Assessment

Introduction

All Extended Essays are marked by an external examiner. All the external examiner sees is the final copy of your Essay together with the completed Reflections on planning and progress form, EE/RPPF. Based solely on this information, it is the external examiner's task to determine how the Essay matches up to the five assessment criteria and to award a total mark out of a maximum of 34. In one sense the way in which the essay is marked is not directly your teacher's concern as the assessment is external. However your teacher is required to submit a predicted grade for your EE to the IB so will need to have an informed opinion as to the quality of your work.

The total mark out of 34 is translated into a grade from A to E. The grade descriptors which govern how the grade boundaries are decided are given on page 107 of the Extended Essay guide. It is worth considering the descriptor for the top boundary of Grade A .

Grade A descriptor

Demonstrates effective research skills resulting in a well-focused and appropriate research question that can be explored within the scope of the chosen topic; effective engagement with relevant research areas, methods and sources; excellent knowledge and understanding of the topic in the wider context of the relevant discipline; the effective application of source material and correct use of subject-specific terminology and/or concepts further supporting this; consistent and relevant conclusions that are proficiently analysed; sustained reasoned argumentation supported effectively by evidence; critically evaluated research; excellent presentation of the essay, whereby coherence and consistency further supports the reading of the essay; and present and correctly applied structural and layout elements.

Engagement with the process is conceptual and personal, key decision-making during the research process is documented, and personal reflections are evidenced, including those that are forward-thinking.

© IBO

Clearly not everyone will achieve this standard, but it is the benchmark that you should be aiming for.

This section on assessment looks at the importance of the Reflections on planning and progress three formal reflection sessions, the last of which is the viva voce as these affect Criterion E. It also looks at how the different grade boundaries of Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Mediocre and Elementary are determined. Finally it looks in detail at all the five Assessment Criteria individually and gives advice and guidance (with examples) as to how to maximise your marks for each criterion.

Grading system

This section looks at the marks that can be awarded for each of the different criteria and how the final grade for the essay depends upon the total mark obtained out of 34. It then shows how the combined...

Criterion A

Criterion A focuses on the topic, the research question and the methodology. This page details what is required to gain maximum marks and lists some of the common errors made by students when addressing...

Criterion B

Criterion B focuses on knowledge and understanding and on terminology and concepts. This page details what is required to gain maximum marks and lists some of the common errors made by students when...

Criterion C

Criterion C focuses on research, analysis, discussion and evaluation. This page details what is required to gain maximum marks and lists some of the common errors made by students when addressing this...

Criterion D

Criterion D focuses on the structure and layout of your essay. This page details what is required to gain maximum marks and lists some of the common errors made by students when addressing this criterion.

Criterion E

Criterion E focuses on your engagement with the planning and process of your Extended Essay and on your reflections on your engagement with the research process. This page details what is required to...

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