IB DP Core: The Extended Essay 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the viva voce, the examiner is primarily assessing which element?
- The student's ability to memorize the essay verbatim
- The student's authentic engagement and understanding of their research (Correct answer)
- Whether the student can defend every citation in the bibliography
- The supervisor's effectiveness in guiding the student
Correct answer: The student's authentic engagement and understanding of their research
The viva voce is a short oral reflection where supervisors confirm the student's genuine ownership of the work.
Question 2: A student wants to write an Extended Essay about the economic impact of a local policy. Which subject category fits BEST?
- Geography
- Economics (Correct answer)
- Business Management
- Environmental Systems and Societies
Correct answer: Economics
Policy impact analysis using economic theory and data is best categorized under Economics for the Extended Essay.
Question 3: Which criterion accounts for the LARGEST proportion of marks in the Extended Essay assessment rubric?
- Focus and Method
- Knowledge and Understanding
- Critical Thinking (Correct answer)
- Presentation
Correct answer: Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking carries 12 of the 34 available marks, making it the highest-weighted single criterion.
Question 4: What is the recommended length for the Extended Essay abstract?
- No abstract is required (Correct answer)
- Up to 100 words
- Up to 300 words
- Up to 500 words
Correct answer: No abstract is required
The IB removed the abstract requirement from the Extended Essay in the 2018 guide; students no longer write one.
Question 5: When conducting primary research for a Psychology Extended Essay, a student must FIRST ensure:
- The sample size exceeds 100 participants
- Ethical guidelines for human subjects research are followed (Correct answer)
- The supervisor approves every interview question
- The data is collected in a school-approved laboratory
Correct answer: Ethical guidelines for human subjects research are followed
IB requires students to follow ethical research practices, including informed consent and confidentiality, before conducting any primary research.
Question 6: A student submits an Extended Essay with 4,200 words in the main body. What happens?
- The essay receives a 5-point penalty
- Examiners read and assess only the first 4,000 words (Correct answer)
- The student must resubmit a shortened version
- The supervisor receives a warning from the IB
Correct answer: Examiners read and assess only the first 4,000 words
IB examiners are instructed to stop reading at the 4,000-word limit, so any content beyond that point is ignored.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes a World Studies Extended Essay?
- An essay written in two different languages simultaneously
- An interdisciplinary essay exploring a global issue through two IB subjects (Correct answer)
- A comparative study of educational systems in two countries
- An essay about global geography using satellite data
Correct answer: An interdisciplinary essay exploring a global issue through two IB subjects
The World Studies Extended Essay is a special category that requires integrating perspectives from two IB Diploma subjects to analyze a contemporary global issue.
IB DP Core: The Extended Essay 3
During the viva voce, the examiner is primarily assessing which element?