a well-written outline . It’s like having GPS for your essay. Whenever you feel lost, refer back to it. It helps you allocate your word count wisely, ensuring you’ve covered all the ground you intended to without meandering off into the wilderness of irrelevant detail.

Breaking Down the Writing Process

Writing an extended essay in Visual Arts is a monumental task. But as I know, the best approach is to break it down into manageable sections:

• Introduction . Here’s where you set the stage. Include your thesis statement and provide a roadmap for what the reader can expect.
• Body . It is where the magic happens. Each paragraph should have a unique focus yet contribute to advancing your argument.
• Conclusion . Wrap things up in a neat bow. Reiterate your main points and thesis, but also shed light on the broader implications of your findings.

Transition paragraphs can act as breathers and give the reader a moment to digest the material. Use this time to refocus your audience’s attention and prepare them for the next topic you’re about to discuss.

Polishing Your Visual Arts Extended Essay

Your first draft is likely not going to be your best work. And that’s completely fine! Revision is where the true essence of your essay comes to life. According to general IB criteria, a well-thought-out, refined essay is far more impressive than one that’s lengthy but shallow.

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 wordcount and stringent IB criteria but also reflects your passion for selected IB group .

Second Opinion Matters

You might think you’ve created a masterpiece on the first go, but getting peer feedback can offer you a reality check. These fresh eyes can help identify inconsistencies, logical gaps, or areas that need clarification. I’ve found this step indispensable for improving the overall quality of an extended essay in visual arts. The key here is to be open to criticism; it’s all constructive and aimed at making your essay the best it can be.

Final Check Before Submission

Now comes the home stretch. Before hitting that submit button, it’s critical to review everything meticulously. Start by checking your word count.

Exceeding the limit might require some trimming while falling short could indicate the need for additional support for your arguments. Ensure you adhere to the Visual Arts extended essay word count guidelines to avoid any last-minute hiccups. In addition, you’ll also need to:

• Check for Typos . They might seem trivial, but spelling errors can leave a wrong impression.
• Review Formatting . Make sure that your essay meets the IB’s formatting guidelines.
• Citations and References . Double-check that all your sources are correctly cited and that your bibliography is in order.

Trust me, the extra effort you put into polishing your Visual Arts extended essay will be well worth it when you see that outstanding score.

Summing It All Up

Congratulations! You’ve ventured through the process of writing a Visual Arts extended essay, a task not for the faint-hearted. From my experience, this project can be one of the most rewarding experiences in your academic life. I hope you find this as fulfilling as I find sharing my years of IB experience with you all. Remember that you can always contact our experienced IB writers for help with the Visual Arts extended essay .

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

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Find A Tutor
• Geneva Tutors
• Lausanne Tutors
• Zurich Tutors
• Basel Tutors
• Online Tutors
• Maths Tutors
• Chemistry Tutors
• Physics Tutors
• Biology Tutors
• English Tutors
• History Tutors
• Geography Tutors
• Language Tutors
• Special Educational Needs
• Residential Tutors
• Primary School
• School Entrance Exams
• Middle School
• Combined Science
• Maths AA and AI
• IB Internal Assessment
• Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)
• Sports, Exercise & Health Science
• Computer Science
• Global Politics
• Digital Society
• Business Management
• Visual Arts
• English A/B
• English Oral (IO)
• German Oral (IO)
• French Oral (IO)
• Spanish A/B
• French Ab Initio
• German Ab Initio
• Spanish Ab Initio
• IB Extended Essay
• IB Theory of Knowledge
• University Applications
• Our Approach
• Happy Parents
• School Choice
• Become a Tutor

Great IB EE tutors to boost grades

We can’t stop you worrying about your child’s IB Extended Essay, but we can help with our IB certified teachers & examiners

Which IB teacher or examiner will be your tutor?

Ahmad is an IB and IGCSE Maths teacher. Teaching both Middle and High School students allows Ahmad to follow the progress of his students as they move into IGCSE and IB years. Ahmad is also an IB Revision Course instructor.  He also tutors Maths Internal Assessments.

Joe is an IB Teacher and IB Examiner in Biology & Internal Assessment Moderator & Extended Essay Examiner and a Masters in advanced teaching. He aims to help students be successful learners while mastering Biology and Science knowledge at the same time. He helps students improve for their final IB exams, giving them confidence & self-belief to do their best.

Margarita is an IB Chemistry Teacher & IB Examiner with over 20 years of experience. She has taught students at top international schools, including the International School of Zug and Luzern. She also supports IB students with Internal Assessments, final exam preparation and revision.  She has been an Academic Vice-Principal and a Fulbright Teacher.

Katy has taught at a number of prestigious schools in the U.K. and Switzerland. Katy teaches English IGCSE & IB Diploma alongside TOK, Global Politics, Geography, History, Religious Studies.  She is also an Extended Essay moderator for Global Politics & Geography.

Sebastian is a fully qualified IB English Literature and Language, Theory of Knowledge (TOK) & IB Extended Essay teacher. He also teaches IB French Literature & Language and IB Spanish B. Following more than a decade of teaching in international schools he is able to support IB students with their exam preparation. Specialist English Oral (IO) tutor.

Ayse completed her Masters and PhD in Science Education. She has worked in international schools in Egypt, the United States of America & United Kingdom. Ayse is an IB Examiner, teaching Chemistry for the IB, MYP, IGCSE & AP.

Coral obtained a scholarship to study Visual Arts in New York, followed by a degree in Education from Universidad Internacional de La Rioja in Spain. She has taught Visual Arts at International Schools and curated art fairs such as Art Basel in Miami and CONTEXT in New York. Coral is an IB Visual Arts Examiner.

Dolores is an IB Biology teacher and IB Examiner. She has been teaching MYP and IB for the past 8 years and is currently the IB Coordinator at an International School in Europe.

Elizabeth holds a BA in International Trade and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. She has been an examiner for the IBO since 2014 and has completed a number of advanced IB teacher training courses. Elizabeth teaches Business Studies and Economics IB (SL & HL).

Gary is a top IB Business Management tutor. As IB examiner he knows how to best tutor his students to get the highest score possible in their IB exams. Gary combines expert subject knowledge & a patient approach. He also tutors IB Business management Internal assessments – IAs and Extended Essays – EEs. 

George has over 40 years experience teaching Physics & Chemistry across a number of curriculums. He is currently Head of Chemistry and the lead IB teacher at the VKV International School in Istanbul. George is also an IB examiner and specialises in supporting students with their IAs and EEs.

Hadi currently works at the International School of Viernheim, Germany where in addition to teaching IB Physics & IGCSE Physics. He is the IB Maths and CAS Coordinator. He is also an IBO certified examiner and also specialises in supporting students with their Physics Internal Assessments.

Hassan is a qualified teacher. He has taught for almost 20 years, teaching undergraduates and secondary school students Maths and Physics and is equally comfortable with both the Swiss and French system.

Iordanis is an experienced IB teacher and official IBO examiner. He holds Bachelor degrees in Education, Business Administration and Economics. He has extensive experience teaching IBDP Business and Economics at a number of prestigious international schools and is currently Head of Economics at Berlin Cosmopolitan School.

Jaffal holds a Masters in Applied Maths from the Moscow Institute of Physics & Technology and has many years experience teaching the IB curriculum. He is also an accredited IB examiner.

Jean-Baptiste

Jean-Baptiste holds a Masters in Political Science & History. He began his teaching career in 2004 and has since worked in international education in France, Australia and more recently India where he currently teaches at the Lycée International in Mumbai. Jean-Baptiste has a wealth of experience teaching the IB MYP & DP programmes. He tutors French, Politics, History & Geography and is an accredited IB examiner and Extended Essay supervisor. 

Jean-Pierre

Jean Pierre holds an MA in International Policy Studies from Monterey Institute. He teaches IB History, Spanish and TOK and is trilingual English/French/Spanish. Jean-Pierre has taught at a number of International Schools in the Middle East and more recently in Portugal where he is head of Humanities and lead TOK instructor.

With a PhD in Microbiology, Dipa is a qualified IB Biology & Chemistry Teacher. She is a committed, and innovative Science and Maths teacher. D ipa has been teaching for 8 years alongside her Scientific Research. She teaches Middle School, IGCSE & IB Diploma Maths & Sciences.  She also helps support students with their Internal Assessments.

Maite graduated from the university of Brunel with an MSc in Environmental Management and Policy. She has taught Biology and ESS at MYP and IB Diploma level at various IB schools. Maite is an official ESS IB examiner and specialises in supporting students with their EE’s and IA’s.

Maja has been an IB teacher for 20 years and specialises in tutoring IB Physics up to Diploma level and Maths tuition for the MYP. Maja has also worked as an AP coordinator and is currently an IA Examiner for the IBO.

Majid has a degree in Chemistry, as well as a teaching diploma in secondary education. He has been teaching IB Chemistry for the past 13 years and is an IB Examiner specialising in Internal Assessments.

Maria holds a Phd in Biology and has worked in International Education for over 20 years. She teaches IB Biology & ESS and is an examiner for the IBO. She also teaches Chemistry IB. Maria specialises in supporting students with their Extended Essays and Internal Assessments.

Maria is a certified teacher with a PGCE in Spanish & Italian from Bristol University. She also holds two master’s degrees (Spanish as a foreign language and Spanish and Latin American Literature). She is currently teaching at a prestigious boarding school in Switzerland. Maria teaches IB Spanish A Literature and Spanish B.

Matthew is a professional Maths, Physics and TOK teacher at a large international school. One of our top tutors, Matthew teaches the IB alongside the IGCSE and A Level curricula. Matthew is an Online specialist.

Meera holds a BA in Science Education from the University of Melbourne and is currently the Head of Maths and the IB Coordinator at the International School of Hanover. Prior to this, she taught at colleges and grammar schools in Australia. She has over 30 years experience teaching in various educational settings and specialises in IB Maths MYP and Diploma AA (HL and SL).

As a Maths specialist Mejrima teaches both Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretations at all levels as well as IGCSE and Middle School Maths. She also uses her experience as an IB Examiner to guide her students in how to best perform in their final exams and optimise their marks.

Melina teaches IB History, Global Politics and supervises extended essays and internal assessments. Melina has been an Examiner for the IB since 2014. She holds a Masters in Sociology and completed her Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Studies at Saint Martin University in Spain. 

Mudassir is an IB Maths Examiner, an IA Moderator and a Diploma Mathematics Curriculum Reviewer for the IBO. He also teaches the MYP, IGCSE and A-Level curriculums as well as SAT preparation. 

Natalie is a certified teacher and has extensive experience supporting IB Biology students at Standard and Higher Level. She is also an expert Extended Essay and Internal Assessment tutor.

Stela holds a BA in Petrochemical Engineering & and a Masters in Process Engineering. She has been teaching chemistry for over 18 years. Stela teaches both Middle School and High School science and has a wealth of experience across the IGCSE, IB, AP, A-level curriculums. She is also an IB Examiner.

Vera is an IB English Examiner and IELTS teacher and has been teaching the IB at top IB World Schools for the last 15 years. Her expertise covers IB English Language & Literature, AP Literature & Composition, and Extended Essay support as well as IGCSE English Literature & Language.

Yilmaz is a Maths IB Examiner and has taught IGCSE, MYP, IB and A Level over the past 24 years. He is also a specialist for the IB Internal Assessment. Yilmaz ensures his lessons reflect the individual needs of each student.

Zeynep is a cum laude graduate from the Painting program of Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, Italy. She currently teaches studio art, ceramics, and graphic design in the most prestigious school in Turkey. Zeynep is an IB DP Visual Arts HL Process Portfolio examiner as well as Visual Arts Extended Essay Examiner.

Wael has been teaching Maths and Economics up to IB Level for 20 years. He is currently the IB Maths coordinator at the German International School in Beirut and is also an official IB Maths Examiner for the IBO. Wael has also delivered a number of workshops including IB Internal Assessments, and IB Maths for Experienced Teachers. 

Find the best IB Extended Essay tutors fast

Fast ib extended essay help from the experts. so whether you are stuck getting started, need help refining your title, or want guidance on how to write a top-scoring ee we are here for you..

Choose your IB Extended Essay tutor from our IB teachers and IB examiners.

Pick daytime, evening, or weekend tuition. Worldwide online tutors, or face to face in Switzerland:

Contact our friendly team to set up lessons fast.

Our approach to tutoring

Advice from our IB Experts

What is the IA, EE or TOK? Everything you need to know about the IB written assignments

How to get top marks in the IB Extended Essay

Why it is a BIG Mistake to Choose a Science Subject for Your Extended Essay

Why parents choose tutorsplus, highly effective individual support.

We combine the best teaching with an individual approach to improve results. One-to-one focus on each student.

Our Tutors Are The Magic Ingredient

We have the best tutors in Switzerland, experienced in Maths, Science, English, Revision and more.

Flexible Tuition To Fit Busy Schedules

Tutoring where you want it when you want it across the Geneva, Lausanne, Zurich and Zug regions in Switzerland.

Find a Tutor

Find a Tutor Today

" * " indicates required fields

Step 1 of 5

Find the best support for your family

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Solar Storm Intensifies, Filling Skies With Northern Lights

Officials warned of potential blackouts or interference with navigation and communication systems this weekend, as well as auroras as far south as Southern California or Texas.

By Katrina Miller and Judson Jones

Katrina Miller reports on space and astronomy and Judson Jones is a meteorologist.

A dramatic blast from the sun set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere on Friday that is expected to make the northern lights visible as far south as Florida and Southern California and could interfere with power grids, communications and navigations system.

It is the strongest such storm to reach Earth since Halloween of 2003. That one was strong enough to create power outages in Sweden and damage transformers in South Africa.

The effects could continue through the weekend as a steady stream of emissions from the sun continues to bombard the planet’s magnetic field.

The solar activity is so powerful that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors space weather, issued an unusual storm watch for the first time in 19 years, which was then upgraded to a warning. The agency began observing outbursts on the sun’s surface on Wednesday, with at least five heading in the direction of Earth.

“What we’re expecting over the next couple of days should be more significant than what we’ve seen certainly so far,” Mike Bettwy, the operations chief at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, said at a news conference on Friday morning.

For people in many places, the most visible part of the storm will be the northern lights, known also as auroras. But authorities and companies will also be on the lookout for the event’s effects on infrastructure, like global positioning systems, radio communications and even electrical power.

While the northern lights are most often seen in higher latitudes closer to the North Pole, people in many more parts of the world are already getting a show this weekend that could last through the early part of next week.

As Friday turned to Saturday in Europe, people across the continent described skies hued in a mottling of colors.

Alfredo Carpineti , an astrophysicist, journalist and author in North London, saw them with his husband from the rooftop of their apartment building.

“It is incredible to be able to see the aurora directly from one’s own backyard,” he said. “I was hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of green on the horizon, but it was all across the sky in both green and purple.”

Here’s what you need to know about this weekend’s solar event.

How will the storm affect people on Earth?

A geomagnetic storm watch or warning indicates that space weather may affect critical infrastructure on or orbiting near Earth. It may introduce additional current into systems, which could damage pipelines, railroad tracks and power lines.

According to Joe Llama, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory, communications that rely on high frequency radio waves, such as ham radio and commercial aviation , are most likely to suffer. That means it is unlikely that your cellphone or car radio, which depend on much higher frequency radio waves, will conk out.

Still, it is possible for blackouts to occur. As with any power outage, you can prepare by keeping your devices charged and having access to backup batteries, generators and radio.

The most notable solar storm recorded in history occurred in 1859. Known as the Carrington Event, it lasted for nearly a week, creating aurora that stretched down to Hawaii and Central America and impacting hundreds of thousands of miles of telegraph lines.

But that was technology of the 19th century, used before scientists fully understood how solar activity disrupted Earth’s atmosphere and communication systems.

“That was an extreme level event,” said Shawn Dahl, a forecaster at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center. “We are not anticipating that.”

Unlike tornado watches and warnings, the target audience for NOAA’s announcements is not the public.

“For most people here on planet Earth, they won’t have to do anything,” said Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

The goal of the announcements is to give agencies and companies that operate this infrastructure time to put protection measures in place to mitigate any effects.

“If everything is working like it should, the grid will be stable and they’ll be able to go about their daily lives,” Mr. Steenburgh said.

Will I be able to see the northern lights?

It is possible that the northern lights may grace the skies this week over places that don’t usually see them. The best visibility is outside the bright lights of cities.

Clouds or stormy weather could pose a problem in some places. But if the skies are clear, even well south of where the aurora is forecast to take place, snap a picture or record a video with your cellphone. The sensor on the camera is more sensitive to the wavelengths produced by the aurora and may produce an image you can’t see with the naked eye.

Another opportunity could be viewing sunspots during the daytime, if your skies are clear. As always, do not look directly at the sun without protection. But if you still have your eclipse glasses lying around from the April 8 event, you may try to use them to try to spot the cluster of sunspots causing the activity.

How strong is the current geomagnetic storm?

Giant explosions on the surface of the sun, known as coronal mass ejections, send streams of energetic particles into space. But the sun is large, and such outbursts may not cross our planet as it travels around the star. But when these particles create a disturbance in Earth’s magnetic field, it is known as a geomagnetic storm.

NOAA classifies these storms on a “G” scale of 1 to 5, with G1 being minor and G5 being extreme. The most extreme storms can cause widespread blackouts and damage to infrastructure on Earth. Satellites may also have trouble orienting themselves or sending or receiving information during these events.

The current storm is classified as G5, or “extreme.” It is caused by a cluster of sunspots — dark, cool regions on the solar surface — that is about 16 times the diameter of Earth. The cluster is flaring and ejecting material every six to 12 hours.

“We anticipate that we’re going to get one shock after another through the weekend,” said Brent Gordon, chief of the space weather services branch at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center.

Why is this happening now?

The sun’s activity ebbs and flows on an 11-year cycle, and right now, it is approaching a solar maximum. Three other severe geomagnetic storms have been observed so far in the current activity cycle, which began in December 2019, but none were predicted to cause effects strong enough on Earth to warrant a watch or warning announcement.

The cluster of sunspots generating the current storm is the largest seen in this solar cycle, NOAA officials said. They added that the activity in this cycle has outperformed initial predictions .

More flares and expulsions from this cluster are expected, but because of the sun’s rotation the cluster will be oriented in a position less likely to affect Earth. In the coming weeks, the sunspots may appear again on the left side of the sun, but it is difficult for scientists to predict whether this will cause another bout of activity.

“Usually, these don’t come around packing as much of a punch as they did originally,” Mr. Dahl said. “But time will tell on that.”

Jonathan O’Callaghan contributed reporting from London.

An earlier version of this article misstated the radio frequencies used by cellphones and car radios. They are higher frequencies, not low.

How we handle corrections

Katrina Miller is a science reporting fellow for The Times. She recently earned her Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. More about Katrina Miller

Judson Jones is a meteorologist and reporter for The Times who forecasts and covers extreme weather. More about Judson Jones

What’s Up in Space and Astronomy

Keep track of things going on in our solar system and all around the universe..

Never miss an eclipse, a meteor shower, a rocket launch or any other 2024 event  that’s out of this world with  our space and astronomy calendar .

A dramatic blast from the sun  set off the highest-level geomagnetic storm in Earth’s atmosphere, making the northern lights visible around the world .

With the help of Google Cloud, scientists who hunt killer asteroids churned through hundreds of thousands of images of the night sky to reveal 27,500 overlooked space rocks in the solar system .

A celestial image, an Impressionistic swirl of color in the center of the Milky Way, represents a first step toward understanding the role of magnetic fields  in the cycle of stellar death and rebirth.

Scientists may have discovered a major flaw in their understanding of dark energy, a mysterious cosmic force . That could be good news for the fate of the universe.

Is Pluto a planet? And what is a planet, anyway? Test your knowledge here .

IBDP Economics

Website by Mark Johnson & Alex Smith

Updated 13 May 2024

InThinking Subject Sites

Subscription websites for IB teachers & their classes

Find out more

• thinkib.net
• IBDP Biology
• IBDP Business Management
• IBDP Chemistry
• IBDP English A Literature
• IBDP English A: Language & Literature
• IBDP English B
• IBDP Environmental Systems & Societies
• IBDP French B
• IBDP Geography
• IBDP German A: Language & Literature
• IBDP History
• IBDP Maths: Analysis & Approaches
• IBDP Maths: Applications & Interpretation
• IBDP Physics
• IBDP Psychology
• IBDP Spanish A
• IBDP Spanish Ab Initio
• IBDP Spanish B
• IBDP Visual Arts
• IBMYP English Language & Literature
• IBMYP Resources
• IBMYP Spanish Language Acquisition
• IB Career-related Programme
• IB School Leadership

Disclaimer : InThinking subject sites are neither endorsed by nor connected with the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

InThinking Subject Sites for IB Teachers and their Classes

Supporting ib educators.

• Comprehensive help & advice on teaching the IB diploma.
• Written by experts with vast subject knowledge.
• Innovative ideas on ATL & pedagogy.
• Detailed guidance on all aspects of assessment.

Developing great materials

• More than 14 million words across 24 sites.
• Masses of ready-to-go resources for the classroom.
• Dynamic links to current affairs & real world issues.
• Updates every week 52 weeks a year.

Integrating student access

• Give your students direct access to relevant site pages.
• Single student login for all of your school’s subscriptions.
• Create reading, writing, discussion, and quiz tasks.
• Monitor student progress & collate in online gradebook.

Meeting schools' needs

• Global reach with more than 200,000 users worldwide.
• Use our materials to create compelling unit plans.
• Save time & effort which you can reinvest elsewhere.
• Consistently good feedback from subscribers.

For information about pricing, click here

Download brochure

See what users are saying about our Subject Sites:

Find out more about our Student Access feature:

• The 5 year rule in economics
• The IB core
• Extended essay

Teacher notes

The current extended essay guide includes specific reference to the '5-year rule'.  Included in pages 155 - 162 the five year rule states the following:

'Topics should not be historical. They should relate to economic information, policies, outcomes or events that are no more than approximately five years old. Topics that are too retrospective, such as “What was the impact of the global financial crisis on unemployment in the United States from 2007–2010?” almost invariably become descriptive'.

Similarly 'economics essays should not be based on future economic events. For example, “What will be the effect of the 2026 Football World Cup on the economy of Country X?” would not be suitable as it would be entirely speculative and unsupported'.

How the 5 year rule impacts on the individual criteria

Criterion A

If the topic relates to a specific event, issue or policy, it should date from within the past five years. It should not concern a future or hypothetical event.  If the topic or research question is deemed inappropriate for the subject in which the essay is registered, no more than four marks can be awarded for this criterion. This applies to economics essays that breach the 5-year rule.

Criterion B

If the topic or research question is deemed inappropriate for the subject in which the essay is registered, no more than four marks can be awarded for this criterion. This applies to economics essays that breach the 5-year rule.

Criterion C

Failure to follow the five-year rule will limit the grade in this criterion to a maximum of three. Given that this criteria is marked out of 12, then a ceiling of 3/12 is particularly prohibitive.  If the topic or research question is deemed inappropriate for the subject in which the essay is registered, no more than three marks can be awarded for this criterion. This applies to economics essays that breach the five-year rule.

In the case of a particularly strong paper it would appear that there could be as much as a 13 mark penalty, though it might not hurt a mediocre paper as much.

The 2018 extended essay guide can be accessed at: MYIB