IBEC Extended Essay Supervision 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student is writing an Extended Essay in Biology and wants to include primary experimental data. What is the supervisor's role regarding the experimental design?
- Design the experiment to ensure it meets IB safety standards
- Guide the student to design a feasible and safe experiment independently (Correct answer)
- Conduct the experiment alongside the student and co-analyze the data
- Prohibit primary research and direct the student to secondary sources only
Correct answer: Guide the student to design a feasible and safe experiment independently
Supervisors support the student in independently designing safe, feasible experiments without taking over the research design.
Question 2: Which of the following best describes appropriate source guidance from an EE supervisor?
- Providing the student with a pre-curated reading list of approved sources
- Suggesting categories or types of sources the student might consult (Correct answer)
- Downloading and annotating sources on the student's behalf
- Limiting the student to no more than ten sources to keep the essay focused
Correct answer: Suggesting categories or types of sources the student might consult
Supervisors may point students toward types or categories of resources, but students must locate and evaluate sources themselves.
Question 3: What action should an EE supervisor take if a student misses the agreed deadline for submitting a draft?
- Immediately report the student to the IB for non-compliance
- Contact the EE coordinator and work with the student to set a revised schedule (Correct answer)
- Refuse to provide further feedback and submit the essay as incomplete
- Accept the late draft without comment to avoid discouraging the student
Correct answer: Contact the EE coordinator and work with the student to set a revised schedule
Missed deadlines should be addressed collaboratively with the coordinator to keep the student on track within school timelines.
Question 4: Which criterion is NOT directly assessed in the IB Extended Essay?
- Focus and method
- Knowledge and understanding
- Critical thinking
- Oral fluency and pronunciation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Oral fluency and pronunciation
Extended Essays are assessed on written criteria only; oral fluency is assessed in other IB components such as the individual oral.
Question 5: When completing the EESA supervisor's report, which aspect is most important for the supervisor to address?
- A predicted numerical score for the essay
- Commentary on the student's engagement, independence, and research process (Correct answer)
- A detailed critique of the essay's bibliography
- A comparison of the student's essay to others in the cohort
Correct answer: Commentary on the student's engagement, independence, and research process
The EESA asks supervisors to describe the student's process, level of independence, and authenticity of the work.
Question 6: What is the recommended timing for introducing Extended Essay requirements to IB Diploma students?
- During the final semester of the DP to minimize disruption
- At the start of Year 1 of the Diploma Programme (Correct answer)
- Only after students have completed their ToK essay
- In the summer before Year 2 to maximize research time
Correct answer: At the start of Year 1 of the Diploma Programme
The IB recommends introducing the EE early in Year 1 so students have adequate time for research, drafts, and reflections.
Question 7: A supervisor is asked to supervise seven students for their Extended Essays. According to IB guidance, what should the supervisor consider?
- Seven students is below the recommended minimum of ten
- This number may be manageable if the coordinator agrees, but workload and quality should be monitored (Correct answer)
- The IB sets a strict maximum of three students per supervisor
- Supervisors may take unlimited students as long as all subjects are different
Correct answer: This number may be manageable if the coordinator agrees, but workload and quality should be monitored
The IB does not set a rigid cap, but schools should ensure supervisors can provide adequate attention; coordinator oversight is key.
IBEC Extended Essay Supervision 4
A student is writing an Extended Essay in Biology and wants to include primary experimental data.
What is the supervisor's role regarding the experimental design?