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 grades for your EE and TOK are combined to give bonus points in your Diploma.

Marks

The maximum number of marks that can be awarded to an Extended Essay is 34. This is made up for the marks available for each of the five assessment criteria.

CriterionMaximum mark
A: Focus & method6
B: Knowledge & understanding6
C: Critical thinking12
D: Presentation4
E: Engagement6

Grade Boundaries

All Extended Essays in all subjects are marked according to the same criteria and the Grade Boundaries are the same for all subjects.

The Extended Essay guide (see page 107) contains the grade descriptors which are used to determine the different Grade Boundaries. The grade boundaries for Extended Essay assessed under the current criteria were set at the grade award meeting in the summer of 2018 (after the first batch of essays written to the new criteria had been assessed) and have not changed since then.

Grade Boundaries


** You should be aware that any student who achieves Grade E for their Extended Essay (or for TOK) will not be awarded the Diploma. This is known as a 'failing condition'.

Bonus points

Bonus points are obtained depending upon the grades you are awarded for both your Extended Essay and for Theory of Knowledge. If you who gain A (Excellent) in both you will be awarded the maximum three bonus points towards your Diploma. Three bonus points will also be awarded if you gains an A (Excellent) in one of the two components and a B (Good) in the other.  The IB has produced a matrix system  so that it is easy to see which combinations result in which bonus points. It is worth noting that if you achieves C (Satisfactory) for both your Extended Essay and your Theory of Knowledge you will gain one bonus point.

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