Table of Contents
Introduction
IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion - The IB Diploma Extended Essay (EE) is a crucial component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, challenging students to develop advanced research, analytical, and writing skills. As one of the core elements of the IB, the EE requires students to undertake a 4,000-word independent research project, demonstrating critical thinking, academic writing, and time management.
The 2025 IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion has been designed to guide students through each stage of the EE process, offering practical strategies, real-world examples, and examiner insights to help students produce high-quality essays that meet IB assessment criteria.
In this comprehensive review, we will explore:
- Key features of the course companion
- Major updates in the 2025 IB Extended Essay guidelines
- How this book benefits both students and teachers
- Why this resource is essential for IB success
Key Changes in the 2025 IB Extended Essay Guidelines
The IB has refined the Extended Essay guidelines to ensure students develop stronger research and writing skills. Here are the major updates in the 2025 IB Extended Essay syllabus and how the course companion supports these changes.
1. Greater Emphasis on Research Question Development
- IB examiners have noted that many students struggle with formulating a strong research question.
- The new guidelines place more focus on crafting a well-defined, focused, and researchable question.
- The course companion provides step-by-step guidance on developing a research question, including worked examples across different subjects (see p. 42).
2. Strengthened Academic Integrity and Source Evaluation
- The IB now requires students to engage in deeper source evaluation to ensure academic integrity and credibility.
- There is a stronger focus on evaluating the reliability, bias, and relevance of sources.
- The course companion includes checklists and criteria for assessing sources effectively (see p. 85).
3. More Structured Approach to Writing and Formatting
- The new IB guidelines reinforce the importance of structured writing with clear introductions, well-developed arguments, and strong conclusions.
- The IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion includes templates, sample outlines, and annotated essays that demonstrate best practices in structuring an EE (see p. 120).
4. Expanded Reflection Process with Examiner Insights
- The reflection process (which accounts for 6 marks) is now more structured, requiring students to:
- Demonstrate growth in research and thinking
- Explain how their research question evolved
- Identify challenges and solutions in the writing process
- The book provides guided reflection prompts and sample reflection statements that align with the IB’s expectations (see p. 155).
5. Refined Subject-Specific Guidelines
- Each IB subject group now has clearer expectations for Extended Essays.
- The course companion breaks down the EE expectationsfor subjects like:
- Sciences (p. 210) – Including data analysis and experimental design
- Humanities (p. 185) – Incorporating historical sources and argumentation
- Languages & Literature (p. 230) – Conducting literary analysis
- This structured guidance ensures that students understand the unique requirements of their chosen subject.
Key Features of the 2025 IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion
The 2025 edition of the IB Extended Essay Course Companion has been developed to help students navigate the EE process with confidence. Here are its most notable features:
1. Step-by-Step Guidance on Writing a High-Scoring EE
- The IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion provides a detailed breakdown of each stage of the EE process, including:
- Choosing a topic and formulating a research question (p. 38)
- Conducting academic research and note-taking strategies (p. 78)
- Structuring the EE with clear sections (p. 120)
- Editing, refining, and submitting the final essay (p. 210)
- These structured steps help students stay on track and manage their time effectively.
2. Subject-Specific Advice and Examples
- Many students struggle with understanding how the EE differs across subject areas.
- This course companion includes subject-specific guidancewith:
- Worked examples for different IB subjects (p. 165)
- Marking criteria explanations tailored to each subject (p. 185)
- Best practices for different disciplines (p. 220)
- These resources help students customize their approach based on their subject area.
3. Model Extended Essays with Examiner Commentary
- The book includes annotated sample EEsthat demonstrate:
- Strong research questions and hypotheses
- Effective use of sources and critical analysis
- Proper essay structure and citation methods
- The examiner comments highlight common mistakes and provide insights into how top-scoring essays are structured (see p. 250).
4. Practical Tips for Time Management and Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- The EE is a long-term project, and many students struggle with procrastination and organization.
- This companion includes timelines, progress trackers, and tips on breaking the EE into manageable steps (p. 95).
- It also provides guidance on overcoming writer’s block and handling setbacks (p. 180).
5. Comprehensive Assessment Criteria Breakdown
- The Extended Essay is graded based on specific IB criteria, and this book offers a detailed breakdown of each criterion.
- It includes examiner tips on what makes a strong essay and how to maximize marks in each category (p. 275).
Benefits of the Course Companion for Students and Teachers
For Students:
✅ Clear, structured approach to writing a high-scoring EE
✅ Step-by-step research and writing guidance
✅ Real-world examples and model essays with examiner feedback
✅ Practical strategies for time management and overcoming challenges
✅ Subject-specific breakdowns for different IB disciplines
For Teachers:
✅ A structured resource for guiding students through the EE process
✅ Clear explanations of assessment criteria and IB expectations
✅ Annotated essays with examiner insights for feedback and grading
✅ Templates and reflection prompts to support student progress
Conclusion: Why This Course Companion is Essential for IB Students
The IB Diploma Extended Essay is one of the most challenging components of the IB programme, requiring students to demonstrate independent research, analytical thinking, and academic writing skills.
The 2025 IB Diploma Extended Essay Course Companion is more than just a textbook—it is a comprehensive guide designed to support students through every step of the EE journey.
With its structured approach, subject-specific guidance, model essays, and examiner insights, this book ensures that students can write high-quality Extended Essays that meet IB expectations.
Whether you are a student aiming for an A in your EE or a teacher looking for structured lesson plans and assessment tools, this course companion is the ultimate resource for mastering the IB Extended Essay.
For more information visit www.myibsource.com
IB DP Extended Essay Course Companion 2025 Edition
$65.00
Equip Learners for Success in the 2025 IB Diploma Extended Essay Tailored to the updated 2025 IB Diploma Extended Essay curriculum and written by Oxford University Press, this essential resource provides students with a clear, step-by-step pathway to excel in… read more
