IB DP Core: The Extended Essay 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which statement about the Extended Essay supervisor's role is CORRECT?
- The supervisor writes the first draft to model good academic writing
- The supervisor can edit grammar and spelling throughout all drafts
- The supervisor provides guidance but must not write any part of the essay (Correct answer)
- The supervisor selects the research question to ensure academic rigor
Correct answer: The supervisor provides guidance but must not write any part of the essay
Supervisors mentor and advise students but cannot co-author the essay; the intellectual work must be entirely the student's own.
Question 2: A student writing a Chemistry Extended Essay collects experimental data with unexpected results that contradict the hypothesis. The BEST course of action is to:
- Discard the anomalous data and repeat the experiment until expected results appear
- Include and discuss the unexpected results as part of critical analysis (Correct answer)
- Change the research question to match the data obtained
- Ask the supervisor to verify the data before including it
Correct answer: Include and discuss the unexpected results as part of critical analysis
Unexpected or contradictory results should be included and critically analyzed, as this demonstrates genuine scientific thinking.
Question 3: The criterion 'Engagement' in the Extended Essay is assessed through which document?
- The final essay itself
- The bibliography and footnotes
- The Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF) (Correct answer)
- The supervisor's predicted grade
Correct answer: The Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF)
Engagement is the only criterion assessed solely via the RPPF, rewarding intellectual curiosity and personal reflection documented there.
Question 4: What is the MAXIMUM number of marks available for the Extended Essay?
- 24 marks
- 30 marks
- 34 marks (Correct answer)
- 42 marks
Correct answer: 34 marks
The Extended Essay is graded out of 34 marks across five assessment criteria before being converted to a letter grade A–E.
Question 5: A student plans to write an Extended Essay analyzing the portrayal of war in films. In which subject should this be submitted?
- History
- Film (Correct answer)
- Language A: Language and Literature
- Visual Arts
Correct answer: Film
Analysis of cinematic techniques and film as a medium belongs in the Film subject category for the Extended Essay.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of academic malpractice in the Extended Essay?
- Citing a website without a page number
- Using block quotations longer than 40 words
- Paraphrasing a source without attribution (Correct answer)
- Choosing a research question similar to a classmate's
Correct answer: Paraphrasing a source without attribution
Presenting another's ideas in your own words without citing the source is plagiarism, a serious form of academic malpractice.
Question 7: In the Extended Essay, 'Presentation' criterion rewards students for:
- The visual design and color scheme of the cover page
- Correct essay structure, layout, citations, and bibliography formatting (Correct answer)
- Using charts and graphs to support every argument
- Writing in a formal academic register throughout
Correct answer: Correct essay structure, layout, citations, and bibliography formatting
Presentation marks are earned through proper structural elements—title page, table of contents, consistent referencing, and a complete bibliography.
IB DP Core: The Extended Essay 4
Which statement about the Extended Essay supervisor's role is CORRECT?