IB Extended Essay Help and EE Supervision Support

Most Extended Essay grades are decided in the first month, before any writing happens, by the research question. A question that is too broad produces a summary; a question with no available sources produces a stalled draft in November; a question that is really two questions produces an essay that never argues anything. We work on the question first, then the structure, then the draft.

4000+

STUDENTS

4.9/5

GOOGLE RATING

12+

YEARS EXPERIENCE

40,000+

Total hours Taught

4000+

STUDENTS

4.9/5

GOOGLE RATING

12+

YEARS EXPERIENCE

40,000+

Total hours Taught

IB Extended Essay Help and Guidance for Research and Academic Writing

what the extended esssay actually is

A 4,000-word independent research essay in one of the DP subjects (or a World Studies interdisciplinary essay), supervised by a teacher, supported by three formal reflection sessions, and assessed externally against published criteria. It contributes to the diploma’s bonus points alongside TOK — and, more importantly, failing it can prevent the award of the diploma.

For the full explainer, see Mastering the IBDP Core.

Choosing A Subject — And The Mistake Almost Everyone Makes

The commonest EE error is choosing the subject you enjoy most rather than the subject in which you can construct an arguable question with accessible sources.

practical guidance:

Choose a subject you take, ideally at HL. Writing an EE in a subject you do not study is permitted in some cases but starts you at a disadvantage.
Check source access before committing. A History EE with no access to appropriate sources, or a Biology EE requiring lab equipment you cannot use, is a slowmotion failure.
Sciences require feasible experimental work or a genuinely analysable secondary dataset — a literature review will not score well in an experimental subject.
World Studies is harder than it looks. It must genuinely integrate two subjects around a global issue, not simply mention both.

The research question is the whole game

A workable EE research question is narrow, arguable and answerable within 4,000 words.

Weak

To what extent has social media affected teenagers? — unbounded, unarguable, no defined evidence base.

Better

To what extent did the 2016 demonetisation policy affect small retail businesses in Bengaluru, as measured by reported cash turnover? — bounded in place, time and measure.

We stress-test candidate questions against four tests: Can it be answered? Can it be argued both ways? Are the sources genuinely available to you? Does answering it require 4,000 words — and not 12,000?

For subject-wise starting points, see our Extended Essay topics bank.

structure and the reflection sessions

Argumentative Spine

A strong EE has a visible argumentative spine: an introduction that states the question and why it is worth asking, a body in which each section advances the argument rather than reporting findings in sequence, and a conclusion that answers the question including what it could not resolve.

The 3 Formal Sessions

The three reflection sessions with your supervisor are assessed via the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form, and students routinely underprepare them. They are marks, not admin. We help students arrive at each session with genuine methodological reflection rather than a progress update.

How QFS EE Support Works

01
We help students refine their subject and research question based on academic relevance, scope and feasibility.
02
Sources are reviewed early to ensure the research is credible, accessible and sufficient to support the investigation.
03
Students build a clear structure and argument plan before beginning the first draft.
04
We review the outline, first draft and final draft against the published IB criteria, giving specific feedback at each stage.
05
We prepare students for the reflection sessions and help them articulate their research journey and learning.
06
We review referencing, word count, formatting and overall submission readiness.
07
We guide, question and review throughout the process. Students write their own Extended Essay—we do not draft or rewrite it.

What Separates a Good Ivy League Application From a Great One?

Our counsellors help you shape your profile, strengthen your essays, and present your achievements with a clear, authentic story, not a checklist of activities.

frequently asked questions

Yes, and it is the best time to talk to us. Subject choice, question and source access are one decision, not three.
No. We review drafts against the criteria and tell you what is limiting the grade. You make the changes.
No — your supervisor is required and submits your work. We supplement them. Where our advice differs, follow your supervisor and raise the point with them.
Realistically, six to nine months of intermittent work through Grade 11 and into Grade 12. Students who compress it into two months produce essays that are compressed.
An E grade in either the EE or TOK prevents the award of the diploma. This is why we treat the EE as a risk to manage before it is a bonus point to chase. Confirm the current conditions with your coordinator.
It is possible in some subjects but rarely advisable, and some subjects require prior study. Check with your coordinator first.
Yes, though we usually advise students to be certain they can genuinely integrate two subjects before choosing it.
Typically six to eight across the cycle: question, sources, structure, and three or four criteria-referenced reviews.