Find below the answers to questions commonly asked by students
Why do we complete the Extended Essay in Gr. 11 (not Gr. 12)?
While some schools choose to have students complete the Extended Essay in Gr. 12, we aim to have you finish it in Gr. 11 so that it's one less (large) thing to do in your final year. Also, we strongly encourage you to complete it by the end of Gr. 11 so that you don't have to worry about it over the summer!
Why might I not get my 1st subject choice?
Certain subject areas tend to be more popular than others and we have a limited number of supervisors available to oversee all of the subjects. Therefore, while we work to accommodate students' interests as much as possible, we ask you to choose a 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) subject option in case we need to strategically divide students amongst the subject areas.
Why don't I get to choose my supervisor? Why is a supervisor assigned to me?
We assign supervisors to students to facilitate the matching of skills and knowledge. Our supervisors have unique experience, skill sets, and interests/knowledge. Therefore, we look at students' topic ideas and attempt to match the student with the supervisor who would be best suited to support them throughout their EE process.
Are there any subject-specific time constraints with regards to topics and research?
Yes. The following subject areas have the following time constraints:
How do I calculate the word count if I'm writing my EE in Chinese (or Japanese)?
According to the IB, students writing their EE in either Chinese or Japanese should use the following conversions:
1 word = approximately 1.2 Chinese characters (upper limit 4,800 characters)
= approximately 2 Japanese characters (upper limit 8,000 characters)
When calculating your word count, make sure to include only the characters (some word processing software may include the punctuation along with the characters in the word count).
Can I use (refer to) sources in another language? What about including quotes in another language?
According to the IB, students may include references to sources that are in a language other than the language of submission (English). When doing so, make sure:
1) When referring to the quote in the text, use a translation and then include the original quote either in a footnote (if it is short) or in the Appendix (if it is longer)
2) In the bibliography or works cited, insert the reference in the original language of the source. Provide English translations alongside the title and the author name, and include (in English) the focus of the work (i.e. so the examiner can access the relevance of that source to your essay)
If there is no official translation for the quote, students should translate it on their own and seek feedback from a language teacher to ensure accuracy.
What happens if I don't submit a reflection to ManageBac?
If you don't submit a reflection to ManageBac, this will negatively impact your score for criterion E (Engagement). If you don't submit any reflections to ManageBac, you will score a 0 in criterion E (Engagement).
Is there a word limit for the reflections? What happens if I go over it?
There is a word limit: together, the three reflections can be no more than 500 words. Examiners will stop reading after 500 words. This can negatively impact your score for criterion E (Engagement).
Bibliography: do I include all the works I consulted or just the ones I cited?
List only the works you actually cited in your bibliography. If you wish to reflect the number and range of works you consulted for your research, you can do so in a separate "Works Consulted" list.