biology extended essay checklist

IB Extended Essay: Assessment Criteria

• Research Questions
• Past Essays
• Notes & Outlines
• Works Cited Page
• In-Text Citations
• Assessment Criteria
• Reflections
• Supervisor Info
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Score Descriptors for each Criterion:

• A - Focus and Method
• B - Knowledge and Understanding
• C - Critical Thinking
• D - Presentation
• E - Engagement

Printable: Full Rubric  for all subjects

To view details for your SUBJECT, open the correct page below.

• Choose "Interpreting the EE Assessment Criteria" on the sidebar to see how to score well in YOUR subject area

Language & literature (language A)

Language acquisition (language B)

Mathematics

Visual Arts

World Studies

Business Management

Grade Boundaries

What's Expected?

• A: Focus/Method
• B: Knowledge
• C: Critical Thinking
• D: Presentation
• E: Engagement
• A: Focus and Method (6 marks)
• B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 marks)
• C: Critical Thinking (12 marks)
• D: Presentation (4 marks)
• E: Engagement (6 marks)
• Total marks possible: 34 (see grade boundaries below)
• Printable:  Full Rubric
• Printable: A3 size with details
• Printable:  Details for each criterion , via the Oxford guide

Criterion A:  Focus and Method (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. It assesses the explanation of the focus of the research (this includes the topic and the research question), how the research will be undertaken, and how the focus is maintained throughout the essay.

Questions to ask:  

• Does this essay meet the requirements for the subject for which you are registering it?
• Is your research question stated as a question?
• Have you explained how your research question relates to the subject that you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you given an insight into why your area of study is important?
• Is your research question feasible within the scope of the task? Could your research question be “answered” or it is too vague?
• Did you refer to your research question throughout the essay (not only in the introduction and conclusion)?
• Did you explain why you selected your methodology?
• Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?
• If you stated a particular methodology in the introduction of your essay, or specific sources, have you used them?
• Are there any references listed in the bibliography that were not directly cited in the text?

(Source: Susan Trower, via West Sound Academy)

Criterion B:  Knowledge and Understanding (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which the research relates to the subject area/discipline used to explore the research question; or in the case of the world studies extended essay, the issue addressed and the two disciplinary perspectives applied; and additionally, the way in which this knowledge and understanding is demonstrated through the use of appropriate terminology and concepts.

• Have you explained how your research question relates to a specific subject you selected for the extended essay?
• Have you used relevant terminology and concepts throughout your essay as they relate to your particular area of research?
• Is it clear that the sources you are using are relevant and appropriate to your research question?
• Do you have a range of sources, or have you only relied on one particular type, for example internet sources?
• Is there a reason why you might not have a range? Is this justified?

(Source: Oxford EE manual, p. 110)

Criterion C:  Critical Thinking (12 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which critical thinking skills have been used to analyze and evaluate the research undertaken.

• Have you made links between your results and data collected and your research question?
• If you included data or information that is not directly related to your research question have you explained its importance?
• Are your conclusions supported by your data?
• If you found unexpected information or data have you discussed its importance?
• Have you provided a critical evaluation of the methods you selected?
• Have you considered the reliability of your sources (peer-reviewed journals, internet, and so on)?
• Have you mentioned and evaluated the significance of possible errors that may have occurred in your research?
• Are all your suggestions of errors or improvements relevant?
• Have you evaluated your research question?
• Have you compared your results or findings with any other sources?
• Is there an argument that is clear and easy to follow and directly linked to answering your research question, and which is supported by evidence? Are there other possible methods that could be used or applied to answer your research question? How might this change the direction of your research?

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p. 111)

Handy Links:

• Presentation One Pager  via Catalina Bordoy
• Presentation Checklist
• Sample Title page   (see below - top half of the page)

Criterion D:  Presentation ( 4 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the extent to which the presentation follows the standard format expected for academic writing and the extent to which this aids effective communication.

• Have you read and understood the presentation requirements of the extended essay?
• Have you chosen a font that will be easy for examiners to read on-screen?
• Is your essay double-spaced and size 12 font?
• Are the title and research question mentioned on the cover page?
• Are all pages numbered?
• Have you prepared a correct table of contents?
• Do the page numbers in the table of contents match the page numbers in the text?
• Is your essay subdivided into correct sub-sections, if this is applicable to the subject?
• Are all figures and tables properly numbered and labelled?
• Does your bibliography contain only the sources cited in the text?
• Did you use the same reference system throughout the essay?
• Does the essay have less than 4,000 words?
• Is all the material presented in the appendices relevant and necessary?
• Have you proofread the text for spelling or grammar errors?

Criterion E: Engagement

• Three reflections (best after meeting with your supervisor)
• 500 words TOTAL (100 + 150 + 250?)
• Reflections are done in Managebac on your Reflection space
• See the "Reflections" tab above for prompts to write about

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.135)

(Source: Oxford EE Manual p.133)

• Sample Reflections
• Full chapter on Reflections from the Oxford Guide

Criterion E:  Engagement (6 points)

What It Means:   This criterion assesses the student’s engagement with their research focus and the research process. It will be applied by the examiner at the end of the assessment of the essay, after considering the student’s RPPF (Reflections on planning and progress form).

• Have you demonstrated your engagement with your research topic and the research process?
• Have you highlighted challenges you faced and how you overcame them?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your intellectual and skills development?
• Will the examiner get a sense of your creativity and intellectual initiative?
• For prompts to deepen your reflections, go  here  and then to the bottom of the page
• Presentation Quick Guide
• << Previous: In-Text Citations
• Next: Reflections >>
• Last Updated: Apr 9, 2024 9:39 AM
• URL: https://sis-cn.libguides.com/ExtendedEssay

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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 Essays - overview

What is the Extended Essay?

Key points about Biology Extended Essays

Great things about the Extended Essay in an IB diploma

• Students get some choice in their topic and can follow a personal interest.
• It really is a useful learning experience for anyone going to university as the formal structure resemble a dissertation.
• It's a great opportunity to teach academic honesty, use of citations and referencing. Ref: IB guidance on Effective citing and referencing .
• The reflection sessions can help students to become aware of their own thinking and learning strengths and weaknesses.
• Students are often proud of their work, and have a sense of achievement once it's completed.

Schools are required by the IB to provide an Extended Essay Supervisor to each student . The roles of the supervisor include.

• To guide the student in the choice of topic and research question.
• To give a structure to the three reflection sessions and encourage students to think critically about the writing process.
• To oversee students writing comments, each of approximately 150 words, in the same language as the essay) on the 'Reflections on planning and progress form', RPPF.
• To comment on one full draft of the essay.
• To carry out a viva voce with the student
• To confirm authenticity of the work.
• To write a final supervisor's comment on the RPPF.

Particular hurdles for Biology Extended Essays

• The choice of extended essay subject and it's treatment in the essay must be biological.
• Collecting data can sometimes take more time than expected.
• Finding data from secondary sources is often quite challenging, especially demonstrating controlled variables.
• Ethical and animal experimentation guidelines, IB Guidelines for the use of animals in IB world school should be followed in any extended essay.
• No experiments can be planned that cause pain or suffering to any animal.
• Written consent must be given by participants of any experiment involving humans.
• The extended essay is marked out of 34
• There are five criteria; Focus and method, Knowledge and understanding, Critical thinking, Presentation and Engagement.
• A grade is awarded from E to A
• The grade boundaries for grade D is 7 marks, grade C is 14 marks and grade A is 27.

Resource for teachers and students

• The IB Extended Essay Website / Guide for 2018 is a must for students and supervisors.
• Biology subject specific information pages begin here
• There is practical advice and some helpful guidance on assessment in the Extended essay teacher support material ,
• Many schools produce their own support documents for the students in the form of a booklet.

Guidelines for the use of animals

The guidance says that in all IB work we should consider, replacing the animal with a simulation, refine the experiment to alleviate any stress on the animal or reduce the number of animals involved.

"Any investigation involving animals should initially consider the replacement of animals with cells or tissues, plants or computer simulations. If the animal is essential to the investigation, refinements to the investigation to alleviate any distress to the animal, and to reduce the numbers of animals involved, should be made.

Experiments involving animals must be based on observing and measuring aspects of natural animal behaviour. No experimentation should result in any cruelty to any animal—vertebrate or invertebrate. Therefore, experiments that administer drugs or medicines, or those that manipulate the environment or diet beyond that which can be regarded as humane, are unacceptable in IB schools."

IB Guidelines for the use of animals in IB world school

Suitable topics for Extended Essays in Biology

An essay in Biology needs to be based on some experimental data, either collected through a student designed investigation or primary data provided from another source. Students should avoid super-sophisticated university laboratory-based experiments as the examiner is likely to suspect that the design of the investigation, the process of data collection and interpretation of the data is not that of the student. Actually, simple investigations that students can do at home can be very successful. Descriptive essays will not be appropriate for earning higher marks.

The topic of the essay must lie clearly within Biology and not lean into other subjects. So what does this mean? Biology is the study of life,so the essay must deal with living organisms. Biochemical topics can be pursued but must be focussed on the effects on the living thing not the chemical aspects. For example, a study of enzymatic kinematics falls under chemistry but the factors that affect enzymes and how this impacts on the ecological niche of an organism becomes a Biology topic. An Essay which deals with how organisms learn to negotiate a maze is more likely to be considered as Psychology but if the behaviours are related to the survival of the organism then this falls towards Biology.

To read more about choosing a topic for the extended essay in Biology read the InThinking page  Extended Essay titles.

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What I learned from messing up my biology extended essay

Each year we invite IB alumni to share their experiences, interests and advice with our global community in the  graduate voices  series. We welcome Diploma Programme (DP) graduate Lim Hui Yuan to share some tips and advice to DP students completing their extended essays after completing her DP education at Hwa Chong International School .

By Lim Hui Yuan

I’m sure all the current and past IB students know the hardship of completing an Extended Essay (EE). And for those who are not familiar with EE, it is actually “ an independent, self-directed piece of research ”, which culminates into a 4,000-word paper.

To many (including me), EE was a real boot camp training because of the effort and tenacity it requires one to possess. Well, it was quite daunting a time for me, BUT—I have to admit that I learned a lot from messing up my project. Looking back, the nine months I spent on my EE was indeed an endurance experience.

Here are my takeaways from almost failing my Biology EE. Some of them might be relevant to other EE subjects, but they mainly revolve around the challenges I personally faced.

Knowing what you’re interested in isn’t always that easy

They always say, “follow your heart”

“Pick a project topic that you are interested in.”

Sometimes, we might not even know what our heart wants and where our interests actually lie. We students face a dilemma when choosing an EE subject or topic in the same way we are confused when standing at the junction of deciding which university path to choose.

There is a plethora of topics that we could work on, but not all of them could keep us motivated for more than half a year. I chose, “The Efficacy of Natural Plant Extracts and Commercial Disinfectants in Reducing Bacterial Growth.”

I like to think of it like becoming a gardener. Your project starts off small, you have to nurture it, and once the research topic is settled, it just keeps growing. In the end, you’ll have an EE that has grown from just a tiny seed into a big plant you are really proud of.

Nevertheless, I came to realise that no matter what topic you choose, as long as you pour your heart into it, you will not regret the outcome.

Asking yourself, “ why do I want to do this project?” helps to keep you on the right track (even if the answer was “to get a good grade”).

Failing is more common than succeeding

After diving into my biology EE, I realised how easy it was to carry out experiments in class compared to conducting your research project. There’s no lab manual you can simply refer to. Instead, you have to create your own recipe , adapting from previous work. And since it’s your own custom-made experiment, you can never predict how the results will turn out.

As much as you try to fix the controlled variables, it seems like you can’t control the outcome of the study.

In my case, I expected some of the plant extracts to show antibacterial properties. However, I underestimated how mischievous the bacteria can be, contaminating all my plant samples.

I took the success of the experiment for granted.

This bump went on for over five months. At one point, I was so traumatised by the lack of progress that I couldn’t bring myself into the lab. Frustrated and drained, I was on the verge of giving up.

Here’s when you should take a breather to flush away the negative emotions and reset everything—including your impression of the project itself.

Learn to move on

Just as the wise Ryan Higa mentioned, “ here’s a bridge; now, get over it ”.

Whatever will happen has happened and all you can do is to move on.

After getting yourself ready for a fresh start, you should turn on troubleshoot mode and make amendments to your procedures. Try to pinpoint the problem and then search for plausible solutions to tackle it. The trial and error method is the only way!

Imagine beginning to piece a puzzle together; you usually know what the big picture looks like first before connecting the parts. The same applies to your EE. Plan ahead.

Set mini-deadlines as you draft your action plan. The timeline is essential so that you don’t feel too overwhelmed by a load of work (especially when you have a month left to write your EE after getting your results, which was exactly my case).

Be careful not to be too optimistic with the progress of your experiments. I expected and planned that mine would take at most two months to finish, but I completely neglected some time factors such as time needed for the bacteria to incubate, to make the agar plates, the opening hours of the lab (which leaves me only a few hours after school), and of course , failures.

You may have a supervisor to nag you about your EE progress. However, once you’re out of high school, nobody will be there to alarm you and snoozing off will cost you more than just your grades.

You’re not alone on this

If it weren’t for my EE supervisor and friends, I would’ve given up.

My EE supervisor kept encouraging me and taught me how to endure an initial lack of results, and I’ve learned since then that this is actually a norm of scientific research . One of my best friends, who was also doing a biology EE, took his time to teach me how to write a biology EE amidst his busy schedule (you know who you are, thank you!).

Remember to discuss your difficulties to your advisor or friends; they’ll be your pillar of support.

EE is not only here to prepare you for undergraduate research, but also provide a resilient attitude for life, in general.

Honestly, I’m quite grateful that I faced so many problems during the process. It feels like playing a game with many obstacles and overcoming each hurdle leads you to a higher-level ranking. I am, by no means, a “Legend”, but I’ve certainly passed the “Rookie” level.

P.S. Remember to pat yourself on the back after completing your EE. After all, you’ve shed blood, sweat and tears into raising your seedling into a plant.

Lim Hui Yuan is a graduate of Hwa Chong International School , Singapore. She is currently pursuing her degree in science, specifically a major in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, at the University of Hong Kong. She likes to experiment with new things and loves dancing and cooking. Also, you can find her binge-watching dramas most of the time.

To hear more from Diploma Programme (DP) graduates check out these  IB programme stories. If you are an IB grad and want to share your story, write to us at [email protected].  We appreciate your support in sharing IB stories and invite you to connect with us on LinkedIn , Twitter and now Instagram !

If you enjoyed this story, consider reading more below:

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About the IB

Extended Essay: Sciences: Biology

• Step 1 - Choosing a Subject
• Step 2 - Choosing a Topic
• Step 3 - Draft a Research Question
• Step 4 - Finding Sources
• Step 5 - Evaluating Information
• Step 6 - Bibliography & Citation
• Step 7 - Organizing Information
• The Arts: Visual Arts
• Individuals & Societies: Business Management
• Individuals & Societies: History
• Individuals & Societies: Psychology
• Language Acquisition
• Language and Literature
• Sciences: Biology
• Sciences: Sports, Exercise, and Health Sciences
• Interdisciplinary Papers: World Studies
• Assessment Criteria

Extended Essay in Biology

Extended Essays in Biology

Choosing a topic

Choosing a Topic

Biology is the science that deals with living organisms and life processes. A biology EE should incorporate biological theory and emphasize why it is relevant today.

The topic must relates specifically to biology. Many topics can be approached from different viewpoints, but for an EE in biology the treatment of the topic must be clearly biological. For example, an EE in an interdisciplinary area such as biochemistry will, if registered under the subject of biology, be judged solely on its biological content.

Disease, for example, could be considered through many different lenses. A biology paper about diseases would focus on their impact on particular organisms or life processes, and not on medical treatment, or the economic effects of the disease on society.

Approaches to research

Primary Research

Essays in biology may be based on data collected by the student through:

Essays that involve lab work, or fieldwork, should include a clear and concise description of the experimental procedure. Students taking an experimental approach must also consult secondary sources.

Secondary Research

Students can base their essays on data or information obtained from literature (secondary studies). However, in this case they should use the data in an original way. Essays that simply restate facts or data taken directly from the sources are of little value.

Biology Sources

Even students doing primary research will still need to reference secondary sources. And students relying entirely on secondary sources will need to find sources not only of written information but also experimental data which they can analyze.

Writing the Essay

An essay in the sciences requires is more than just generating and presenting data. Analysis of the data is also essential. The main body of the essay should consist of an argument or evaluation based on the data or information presented . You can gather your own data through a variety of methods, or rely on secondary data. You should use graphs, tables, or diagrams to point out the significance of your findings.

You should ensure that the main body of the essay is well structured and has an obvious logical progression. You can use numbered and headed paragraphs to impose a clear structure. Your evaluation should show that you understand the the data they have collected and its significance to the world.

In your analysis, you should also describe and explain the limitations imposed on the research by factors such as

• the suitability and reliability of the sources accessed
• accuracy and precision of measuring equipment
• sample size
• validity and reliability of statistics

Students  should also consider biological limitations such as:

• those arising from the problem of repeatability and control when using living material
• the difficulties of generalizing from research based on a single type of organism or environment.

Exceptions for Safety and Academic Honesty

Safety and Ethics in Choosing a Topic

In all cases where human subjects are used as the basis for an investigation, clear evidence of informed consent must be provided in accordance with the IB guidelines.

Some topics may be inadmissible because their means of investigation are unethical. For example, investigations that:

• are based on experiments likely to inflict pain on, or cause stress to, living organisms
• are likely to have a harmful effect on health, eg culturing micro-organisms at or near body temperature (37°C)
• involve access to, or publication of, confidential medical information.

Some topics may be unsuitable because of safety issues. Adequate safety apparatus and qualified supervision is required for experiments involving dangerous substances such as:

• toxic or dangerous chemicals
• carcinogenic substances
• radioactive materials.

Other topics may be unsuitable because the outcome is already well known and documented in standard textbooks.

Assessed Student Work

• The Antimicrobial Effects of Metals Copper, Barium and Silver on the Growth of Bacteria
• Effects of different calcium salts in growth solutions on the growth of the stems of basil (Ocimum basilicum) plants grown hydroponically
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• Jul 8, 2019

5 Tips for writing a Biology Extended Essay

5 Tips for writing a Biology EE

Biology is a popular subject for the IB extended essay and is great preparation for any student hoping to major in a science at university, as there will be plenty of lab reports (and eventually a thesis/dissertation!) in the future that will be structured quite similarly to the EE!

Here are 5 main tips to guide you in writing a Biology EE:

1. Choose the right topic and scope.

- It needs to be beyond the scope of the IB curriculum but not so complicated that you won’t be able to understand the concepts!

- Remember, you’re not expected to find anything groundbreaking, but you also can’t investigate something that a standard textbook can easily answer!

- Half of the battle is making sure your scope is neither too broad nor too specific - remember, 4000 words isn’t a lot when you want to write in detail and depth

- Brainstorm topics that you are interested in, or questions that you are personally curious about, then make sure your school/area has the resources to pursue this idea!

2, Be organised, but be realistic about your goals

- It might be helpful to create a timeline, for example, deciding on deadlines for:

- Finishing data collection

- Finishing your introduction

- When you need to hand in your first draft

- When you need to hand in your final draft

-Being organised is extremely important given that you will have many other projects and subjects you will have to work on while doing your EE!

3. Keep it simple

- Don’t carry out extremely complicated experiments with lots of different variables

- And mind the time; how long will the experiments take, including waiting time and repeats? - Does anything need time to grow?

- Remember that your supervisor sadly cannot write the EE for you, so make sure you choose a topic that you will be able to understand.

4. Justify yourself

- Where possible and within reason, explain your decisions e.g. changes you’ve made to the method, certain species you’ve used, why you’ve chosen one question over another, why you’ve chosen certain chemicals.

- Examiners like to see that you have thought carefully not just about the how and what but the WHY behind the process of answering your research question!

5. Mind your language!

- Don’t use too much scientific jargon, but be clear and specific

- Don’t be too wordy, but be detailed

- It’s a difficult balance, but here you’ll need to use your intuition: does your essay read smoothly? Would someone be able to read through all 4000 words in more or less one go?

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​Researching and writing an IB Extended Essay in Biology

Mr James Fraser, Head of Science at  Scarborough College , shares some of the Extended Essay topics that he's had the pleasure of supervising.

The Extended Essay is a compulsory component of the IB Diploma. Students are tasked with writing four thousand words on a topic of their choice relating to one of the subjects they are studying for their Diploma. Every student is allocated a supervisor who will guide them through the process. It is not an exaggeration when I say that supervising students completing their Extended Essay in my subject has been the most rewarding part of my teaching role at the College.

I have had the privilege of supervising more than thirty students since the IB was introduced at the College more than ten years ago. When I cast my mind back, some topics and essays immediately spring to mind. For instance, the research undertaken by a student to investigate the response made by the tiny C. elegans worm to being tapped on the head. After we had acquired the worms from the University of Chicago, the student designed an ingenious device to tap the head of the worms using her own eyelash. I am sure the experience of conducting research for her Extended Essay in the College laboratory was an instrumental reason for her choosing to read for an immunology degree at the University of Glasgow before doing a PhD at Melbourne University.

More recently, a student now studying medicine at university, designed an investigation to genetically modify bacteria cultured in the lab with a gene originally obtained from jellyfish. The gene taken up by the transgenic bacteria caused them to fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light. The gene was prepared in a number of different ways to see if this had an effect on its uptake by the bacteria.

Our current Upper Sixth students have recently submitted their Extended Essays. A variety of topics were chosen for investigation by biologists this time around including the effect of hair washing on the strength of hair and the frequency of visits to a bird feeder by House sparrows during the day.

Another essay written by Ksenia Ivanova focussed on the potential for the effect of an antibiotic to be enhanced when used in conjunction with a variety of different plant extracts. I asked Ksenia what advice she would give a student choosing a topic for their essay. She replied that 'Whichever topic you decide to explore, the key is to choose something that you really like and care about, so that your work would never be boring.'

The essays themselves are awarded a grade from A to E. Together with the grade for the Theory of Knowledge course, upto three additional IB Diploma points can be included in their overall IB Diploma score. However, the emphasis throughout the process is not solely on the outcome. Many former students have been in touch over the years to tell me how much their Extended Essay experience helped them when completing assignments and dissertations at university. They always comment on the head start they had over their peers who had studied for ‘A’ Levels who had no experience of academic writing at school.

Returning to my current students, they have discovered that the frequency of hair washing does NOT have an effect on its strength, House sparrows visit garden feeders more in the morning and early evening than at other times of day, and are much more likely to be male than female, and the growth of bacteria was inhibited more when an antibiotic was used together with either clove oil or clary sage extracts than when it was used on its own.

IB Biology EE examples

Filter exemplars, how do different concentrations of punica granatum extracts: peel, flower and leaves (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg/ml) affect the rate of reaction of α-amylase and compare with metformin (anti-diabetic drug) as measured by a spectrophotometer at 587nm, to what extent do extracts of allium sativum (garlic) and zingiber officinale (ginger) reduce antimicrobial activity and how effective it is compared to antibiotics, want to get full marks for your ee allow us to review it for you 🎯, to what extent does performing the dance styles, cha cha, viennese waltz, and modern contemporary affect human fitness levels as measured by oxygen consumption (vo2) and maximum heart rate (bpm), how effective is the cone repair technique when treating ebstein’s anomaly in comparison to other treatments, how does juice from garlic allium sativum cloves prepared in different ways (fresh raw, crushed one day prior, cooked, kept in oil, fermented in brine and fermented (black garlic)) affect the growth of a non-pathogenic strain of escherichia coli, fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, to what extent does the presence of acetaminophen (tylenol), polymixin b (polysporin), and diphenhydramine hydrochloride (benadryl) in the growth medium of cotoneaster acutifolius affect the average change in leaf length over a period of 15 days in five different concentrations, to what extent do different concentrations of magnesium nitrate (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 mm) affect the concentration of chlorophyll a and b in ocimum basilicum at 645 nm and 662 nm wavelength using spectrophotometer, what is the effect of salinity stress (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mm nacl) measured through microscopic (stomatal aperture) and morphological (leaf area, leaf dry mass, and root length) characteristics on pre-treated radish (raphanus sativus) seeds with magnetopriming (48 hours), how is the number of errors made by participants when attempting to distinguish between the temperature of two different water baths influenced by the hours slept within a 24-hour period, to what extent do different species of chili pepper consumption biologically affect the rate of lipid digestion in terms of ph change within 30 minutes, to what extent do phytochemicals such as resveratrol, glyceollin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (egcg) possess comparable antibacterial effects against staphylococcus aureus bacteria to a non-prescription otitis externa (oe) treatments such as ciprofloxacin using bacillus subtilis as a prokaryotic model organism, to what extent is blood pressure related to the development of alzheimer’s disease in people in age above 50, to what extent do bioinformatic tools such as cb dock 2 and chimera help in the analysis of phytochemicals (calotropone, quercetin, thymoquinone) compared to allopathic drugs (gemcitabine, olaparib, fluorouracil) against target receptors of pancreatic cancer (human glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1 (got1), threonine-protein kinase bub1, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), to what extent does inhaling e-cigarettes affect the lungs’ vital capacity of high school students in jakarta, estudio sobre el efecto de la crema dental utilizada para el cepillado de los dientes como inhibidor en la actividad enzimática de la alfa amilasa salival, how can the frameshift mutation caused by a deletion that affects the human body's melanocortin receptor gene (mcr) and leptin receptor gene (lepr) induce monogenetic obesity, to what extent does high intensity interval training (hiit) effect the maximum oxygen uptake (vo2max) in sedentary populations, investigating the effects of oil spillages on plants, to what extent does varying the duration (0 mins, 5 mins, 10 mins, 15 mins, 20 mins, 25 mins) at which a 25% solution consisting of ethanol-dissolved ayurvedic spices (curcumin and black cumin) is maintained at 60°c affect the antimicrobial activity of these spices against a k12 strain of escherichia coli, what effect do differing concentrations of the growth hormone gibberellic acid, have on the growth and mortality rates of pulses, common beans (phaseolus vulgaris l.) and common peas (pisum sativum l. (partim)), how do different concentrations of two cytokinin hormones: kinetin (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/l) and 6-benzylaminopurine (1.5, 2 and 2.5 mg / l) affect the growth of lactuca sativa, measured by height, number of leaves and dry mass, separately and combined over 5 weeks, to what extent is frequent consumption of ultra processed food related to prevalence of overweight and obesity among high school and college students, in poland and in thailand, how does the pollution of oestrogens into freshwater systems affect the biological processes of fathead minnows, to what extent does the abundance of hormosira banksii influence biodiversity at different positions on the intertidal rocky shore, how does the duration of exposure time to ultraviolet light affect the growth of saccharomyces cerevisiae, to what extent do various concentrations of piper betle extract (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%) affect the enzymatic activity of the digestive enzyme amylase, protease and lipase on their substrates (starch, casein and milk) in the the process of digestion and the estimation of vitamin c concentration in piper betle, ¿cómo los cambios en la luminosidad con niveles de 0, 2 500 y 5 000 lux, en focos de 25 y 50 watts respectivamente, afectan a la fijación de dióxido de carbono (co2) en la sansevieria trifasciata zeylanica biología nm, knowing that fingerprints are always different, but the core is identical, to what extent is it possible to see other similarities between the minutiae of close family members, to what extent does irrigation with carbonated water affect the ferric ion (fe3+) nutrient content of brassica oleracea ‘black tuscany’ microgreens, ¿cómo se estudia el angioedema hereditario, su diagnóstico, tratamiento, síntomas y etiología en humanos, to what extent does the efficiency of lactase enzyme found in different types and brands of dietary supplements (vitaplus innolact lactase dietary supplement film-coated tablet, millandjoy lactase enzyme chewable tablets, lactase comfort drops, dr. chen soft capsule, sanct bernhard lactase enzyme capsule) differ if the prescribed dosage used, measured as the amount of glucose produced after being treated with different supplements in a given time period (30sec, 60sec, 90sec, 120sec, 150sec), how do different concentrations of salicylic acid (1mm and 1m) affect growth of radishes (raphanus sativus), under drought, osmotic and cold stress, as well as normal conditions, the impact of ph on chlorella vulgaris, the effect of sucrose concentration on the percentage change in carbon dioxide during ethanol(yeast fermentation), to what extent does animal rennetassist lactic acid bacteria in the fermentation of milk during the production of cheese curds, what is the effect of seawater mixture (0%, 5%, 10%) on the germination of black chickpeas (cicer arietinum), green gram (vigna radiata) and fenugreek (trigonella foenum-graecum) for 5 days and their subsequent growth when watered using tap water for 10 days where growth was measured by plant height (±0.05 cm) and dry mass (±0.001 g), the digestion rate of oatmeal after different pre-soaking treatments and its correlation to glycemic index, how do different nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (npk) ratios (1:1:1, 2:1:1, 2:2:1 and water) in aqueous fertilisers affect growth (as measured through a mitotic index) of the onion (allium cepa), over a 5- week period, in a hydroponics set up, to what extent does varying concentrations of the hormone progesterone promote the short term growth of egeria densa.

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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Everything you need to know about Biology Extended Essay

• January 24, 2023
• IB Extended Essay (EE)

Table of Contents

• 1 Why Biology
• 2.1 Criterion A:
• 2.2 Criterion B:
• 2.3 Criterion C:
• 2.4 Criterion D:
• 2.5 Criterion E:
• 3 When to Start:
• 4 Pointers to take with you:

Why Biology

When you enter IB, everyone starts rambling about IAs and TOK and the EE. The EE, short for Extended Essay, is a 4000 word essay that you are required to write for any of the IB classes that you have taken, whether it is SL or HL. Its purpose would essentially be to test your research and analysis skills, inclusive of what degree you are willing to go till, along with how to solidify and prove your claims and evidence.  The Biology extended essay is very similar to the construction and working of any experimental science IA but the scope and the amount of research is more quantitative and qualitative. Now, there are two ways you can write your extended essay :

• Using data from previous research papers and experiments
• Conducting your own experiments and obtaining your own data

Though both are possible, we recommend that you conduct the experiment on your own and also compare it with other data as well. The reason for this is that it displays that you have taken the effort to explore and analyse the research question you have synthesised and how you are curious as to whether your initial hypothesis is true or false. It also provides you additional content for your analysis and conclusion if you had stumbled upon any unexpected outcomes or phenomenons.

Biology extended essays also provide you with a vast amount of previously conducted research papers and experiments that you can refer to, which can help with proving the accuracy and validity of your experiment and results.  In all honesty, the biology extended essay is recommended for students that plan to pursue:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Health-related majors

Diving into the Extended Essay

The EE generally is an essay with a maximum word limit of 4000 words excluding some components of the essay such as the tables, graphs and more. You must have an EE advisor, who is essentially a teacher at your school that monitors your extended essay progress and will validate the topic selected and the improvements that can be made regarding your extended essay. You must also fill a reflection form, which is basically a form that requires candidates to jot down the progress of the extended essay so far. It essentially gives the examiner and advisor of what you have thought of for your EE, the effort and creativity that you have put in and what they can expect. The EE along with your TOK score cover 3 points in your final total grade of 45. It is extremely important as receiving a failing grade in your extended essay with the combination of your TOK grade will disqualify you from receiving a diploma. The extended essay is graded out of 34 points according to a rubric. There are 5 grades that you may receive for your extended essay and then the not submitted condition(N):

• A – [30-36] (Excellent)
• B – [25 – 29] (Good)
• C – [17 – 24] (Satisfactory)
• D – [9 -16] (Mediocre)
• E – [0 – 8] (Elementary)
• N – (Not Submitted)

The following below is the rubric that evaluators utilise to assess the value and quality of your extended essay:

• Criterion A : Focus and Method [6 points]
• Criterion B : Knowledge and Understanding [6 points]
• Criterion C : Critical Thinking [12 points]
• Criterion D : Presentation [4 points]
• Criterion E : Engagement [6 points]

Now, what do each of these sections focus on? Here’s a brief of each of them below:

Criterion A:

This criterion focuses on the topic, research question and the methodology that is taken by the candidate. These 3 parts of the extended essay would basically be the beginning of the extended essay. In order to achieve 5-6 points in this section, you have to: 

• Ensure that the topic is clearly stated and that the purpose and research of the topic is communicated and understood properly.
• The research question formed is specific, clear and related to the topic of the extended essay
• The methodology that has been selected is appropriate for the formulated research question and that the methodology is effective and proven to be true.

Criterion B:

Criterion B is regarding the application and relevance of research and the knowledge of the topic that is portrayed by the candidate in the extended essay they have written. In order to achieve 5-6 points in this section:

• The knowledge possessed by the candidate must be effectively displayed within the essay
• The application and relevance of the research must be implemented in a manner that it supports and complements the research question of the extended essay

Criterion C:

Criterion C is basically how well you have analysed the data and research you have obtained and how you are able to correlate the data and research. It carries a significant amount of points in the rubric so you need to ensure that this part is extremely solid and justified within the extended essay. In order to achieve 10-12 points in this section:

• The research conducted is accurate and yields excellent and reliable data
• The interpretation and analysis of the data obtained is according to the data and displays the candidates attention to detail.
• The evaluation of the data obtained along with the research conducted resulted in the formation of strong and valid arguments and conclusions. 

Criterion D:

This criterion carries 4 points of the extended essay but it is also very important. This section is regarding the structure and formatting of the essay inclusive of the word count, how tables have been arranged, the selection of graphs, organisation of parts of the extended essay, the appendix format, references section formatting and more. Achieving 4 points in this section will not be a challenge as formatting your essay in an extremely ordered manner is not too difficult to accomplish.

Criterion E:

Criterion E is a bit complicated to explain but in a blunt manner, it’s a criterion that assesses how interested and how much dedication and effort the candidate has placed into their extended essay. This includes the qualitative and quantitative aspect of research conducted, the outcome achieved by the candidate, the reflections that the candidate has attained after the experiment and even the realisations by the candidate of how to improve and extend their research.

When to Start:

For a biology extended essay, the recommended time to start your extended essay would be 2 months prior to the beginning of IBDP year 2. The reason why so early compared to other groups and extended essay subjects is because for conducting your research and obtaining data live, it will definitely consume a great amount of time as you may have to grow plants for your research. Additionally, if something goes wrong, you will need to restart and this will consume additional time. So, by selecting and fixing the extended essay topic early, you will be able to have enough time to complete the rest of the essay and make valid and solidified analysis and arguments, which will strengthen your essay.

Pointers to take with you:

Here are some tips that you could definitely use while starting your Biology Extended Essay:

• Ensure that the experiment is feasible in your school laboratory. If you require too much equipment that isn’t available, then it’s not advised to take this experiment as it may become financially expensive and could also become time consuming.
• Make sure that you consult with your EE advisor, who is most probably your biology teacher at school, regarding segments of the extended essay. Ask their opinion regarding the research question and methodology. If they provide suggestions, keep those in mind and assess the possibilities that you have when stepping forward with your essay.
• Data needs to be reliable and accurate. Do not falsify your data or approximate it to the extent that the experiment becomes invalid. Ensure that you record everything, including qualitative features that occur during the experiment.
• Explore. Explore your research and be a bit curious with your research. If you do that, you can automatically strengthen your extended essay by implementing that curiosity into your analysis, conclusion and background information segments of your essay.
• Try to fix a topic and begin research early. As mentioned above, try to start 1 or 2 months before IBDP year 2. This way, you can re-conduct your experimentation and obtain data again if something goes wrong such as the plants failing to grow or your own dissatisfaction with the data obtained.

So, there you have it. The Biology Extended Essay. In all honesty, the biology extended essay is recommended for students that plan to pursue:

The Biology extended essay also enables you to provide and implement various arguments that strengthen the purpose and claims of your extended essay and also enable you to conduct experiments, which indirectly could boost your criterion A, B and C to an extent.

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Extended Essay Writers

Biology EE Topics | 40 Ideas

Luke MacQuoid

There are many potential topics for a biology Extended Essay (EE) in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Topic Ideas

Some possibilities include the following:

• The effects of pollution on a particular species or ecosystem.
• The genetic basis of a specific disease or trait.
• The comparative physiology of a specific mammal and bird.
• The effects of climate change on a particular species or ecosystem.
• The impact of human activity on the evolution of a species.
• The physiology of a specific plant species.
• The efficacy of a specific medicinal plant.
• The comparison of the anatomy and physiology of a specific animal species in captivity and in the wild.
• The impact of a specific invasive species on an ecosystem.
• The effect of different fertilizers on the growth and development of a specific plant species.
• The study of the symbiotic relationship between specific species.
• The effect of different light conditions on the growth and development of a specific plant species.
• The impact of different temperature conditions on the physiology of a specific microorganism.
• The study of the genetic diversity within a specific species.
• The study of the effects of different pH levels on the growth and development of a specific plant species.
• The impact of human activity on the population dynamics of a specific species.
• The study of the effects of different soil types on the growth and development of a specific plant species.
• The study of the impacts of different pesticides on the physiology of a specific species.
• The study of the effects of different water conditions on the growth and development of a specific plant species.
• The study of the impact of ocean acidification on the physiology of a specific marine species.
• Studying the Effects of Acid Rain on Local Flora.
• The Role of Gut Microbiota in Obesity.
• Influence of Insecticides on Honey Bee Population Decline.
• The Effects of Microplastics on Aquatic Food Chains.
• The Role of Genetics in Determining Human Lifespan.
• Influence of Habitat Loss on the Genetic Diversity of a Specific Species.
• The Effects of Light Pollution on Nocturnal Animals.
• A Comparative Study of Photosynthesis Rates in Different Plant Species.
• The Impact of Noise Pollution on Avian Communication.
• Analysis of Biological Controls for Invasive Species.
• The Effects of Diet on the Gut Microbiota.
• Understanding the Effect of Climate Change on Disease Vectors.
• Exploring the Role of Genetics in Athletic Performance.
• Effects of Pharmaceuticals on Aquatic Ecosystems.
• The Impact of Urbanization on Local Bird Species.
• Understanding the Relationship Between Sleep and Immune Function.
• Studying the Effects of Air Pollution on Lichen Species.
• The Role of Epigenetics in Aging.
• The Effect of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on the Human Body.
• Investigating the Biological Mechanisms of Meditation and Mindfulness.

It’s important to note that these are just examples of topics for your IB EE in Biology . You should choose a topic that interests you and that you can find enough information on.

Need help with your Biology 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 stringent IB criteria but also reflects your passion for Biology studies.

Additionally, it’s essential to consult with your supervisor to make sure the topic meets the requirements of the Extended Essay and that you have access to the necessary resources to complete the research.

Students can use these themes in their essays by researching and analyzing the specific topic, providing evidence and examples to support their claims, and discussing the implications and potential solutions to the issue at hand.

For example, in an essay on the effects of pollution on a particular species or ecosystem, a student could research the specific pollutants that are affecting the species or ecosystem, analyze the effects those pollutants are having, and discuss potential solutions to mitigate the pollution and its effects.

These are experiments students can use for Biology EE topics:

• Looking at how pollution impacts a certain type of animal or plant: This would involve checking out pollution levels in a specific place, then watching to see how it affects your chosen species.
• Understanding how certain genes affect a disease or characteristic: This would mean doing genetic tests to identify the genes involved, and potentially using genetic engineering techniques to change those genes and see what happens.
• Comparing how a mammal and a bird work: You’d do experiments to see how your chosen mammal and bird are similar or different. You could look at things like brain structure, behaviour, and thinking abilities.
• Exploring how climate change impacts a certain animal, plant, or ecosystem: This could involve experiments to see how changes in temperature, rain patterns, or CO2 levels affect your chosen species or ecosystem.
• Studying how people’s actions affect how a species evolves: This might mean looking at how things like habitat destruction, hunting, or pollution impact a species’ genetic diversity and population.
• Looking at how a certain plant works: You’d do experiments to see how the plant responds to things like light, temperature, or water.
• Studying how well a medicinal plant works: You’d do experiments to see how good the plant is at killing or slowing the growth of microbes, or reducing pain or inflammation.
• Comparing a certain animal in captivity and in the wild: You’d look at how being in captivity affects the animal’s body and how it works, and how it behaves.
• Seeing how an invasive species affects an ecosystem: You’d study how your chosen invasive species impacts the growth, reproduction, and health of native species.
• Studying how different fertilizers affect a plant: This could involve testing different types of fertilizers to see how they affect the plant’s growth rate, leaf size, and health.
• Looking at how certain species interact: You’d do experiments to understand the relationship between the species. This could involve seeing what happens when you remove one species, or how different environments affect the relationship.
• Studying how light affects a plant: This might mean doing experiments to see how different light conditions affect the plant’s growth, leaf size, and health.
• Looking at how temperature affects a microorganism: You’d do experiments to see how different temperatures impact the microorganism’s growth rate, metabolism, and health.
• Studying genetic diversity in a species: This could involve using genetic markers to identify genetic variations in the species, and then seeing how these variations affect the organism.
• Looking at how pH levels affect a plant: You’d do experiments to see how different pH levels impact the plant’s growth, leaf size, and health.
• Studying how people’s actions affect a species’ population: This might mean looking at how things like habitat destruction, hunting, or pollution impact the species’ population size, growth rate, and health.
• Looking at how soil types affect a plant: This could involve doing experiments to see how different types of soil affect the plant’s growth, leaf size, and health.
• Studying how pesticides affect a species: This might mean doing experiments to see how different pesticides impact the species’ growth, reproduction, and health.
• Looking at how water conditions affect a plant: You’d do experiments to see how different water conditions (like availability, salt levels, or temperature) affect the plant’s growth, leaf size, and health.
• Studying how ocean acidification affects a marine species: This could involve doing experiments to see how increasing acidity levels impact the species’ growth, reproduction, and health.

Additionally, in an essay on the comparative psychiatry of a specific mammal and bird, a student could research and compare the brain structures, behaviors, and cognitive abilities of the two species and discuss any similarities and differences found.

A student can ask for help from a writing service if they need assistance with their essay. This can bring several benefits to the student, such as:

• Professional guidance . Writing services often have experienced writers and editors who can provide guidance on the essay topic and structure, as well as help with research and editing.
• Improved quality . A writing service can help improve the overall quality of the essay, including grammar, punctuation, and formatting.
• Better grades . With the help of a writing service, a student’s essay is likely to be of higher quality, which can lead to better grades.
• Time-saving . A writing service can help save time as the student can focus on other responsibilities while the writing service works on the essay.
• Customization . Writing services can also provide a customized service that can be tailored to the student’s specific needs and requirements.
• Originality . Professional writers will provide original work that is free from plagiarism, which is important in academic writing.

It is important to note, however, that a student should always ensure that the writing service they use is reputable and that they review and understand the work they receive before submitting it as their own.

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

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