If you have any questions, PM me on reddit (user: u/Decent-Cheetah4742) or email me ([email protected])
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One of the most important things when starting your EE is to choose a topic you genuinely care about. Yes, people may say it’s easier to score in other subjects than others but the reality is this: you can turn any topic into a top scoring essay, you just have to be willing to put in the work. If you’re not interested in your subject, staying motivated will be incredibly difficult. Once you’ve picked your subject, make sure to narrow your focus and come up with a clear, specific research question. A vague or overly broad question will make it harder to build a strong argument or structure your essay effectively. You only have 4,000 words, so your topic needs to be focused enough to allow for depth, not breadth.
Starting early is another crucial tip. Procrastination will only make things harder and more stressful. Giving yourself time to brainstorm, research, and write in stages will lead to a stronger and more polished final essay. From the beginning, you should also make it a habit to organize your research. Keep a document or folder with all your sources, quotes, and notes—trust me, this will save you a ton of time later when you're writing and citing. I kept a google drive folder with all the sources I used and annotated the ones I knew I would be returning to frequently.
As you begin writing, remember that every paragraph should contribute to answering your research question. Stay focused and cut out any fluff—clarity and conciseness will make your argument stronger. Keep a running bibliography while you research and write. Waiting until the end to cite your sources is a mistake that can cost you both time and accuracy. You can ask a friend or a family member to read some of your essay to ensure that you’re getting your point across!
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Originally, I planned to write my Extended Essay in history, since I had done fairly well in it. But after some reflection, I decided to switch to English because I realized I felt a deeper passion for literature and the process of analyzing texts. I’ve always enjoyed reading and discussing books, so choosing English made the research and writing process feel more meaningful and enjoyable. Early on in DP1, I had already chosen a general topic and even started building my bibliography, which definitely helped me feel like I had some direction. However, one of my biggest regrets was not using the summer between DP 1 and DP 2 to start actually writing the essay. At the time, it felt like I had plenty of time ahead of me, but once the school year started, everything hit at once—especially with university applications, IA deadlines, and regular coursework.
Balancing all of that with the EE was a lot to manage, and it definitely caused some unnecessary stress. That being said, I ended up procrastinating and writing my first full draft over the course of a weekend. Looking back, I think that experience taught me that it is possible to be productive under pressure if you're really motivated—but I wouldn’t recommend relying on that approach if you can avoid it. Starting earlier would have made the process much smoother. Still, I’m proud of how it turned out, and choosing a subject I genuinely enjoyed made all the difference when it came to pushing through the tougher parts of the process.
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About me!!
Hi, I’m an M25 graduate who scored a 40/45 on the IB Diploma. I scored a 766 on my HLs (Biology, History, English Literature), and a 666 on my SLs (Math AA, Arabic B, Psychology). My EE in English scored an A (32/34), and I received an A in TOK as well (3 points). I also took ESS as an extra course and scored a 7. I created this page to support IB students—especially with the new Biology syllabus, but also across other subjects. Whether you’re looking for guidance, study strategies, or just have questions, I’m more than happy to help however I can!
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