ib geography paper 2 essay

IBDP Geography: IB Style Question Bank with solution- HL & SL Paper 2

IB DP Physics IB DP Maths IB DP Chemistry IB DP Biology

HLSL Paper 2

(single Question paper for both SL and HL)

Important Instructions – SL-Paper 2

• SL weight 40%Total 1 hour 15 minutes
• Three structured questions, based on each SL/HL core unit 30 marks
• Infographic or visual stimulus, with structured questions 10 marks
• One extended answer question from a choice of two 10 marks
• Total 50 marks

Important Instructions – HL-Paper 2

• HL weight 25%Total 1 hour 15 minutes

Syllabus content—Part two: SL and HL core

(Geographic perspectives—global change- SL & HL Paper 2)

Unit 1: Population distribution—changing population

• How population varies between places
• Processes of population change and their effect on people and places
• Population possibilities and power over the decision-making process

Unit 2: Global climate—vulnerability and resilience

• How natural and human processes affect the global energy balance
• The effects of global climate change on places, societies and environmental systems
• Possibilities for responding to climate change and power over the decision-making process

Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security

• How pressure on resources affects the future security of places
• Possibilities for managing resources sustainably and power over the decision-making process

HL and SL Paper 1

(Same Question Paper for SL and HL)

Important Instructions – SL

• SL weight 35%
• 45 minutes per option question
• Total 1 hour 30 minutes
• Each option has a structured question and one extended answer question from a choice of two.
• 20 (10 + 10) marks per option 
• Answer the questions in two options.
• Total 40 marks
• The accompanying geography resource booklet is required for this examination paper.

Important Instructions – HL

• HL weight 35%
• 45 minutes per option question Total 2 hours 15 minutes
• 20 (10 + 10) marks per option
• Answer the questions in three options.
• Total 60 marks

Syllabus content—Part One: Geographic themes—seven options

(Two options are studied at SL, and three at HL)

(SL Paper 1 and HL Paper 1)

Option A: Freshwater

• How physical processes influence drainage basin systems and landforms
• How physical and human factors exacerbate and mitigate flood risk for different places
• The varying power of different actors in relation to water management issues
• Future possibilities for management intervention in drainage basins

Option B: Oceans and coastal margins

• How physical processes link Earth’s atmospheric and ocean systems
• How coastal places are shaped by their interactions with oceans
• The varying power of different stakeholders in relation to coastal margin management
• Future possibilities for managing the oceans as a global commons

Option C: Extreme environments

• Why some places are considered to be extreme environments.
• How physical processes create unique landscapes in extreme environments.
• The varying power of different stakeholders to extract economic value from extreme environments.
• Future possibilities for managing extreme environments and their communities

Option D: Geophysical hazards

• How geological processes give rise to geophysical events of differing type and magnitude
• How geophysical systems generate hazard risks for different places
• The varying power of geophysical hazards to affect people in different local contexts
• Future possibilities for lessening human vulnerability to geophysical hazards

Option E: Leisure, tourism and sport

• How human development processes give rise to leisure activities
• How physical and human factors shape places into sites of leisure
• The varying power of different countries to participate in global tourism and sport
• Future possibilities for management of, and participation in, tourism and sport at varying scales

Option F: Food and health

• Ways of measuring disparities in food and health between places
• How physical and human processes lead to changes in food production and consumption, and incidence and spread of disease
• The power of different stakeholders in relation to influence over diets and health
• Future possibilities for sustainable agriculture and improved health

Option G: Urban environments

• The characteristics and distribution of urban places, populations and economic activities
• How economic and demographic processes bring change over time to urban systems
• The varying power of different stakeholders in relation to the experience of, and management of, urban stresses
• Future possibilities for the sustainable management of urban system.

Syllabus content—Part two: HL core extension

(HL Paper 3)

Unit 4: Power, places and networks

• How global power and influence varies spatially
• How different places become interconnected by global interactions
• How political, technological and physical processes influence global interactions

Unit 5: Human development and diversity

• Ways of supporting the processes of human development
• How global interactions bring cultural influences and changes to places
• The varying power of local places and actors to resist or accept change

Unit 6: Global risks and resilience

• How technological and globalizing processes create new geopolitical and economic risks for individuals and societies
• How global interactions create environmental risks for particular places and people
• New and emerging possibilities for managing global risks

• IB DP Geography concepts
• Geographic themes [Paper 1]
• Core: Global change [Paper 2]
• Higher Level: Global interactions [Paper 3]
• IB DP Geography Key Terms
• IB DP Geography Exam style questions
• IB DP Geography Geographic Skills
• IB DP Geography Visual Stimulus
• IB DP Geography Approaches to learning skills
• IB DP Geography Exam preparation
• IB DP Geography Revision
• IB DP Geography Internal Assessment
• IB DP Geography Extended Essay
• Developing your extended essay research question
• Producing an extended essay outline
• Geography extended essay methodology

Structuring your Geography extended essay

• Reflections for the Planning and Progress Form
• Geography extended essay assessment

There is no longer the need to add an abstract - so don't. Try not to put anything in footnotes - other than references (if that is the referencing approach you are taking). Do not put too much 'stuff' in appendices.

This should include:

• the title of your extended essay
• the research question
• subject for which the essay is registered... Geography! (if a world studies essay also state the theme and the two subjects utilised)
• your candidate code
• the word count

There should be no candidate, supervisor, or school name on the title page, page headers, appendices or acknowledgment pages

Contents page

All the pages of your EE should be numbered and every graph and map such have a figure number and title. Use the contents page to list the page numbers of the major sections listed below and all of the figures in each section.

Introduction

Here you need to identify and explain the research topic. The purpose and focus of the research needs to be clear.

This section must make it very clear to the examiner that your EE topic and research question in geographical. You must make it clear why your research questions is worth asking.

You should explore the scales applicable to your EE. You may discuss a global or regional issue at a local scale.

Methodology

You need to make it clear that you have used an appropriate range of relevant source(s) and/or method(s) and that these have been selected in relation to the topic and research question.

You need to outline the major sources of secondary data, why you chose to use them and how much you trust the accuracy of the data.

For primary data collection you need to explain the methods used, much like you would have done for your Internal Assessment.

This is the main discussion part of your EE. It can be further broken down with sub-headings. You must be analysing and not just describing. Your analysis must be clearly linked to your research question.

Maps and graphs should be incorporated into your discussion, where they are appropriate. You should not have a separate section for your graphs.

You should develop a focused and reasoned argument.

You should be using geographical terminology and concepts accurately and consistently, effectively demonstrating your knowledge and understanding.

Any labelling should contain the minimum information to ensure the examiner understands the significance of the map, chart, diagram or illustration. It must not include commentary, as this will be considered as part of the essay discussion and thus included in the word count.

The use of photographs and other images is acceptable only if they are captioned and/or annotated and are used to illustrate a specific point made in the extended essay.

This conclusion much be based on your argument and the evidence you have presented. This is not the section to be introducing new content or ideas.

Bibliography

You should have a consistent system of academic referencing throughout your EE. You should have in-text citations. Your bibliography should be a list of all the sources referenced by your in-text citations listed alphabetically by author.

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The Complete IB Extended Essay Guide: Examples, Topics, and Ideas

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB students around the globe fear writing the Extended Essay, but it doesn't have to be a source of stress! In this article, I'll get you excited about writing your Extended Essay and provide you with the resources you need to get an A on it.

If you're reading this article, I'm going to assume you're an IB student getting ready to write your Extended Essay. If you're looking at this as a potential future IB student, I recommend reading our introductory IB articles first, including our guide to what the IB program is and our full coverage of the IB curriculum .

IB Extended Essay: Why Should You Trust My Advice?

I myself am a recipient of an IB Diploma, and I happened to receive an A on my IB Extended Essay. Don't believe me? The proof is in the IBO pudding:

If you're confused by what this report means, EE is short for Extended Essay , and English A1 is the subject that my Extended Essay topic coordinated with. In layman's terms, my IB Diploma was graded in May 2010, I wrote my Extended Essay in the English A1 category, and I received an A grade on it.

What Is the Extended Essay in the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Extended Essay, or EE , is a mini-thesis you write under the supervision of an IB advisor (an IB teacher at your school), which counts toward your IB Diploma (learn more about the major IB Diploma requirements in our guide) . I will explain exactly how the EE affects your Diploma later in this article.

For the Extended Essay, you will choose a research question as a topic, conduct the research independently, then write an essay on your findings . The essay itself is a long one—although there's a cap of 4,000 words, most successful essays get very close to this limit.

Keep in mind that the IB requires this essay to be a "formal piece of academic writing," meaning you'll have to do outside research and cite additional sources.

The IB Extended Essay must include the following:

• A title page
• Contents page
• Introduction
• Body of the essay
• References and bibliography

Additionally, your research topic must fall into one of the six approved DP categories , or IB subject groups, which are as follows:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts

Once you figure out your category and have identified a potential research topic, it's time to pick your advisor, who is normally an IB teacher at your school (though you can also find one online ). This person will help direct your research, and they'll conduct the reflection sessions you'll have to do as part of your Extended Essay.

As of 2018, the IB requires a "reflection process" as part of your EE supervision process. To fulfill this requirement, you have to meet at least three times with your supervisor in what the IB calls "reflection sessions." These meetings are not only mandatory but are also part of the formal assessment of the EE and your research methods.

According to the IB, the purpose of these meetings is to "provide an opportunity for students to reflect on their engagement with the research process." Basically, these meetings give your supervisor the opportunity to offer feedback, push you to think differently, and encourage you to evaluate your research process.

The final reflection session is called the viva voce, and it's a short 10- to 15-minute interview between you and your advisor. This happens at the very end of the EE process, and it's designed to help your advisor write their report, which factors into your EE grade.

Here are the topics covered in your viva voce :

• A check on plagiarism and malpractice
• Your reflection on your project's successes and difficulties
• Your reflection on what you've learned during the EE process

Your completed Extended Essay, along with your supervisor's report, will then be sent to the IB to be graded. We'll cover the assessment criteria in just a moment.

We'll help you learn how to have those "lightbulb" moments...even on test day!  

What Should You Write About in Your IB Extended Essay?

You can technically write about anything, so long as it falls within one of the approved categories listed above.

It's best to choose a topic that matches one of the IB courses , (such as Theatre, Film, Spanish, French, Math, Biology, etc.), which shouldn't be difficult because there are so many class subjects.

Here is a range of sample topics with the attached extended essay:

• Biology: The Effect of Age and Gender on the Photoreceptor Cells in the Human Retina
• Chemistry: How Does Reflux Time Affect the Yield and Purity of Ethyl Aminobenzoate (Benzocaine), and How Effective is Recrystallisation as a Purification Technique for This Compound?
• English: An Exploration of Jane Austen's Use of the Outdoors in Emma
• Geography: The Effect of Location on the Educational Attainment of Indigenous Secondary Students in Queensland, Australia
• Math: Alhazen's Billiard Problem
• Visual Arts: Can Luc Tuymans Be Classified as a Political Painter?

You can see from how varied the topics are that you have a lot of freedom when it comes to picking a topic . So how do you pick when the options are limitless?

How to Write a Stellar IB Extended Essay: 6 Essential Tips

Below are six key tips to keep in mind as you work on your Extended Essay for the IB DP. Follow these and you're sure to get an A!

#1: Write About Something You Enjoy

You can't expect to write a compelling essay if you're not a fan of the topic on which you're writing. For example, I just love British theatre and ended up writing my Extended Essay on a revolution in post-WWII British theatre. (Yes, I'm definitely a #TheatreNerd.)

I really encourage anyone who pursues an IB Diploma to take the Extended Essay seriously. I was fortunate enough to receive a full-tuition merit scholarship to USC's School of Dramatic Arts program. In my interview for the scholarship, I spoke passionately about my Extended Essay; thus, I genuinely think my Extended Essay helped me get my scholarship.

But how do you find a topic you're passionate about? Start by thinking about which classes you enjoy the most and why . Do you like math classes because you like to solve problems? Or do you enjoy English because you like to analyze literary texts?

Keep in mind that there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your Extended Essay topic. You're not more likely to get high marks because you're writing about science, just like you're not doomed to failure because you've chosen to tackle the social sciences. The quality of what you produce—not the field you choose to research within—will determine your grade.

Once you've figured out your category, you should brainstorm more specific topics by putting pen to paper . What was your favorite chapter you learned in that class? Was it astrophysics or mechanics? What did you like about that specific chapter? Is there something you want to learn more about? I recommend spending a few hours on this type of brainstorming.

One last note: if you're truly stumped on what to research, pick a topic that will help you in your future major or career . That way you can use your Extended Essay as a talking point in your college essays (and it will prepare you for your studies to come too!).

#2: Select a Topic That Is Neither Too Broad nor Too Narrow

There's a fine line between broad and narrow. You need to write about something specific, but not so specific that you can't write 4,000 words on it.

You can't write about WWII because that would be a book's worth of material. You also don't want to write about what type of soup prisoners of war received behind enemy lines, because you probably won’t be able to come up with 4,000 words of material about it. However, you could possibly write about how the conditions in German POW camps—and the rations provided—were directly affected by the Nazis' successes and failures on the front, including the use of captured factories and prison labor in Eastern Europe to increase production. WWII military history might be a little overdone, but you get my point.

If you're really stuck trying to pinpoint a not-too-broad-or-too-narrow topic, I suggest trying to brainstorm a topic that uses a comparison. Once you begin looking through the list of sample essays below, you'll notice that many use comparisons to formulate their main arguments.

I also used a comparison in my EE, contrasting Harold Pinter's Party Time with John Osborne's Look Back in Anger in order to show a transition in British theatre. Topics with comparisons of two to three plays, books, and so on tend to be the sweet spot. You can analyze each item and then compare them with one another after doing some in-depth analysis of each individually. The ways these items compare and contrast will end up forming the thesis of your essay!

When choosing a comparative topic, the key is that the comparison should be significant. I compared two plays to illustrate the transition in British theatre, but you could compare the ways different regional dialects affect people's job prospects or how different temperatures may or may not affect the mating patterns of lightning bugs. The point here is that comparisons not only help you limit your topic, but they also help you build your argument.

Comparisons are not the only way to get a grade-A EE, though. If after brainstorming, you pick a non-comparison-based topic and are still unsure whether your topic is too broad or narrow, spend about 30 minutes doing some basic research and see how much material is out there.

If there are more than 1,000 books, articles, or documentaries out there on that exact topic, it may be too broad. But if there are only two books that have any connection to your topic, it may be too narrow. If you're still unsure, ask your advisor—it's what they're there for! Speaking of advisors...

Don't get stuck with a narrow topic!

#3: Choose an Advisor Who Is Familiar With Your Topic

If you're not certain of who you would like to be your advisor, create a list of your top three choices. Next, write down the pros and cons of each possibility (I know this sounds tedious, but it really helps!).

For example, Mr. Green is my favorite teacher and we get along really well, but he teaches English. For my EE, I want to conduct an experiment that compares the efficiency of American electric cars with foreign electric cars.

I had Ms. White a year ago. She teaches physics and enjoyed having me in her class. Unlike Mr. Green, Ms. White could help me design my experiment.

Based on my topic and what I need from my advisor, Ms. White would be a better fit for me than would Mr. Green (even though I like him a lot).

The moral of my story is this: do not just ask your favorite teacher to be your advisor . They might be a hindrance to you if they teach another subject. For example, I would not recommend asking your biology teacher to guide you in writing an English literature-based EE.

There can, of course, be exceptions to this rule. If you have a teacher who's passionate and knowledgeable about your topic (as my English teacher was about my theatre topic), you could ask that instructor. Consider all your options before you do this. There was no theatre teacher at my high school, so I couldn't find a theatre-specific advisor, but I chose the next best thing.

Before you approach a teacher to serve as your advisor, check with your high school to see what requirements they have for this process. Some IB high schools require your IB Extended Essay advisor to sign an Agreement Form , for instance.

Make sure that you ask your IB coordinator whether there is any required paperwork to fill out. If your school needs a specific form signed, bring it with you when you ask your teacher to be your EE advisor.

#4: Pick an Advisor Who Will Push You to Be Your Best

Some teachers might just take on students because they have to and aren't very passionate about reading drafts, only giving you minimal feedback. Choose a teacher who will take the time to read several drafts of your essay and give you extensive notes. I would not have gotten my A without being pushed to make my Extended Essay draft better.

Ask a teacher that you have experience with through class or an extracurricular activity. Do not ask a teacher that you have absolutely no connection to. If a teacher already knows you, that means they already know your strengths and weaknesses, so they know what to look for, where you need to improve, and how to encourage your best work.

Also, don't forget that your supervisor's assessment is part of your overall EE score . If you're meeting with someone who pushes you to do better—and you actually take their advice—they'll have more impressive things to say about you than a supervisor who doesn't know you well and isn't heavily involved in your research process.

Be aware that the IB only allows advisors to make suggestions and give constructive criticism. Your teacher cannot actually help you write your EE. The IB recommends that the supervisor spends approximately two to three hours in total with the candidate discussing the EE.

#5: Make Sure Your Essay Has a Clear Structure and Flow

The IB likes structure. Your EE needs a clear introduction (which should be one to two double-spaced pages), research question/focus (i.e., what you're investigating), a body, and a conclusion (about one double-spaced page). An essay with unclear organization will be graded poorly.

The body of your EE should make up the bulk of the essay. It should be about eight to 18 pages long (again, depending on your topic). Your body can be split into multiple parts. For example, if you were doing a comparison, you might have one third of your body as Novel A Analysis, another third as Novel B Analysis, and the final third as your comparison of Novels A and B.

If you're conducting an experiment or analyzing data, such as in this EE , your EE body should have a clear structure that aligns with the scientific method ; you should state the research question, discuss your method, present the data, analyze the data, explain any uncertainties, and draw a conclusion and/or evaluate the success of the experiment.

#6: Start Writing Sooner Rather Than Later!

You will not be able to crank out a 4,000-word essay in just a week and get an A on it. You'll be reading many, many articles (and, depending on your topic, possibly books and plays as well!). As such, it's imperative that you start your research as soon as possible.

Each school has a slightly different deadline for the Extended Essay. Some schools want them as soon as November of your senior year; others will take them as late as February. Your school will tell you what your deadline is. If they haven't mentioned it by February of your junior year, ask your IB coordinator about it.

Some high schools will provide you with a timeline of when you need to come up with a topic, when you need to meet with your advisor, and when certain drafts are due. Not all schools do this. Ask your IB coordinator if you are unsure whether you are on a specific timeline.

Below is my recommended EE timeline. While it's earlier than most schools, it'll save you a ton of heartache (trust me, I remember how hard this process was!):

• January/February of Junior Year: Come up with your final research topic (or at least your top three options).
• February of Junior Year: Approach a teacher about being your EE advisor. If they decline, keep asking others until you find one. See my notes above on how to pick an EE advisor.
• April/May of Junior Year: Submit an outline of your EE and a bibliography of potential research sources (I recommend at least seven to 10) to your EE advisor. Meet with your EE advisor to discuss your outline.
• Summer Between Junior and Senior Year: Complete your first full draft over the summer between your junior and senior year. I know, I know—no one wants to work during the summer, but trust me—this will save you so much stress come fall when you are busy with college applications and other internal assessments for your IB classes. You will want to have this first full draft done because you will want to complete a couple of draft cycles as you likely won't be able to get everything you want to say into 4,000 articulate words on the first attempt. Try to get this first draft into the best possible shape so you don't have to work on too many revisions during the school year on top of your homework, college applications, and extracurriculars.
• August/September of Senior Year: Turn in your first draft of your EE to your advisor and receive feedback. Work on incorporating their feedback into your essay. If they have a lot of suggestions for improvement, ask if they will read one more draft before the final draft.
• September/October of Senior Year: Submit the second draft of your EE to your advisor (if necessary) and look at their feedback. Work on creating the best possible final draft.
• November-February of Senior Year: Schedule your viva voce. Submit two copies of your final draft to your school to be sent off to the IB. You likely will not get your grade until after you graduate.

Remember that in the middle of these milestones, you'll need to schedule two other reflection sessions with your advisor . (Your teachers will actually take notes on these sessions on a form like this one , which then gets submitted to the IB.)

I recommend doing them when you get feedback on your drafts, but these meetings will ultimately be up to your supervisor. Just don't forget to do them!

The early bird DOES get the worm!

How Is the IB Extended Essay Graded?

Extended Essays are graded by examiners appointed by the IB on a scale of 0 to 34 . You'll be graded on five criteria, each with its own set of points. You can learn more about how EE scoring works by reading the IB guide to extended essays .

• Criterion A: Focus and Method (6 points maximum)
• Criterion B: Knowledge and Understanding (6 points maximum)
• Criterion C: Critical Thinking (12 points maximum)
• Criterion D: Presentation (4 points maximum)
• Criterion E: Engagement (6 points maximum)

How well you do on each of these criteria will determine the final letter grade you get for your EE. You must earn at least a D to be eligible to receive your IB Diploma.

Although each criterion has a point value, the IB explicitly states that graders are not converting point totals into grades; instead, they're using qualitative grade descriptors to determine the final grade of your Extended Essay . Grade descriptors are on pages 102-103 of this document .

Here's a rough estimate of how these different point values translate to letter grades based on previous scoring methods for the EE. This is just an estimate —you should read and understand the grade descriptors so you know exactly what the scorers are looking for.

Here is the breakdown of EE scores (from the May 2021 bulletin):

How Does the Extended Essay Grade Affect Your IB Diploma?

The Extended Essay grade is combined with your TOK (Theory of Knowledge) grade to determine how many points you get toward your IB Diploma.

To learn about Theory of Knowledge or how many points you need to receive an IB Diploma, read our complete guide to the IB program and our guide to the IB Diploma requirements .

This diagram shows how the two scores are combined to determine how many points you receive for your IB diploma (3 being the most, 0 being the least). In order to get your IB Diploma, you have to earn 24 points across both categories (the TOK and EE). The highest score anyone can earn is 45 points.

Let's say you get an A on your EE and a B on TOK. You will get 3 points toward your Diploma. As of 2014, a student who scores an E on either the extended essay or TOK essay will not be eligible to receive an IB Diploma .

Prior to the class of 2010, a Diploma candidate could receive a failing grade in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge and still be awarded a Diploma, but this is no longer true.

Figuring out how you're assessed can be a little tricky. Luckily, the IB breaks everything down here in this document . (The assessment information begins on page 219.)

40+ Sample Extended Essays for the IB Diploma Programme

In case you want a little more guidance on how to get an A on your EE, here are over 40 excellent (grade A) sample extended essays for your reading pleasure. Essays are grouped by IB subject.

• Business Management 1
• Chemistry 1
• Chemistry 2
• Chemistry 3
• Chemistry 4
• Chemistry 5
• Chemistry 6
• Chemistry 7
• Computer Science 1
• Economics 1
• Design Technology 1
• Design Technology 2
• Environmental Systems and Societies 1
• Geography 1
• Geography 2
• Geography 3
• Geography 4
• Geography 5
• Geography 6
• Literature and Performance 1
• Mathematics 1
• Mathematics 2
• Mathematics 3
• Mathematics 4
• Mathematics 5
• Philosophy 1
• Philosophy 2
• Philosophy 3
• Philosophy 4
• Philosophy 5
• Psychology 1
• Psychology 2
• Psychology 3
• Psychology 4
• Psychology 5
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 1
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 2
• Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 1
• Sports, Exercise and Health Science 2
• Visual Arts 1
• Visual Arts 2
• Visual Arts 3
• Visual Arts 4
• Visual Arts 5
• World Religion 1
• World Religion 2
• World Religion 3

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Geography Extended Essay: Definition, Rubric, And Topics for IB

by  Antony W

July 18, 2022

The IB program requires you to write a 4,000-word extended essay on any subject of your choice. So if you’ve picked Geography as your focus area, you’ll find this guide incredibly helpful.

This guide to Geography extended essay covers the following:

• Choice of topic
• Treatment of your selected topic and
• The assessment criteria

What’s Geography Extended Essay? 

An extended essay in Geography provide students the opportunity to employ a wide variety of abilities and develops an original and in-depth geographic investigation. Spatial focus as well as the application of geographical theories characterize the length of this assignment.

Choosing a Geography Extended Essay Topic

One thing you have to get right before you start writing an extended essay in Geography is topic selection.

1. Pick a Narrow, Focused Topic

The topic you choose should have a geographical focus because you’ll have to ensure the research topic guides you down a route that uses acceptable geographical materials and fosters the application of pertinent geographical concepts, theories, or ideas.  

To be abundantly clear, the topic you choose should not be excessively broad because essays written on broad topics are rarely successful.

Make your topic narrowly targeted to promote in-depth investigation as opposed to a broad one. Additionally, it is essential that you establish the geographical background of the essay early on.

2. Base Your Topic on Local Research

Investigations conducted on a local basis often receive the best grades. This restricted emphasis discourages an excessive dependence on existing information and promotes original research.

Extended essays written on topics known and accessible to the student have a larger probability of success due to the student’s stronger personal connection, which stimulates more in-depth research.

3. Choose a Topic that Encourages Original Research

The cornerstone of a successful geography extended essay is a robust technique that includes the collecting of high-quality facts.

Good data allows the IB learner to conduct the sort of in-depth examination that distinguishes the finest works. It’s unlikely that an essay relying solely on published textbooks will receive a high grade.

How to Treat Your Geography EE Topic

You don’t want to view a geography extended essay as merely an extended piece of fieldwork.

Although there may be parallels in technique, the extended essay doesn’t have to lay a heavy focus on original field data. In other words, you can rely on already existing research ideas on previously published data to get the work done.

When researching the topic you’ve selected, pay more attention on written analysis, interpretation, and assessment, as well as the development of an argument rather than data collection and processing procedures.  

Supporting Your Geography Extended Essay

A geography extended essay must include proper ways for showing information or data. You should include diagrams, sketch maps, tables, and graphs, making sure you acknowledge their origin if you draw them from other sources. 

We strongly recommend the use of maps at the beginning to provide a clear geographical backdrop for the inquiry. Every map must provide an indication of direction and size, as well as a key.

• As supporting data, the usage of sketch maps and labeled or annotated diagrams is strongly encouraged.
• You can use computer-generated maps provided you identify the computer software used.
• Hand-drawn maps should be neat and legible, with appropriate use of color shading, a scale, and a key.
• If you include photographs in your work, make sure they’re integral to the text and not just decorative.

IB Geography Extended Essay Assessment Criteria Explained

The following is the assessment criteria used for the extended essay in Geography:

Criterion A: Research Question

The research question must be specific, relevant to the topic of geography, provide a geographical context for the essay, and inspire an inquisitive approach.

Many effective essays in geography explore the research issue through the formation of one or more hypotheses. If you include a hypothesis in your work, make sure it’s well constructed, testable, grounded in geographical theory, and incorporate proper investigation channels.

Criterion B: Introduction

It is essential to contextualize the study issue geographically and theoretically. Therefore, the introduction should define the scope and location of the inquiry and illustrate the relevance of the issue to existing geographical knowledge and theory.

There should be an explanation of why you chose the issue and why it merits examination. The introduction of the essay should be simple and straightforward.

Criterion C: Investigation

It is essential that the inquiry utilize a variety of data sources, including those specified in the “Treatment of the issue” section. The materials you pick for the essay must be pertinent to the subject and give the evidence that will support your argument.

The essay must employ adequate qualitative and quantitative data and/or information. For instance, questionnaires must have enough respondents for the results to be reliable.

Adopting a technique that begins with the gathering and selection of relevant material leads to a methodical analysis with legitimate results, interpretation, and conclusions, and concludes with a critical review of the evidence and the strategy used is the correct essay planning.

Criterion D: Knowledge of the Topic

A successful essay requires knowledge and comprehension of the theoretical basis and an awareness of the academic setting.

Using both primary and secondary sources , you should integrate their own ideas with current geographical theory to accomplish this.

Criterion E: Reasoned Argument

The argument can be personal, but it must also be rational and well balanced. By using proper maps, diagrams, drawings, pictures, and charts/graphs, you can convey evidence in graphical as well as textual format.

If and where applicable, the argument you present should give evidence that leads to the acceptance or rejection of the initial hypothesis. Avoid prejudice in the context of an issue, dispute, or problem inquiry.

Criterion F: Application Analysis & Skill Evaluation

The majority of the evidence supplied to support an argument in a geography extended essay comes from data analysis. This necessitates the application of proper analytical procedures and tests of significance.

The use of interaction and gravity models, network analysis, correlation techniques, dispersion measurements, sampling procedures, and standard error estimates are among the legitimate tools distinctive of geographical investigation.

When analyzing qualitative data, you must employ the right analytic procedures. Your research should demonstrate an understanding of the data’s legitimacy, validity, and limits, as well as the methodologies employed.

It is possible that the outcomes of the study are surprising or do not appear to conform to prevailing trends. This might lead to the absence of data. Even if that’s the case, the essay must nonetheless include a critical examination and evaluation of the material presented.

Criterion G: Language Selection

This criterion examines whether you’ve utilized Geographical terminology and language correctly and consistently throughout the essay.

It is essential to adopt a style that is impartial, avoids long personal assertions and viewpoints, and conveys geographical facts and concepts clearly and precisely.

Criterion H: Conclusion

The conclusion should include a summary of the investigation’s conclusions and quickly recap the pertinent evidence. If and where applicable, you should indicate which hypotheses have been accepted or rejected – and give an explanation. 

The conclusion of your essay should examine the adequacy of the approach and identify any defects or constraints in the investigational procedure.

The conclusion should not be an emotional personal remark about a topic, dispute, or problem, nor should it bring new facts not presented throughout the argument.

Criterion I: Formal Presentation

This criterion addresses the extent to which the essay complies with academic norms about the format of research papers. It is inappropriate to offer an essay without a bibliography or citations.

Essays that remove one of the required extended essay outline get a rating of no higher than good, and those that omit two of them get a rating of subpar.

All graphic material mentioned in the body of the article (maps, pictures, field drawings, charts, and so forth) should be at the appropriate locations, not at the conclusion or in appendices. It should be well organized and utilized to complement the textual material and clarify explanations.

Big data tables, published large maps, transcripts of interviews, and lengthy series of computations go to the appendices. It is not necessary to add field notes as an appendix, but you can include at least one completed questionnaire form.

You need to cite source of any data, diagrams, graphs, charts, tables, and pictures where feasible.

Criterion J: Abstract

The abstract should clearly express the research topic, describe how you conducted the study, the techniques employed, and the types of data collected.

Also, it should provide a concise summary of the findings as stated in the conclusion.

Criterion K: Holistic Judgement

For holistic judgment, you need to make sure your Geography extended essay reflects the following characteristics:

• Intellectual initiative: You can demonstrate this by creating a hard research subject, applying unique or imaginative techniques of data collecting and data analysis, and generating an original work.
• Understand the topic’s theoretical context and maintain it as the focus of the inquiry.
• Utilize introspection in the construction of your argument and assessment of your writing.
• Pick and employ inventive illustrative ways
• Overcome difficulties that emerge
• Modify views based on fresh facts.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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Extended essay

The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.

One component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, the extended essay is mandatory for all students.

Read about the extended essay  in greater detail.

You can also read about how the IB sets deadlines for the extended essay , find examples of extended essay titles from previous DP students and learn about the world studies extended essay .

Learn more about the extended essay in a DP workshop for teachers . 

Extended essay subject brief

Subject briefs are short two-page documents providing an outline of the course. Read the subject brief below.

DP subject briefs

Find out about what each subject offers within the Diploma Programme (DP).

Our DP subject briefs—for both standard and higher level—contain information about core requirements, aims and assessment.

• Explore the DP subject briefs