What it is
The extended essay (EE) is an independent research essay of up to 4,000 words, part of the IB Diploma core. A history EE investigates a focused question about the past using primary and secondary sources, and makes a sustained argument.
How it is assessed
The essay is marked out of 34 against five criteria: focus and method, knowledge and understanding, critical thinking, presentation, and engagement. Engagement is judged from your reflections on the planning and progress form, written during three reflection sessions with your supervisor.
Choosing a topic
- Choose something you want to spend months on.
- Narrow it down in time, place and scale.
- Make sure there are sources — especially primary sources — you can reach.
- Avoid very recent events: a history EE needs enough distance for historical sources and interpretations to exist. Your supervisor will confirm what is acceptable.
From topic to research question
A research question should be focused, open to argument, and answerable in 4,000 words.
| Too broad | Better |
|---|---|
| What caused the Cold War? | To what extent was the Berlin Blockade (1948–49) a response to the introduction of the Deutsche Mark? |
| Why did apartheid end? | How significant was the 1976 Soweto uprising in changing the ANC’s strategy? |
Last updated 25 September 2026.