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Interdisciplinary pathway

For students writing an interdisciplinary extended essay that integrates approaches from two DP subjects.

Your interdisciplinary EE should follow the general formal requirements for all extended essays, while also incorporating the specific need to integrate approaches from two DP subjects. The structure should move from a clear introduction, through a sectioned main body that integrates analysis from both subjects, to a conclusion that synthesises findings.

Formatting

• Written in continuous prose, presented formally.
• Font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing, A4, numbered pages.
• No abstract is required.
• All visual material must be clearly labelled, cited accurately, and referred to in the body of the essay.
• Anonymity — there must be no student, supervisor, or school name anywhere in the file submitted.

Title page

• Student personal code
• The two DP subjects and the interdisciplinary framework it connects with
• Your research question phrased as a question
• Word count (not exceeding 4,000 words)

Contents

• Accurate page references and numbered sections.
• Go beyond a basic structure (introduction, main body, conclusion) — use effective subheadings to show the areas being investigated.

Introduction

The introduction is crucial for an interdisciplinary EE and often needs to be longer than in other subjects (sometimes five to eight pages). It should:

• Provide the context of your research question and clearly state it.
• Clearly state the contemporary global issue and the local case study used to investigate it, with justification.
• State the two DP subject lenses and justify their use in an interdisciplinary framework — explain how and why each subject will be used to answer the RQ.
• Provide an insight into the line of argument to be followed.
• Explain the scope and focus of the investigation.

Tip: while you can plan this early, it is often best to write the introduction last once the essay has taken shape.

Methodology

The methodology can sit within the introduction or as a separate section. It should:

• Explain how the RQ will be answered — go beyond simply listing sources.
• Demonstrate informed decision-making about how the two subjects will be used and why an interdisciplinary approach is needed.
• If using primary research (surveys, experiments, interviews), explain the method in detail — including models, theories, or concepts being used, and a rationale for the approach.

Common weaknesses: not including sufficient justification; only briefly describing sources without explaining methods of analysis; cursory analysis of findings from questionnaires.

Analysis

This is the core of your argument. Key requirements:

• The focus and method outlined in the introduction must be sustained throughout.
• Use subheadings to structure the argument — ensure they appear in your table of contents. Avoid overly fragmenting the essay.
• The essay must clearly draw on both subject lenses, applying relevant methods, concepts, theories, and terminology from both DP subjects.
• Evaluation should run throughout the essay, not just at the end. Mini-conclusions in sections help link back to the RQ.
• Use the PEEL structure within paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link back to RQ).
• Include diagrams, graphs, maps, and images within the body where they support your argument — not in separate sections.
• While a perfectly balanced combination of the two subjects is not necessary, the integration must enable an effective response to the RQ.

Conclusion

• Clearly address and answer the research question — summarise key points and synthesise findings from both subjects.
• Allow the local case study to shed light on the overall global issue.
• Note any limitations and unresolved questions.
• Evaluate how successfully the integration of the two subjects helped answer the RQ.
• No new points or information should be introduced.

Reference list or bibliography

• A reference list includes only sources cited in the body; a bibliography includes all sources consulted during research.
• Use a recognised, consistent citation and referencing system throughout.
• All sources used in the body, including for charts, tables, and diagrams, must appear in the reference list or bibliography.
• Include access dates for online sources. Alphabetical order.
• Footnotes/endnotes should generally only be used for referencing, not additional content.

Appendices (if used)

Suitable for long lists, detailed fieldwork/experiment procedures, or visual material that would disrupt the flow of the main body.

Subject-focused pathway

For students writing an EE in a single IB subject — whether that is Geography, History, Biology, Economics, English, or any other DP subject.

Your EE should follow the overall formal structure required for all extended essays, while incorporating conventions specific to your subject. The essay needs a clear, logical flow from introduction through a sectioned main body to a conclusion that synthesises your findings and addresses the RQ.

Formatting

• Written in continuous prose, presented formally.
• Font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing, A4, numbered pages.
• No abstract is required.
• All visual material must be clearly labelled, cited accurately, and referred to in the body of the essay.
• Anonymity — there must be no student, supervisor, or school name anywhere in the file submitted.

Title page

• Student personal code
• DP subject
• Your research question phrased as a question
• Word count (not exceeding 4,000 words)

Contents

• Accurate page references and numbered sections.
• Go beyond a basic structure (introduction, main body, conclusion) — use effective subheadings to show the areas being investigated.

Introduction

The introduction should outline the context of your research question, state it clearly, explain the scope and focus, and outline your overall approach. It should:

• Tell the reader what to expect — the focus, scope, sources, and line of argument.
• Establish the subject-specific framework: the key concepts, theories, or models you will apply.
• Develop the context appropriate to your subject:
  • Geography: thorough locational context, relevant maps
  • History: historiographical context, identification of key sources and debates
  • Sciences: scientific background, hypothesis, and variables
  • Economics: economic context, relevant theory and market conditions
  • English/Languages: literary or linguistic context, texts to be analysed

Tip: while you can plan this early, it is often best to write the introduction last once the essay has taken shape.

Methodology

Note: not all subjects require a separate methodology section (e.g. English, History). Follow your subject’s conventions and your supervisor’s guidance.

Where applicable, your methodology should:

• Clearly explain how you conducted your research — detailed enough that someone could replicate your study.
• Justify the methods chosen — why are they appropriate for answering your RQ?
• Demonstrate thought about sampling, sample size, and data reliability.
• Include the specific models, theories, or analytical techniques you will use.

Common weaknesses: not including sufficient justification; methodology being incomplete (listing sources but not explaining methods of analysis); sample sizes too small to support valid arguments.

Analysis

This is the core of your essay — where you analyse, discuss, and evaluate your research to build a line of argument. Key requirements:

• Use subheadings to structure the argument logically. Ensure they appear in your table of contents. Avoid overly fragmenting the essay.
• The argument must develop logically, with clear connections between sections and the conclusion.
• Use the PEEL structure within paragraphs (Point, Evidence, Explain, Link back to RQ).
• Evaluation should run throughout the essay, not just at the end. Mini-conclusions help link sections back to the RQ.
• Include analytical tools appropriate to your subject within the body (not in separate sections):
  • Geography: personally produced maps, graphs, statistical tests, annotated photographs
  • History: source analysis, evaluation of origin, purpose, value and limitations
  • Sciences: data tables, graphs, statistical analysis, error calculations
  • Economics: supply/demand diagrams, data visualisations, economic models
  • English/Languages: close-reading analysis, comparative frameworks
• All visual material must be clearly labelled, cited accurately, and of adequate size and quality.
• Essays that do not include subject-appropriate analytical techniques are likely to be overly descriptive and score poorly.

Conclusion

• Clearly address and answer the research question — summarise and synthesise the key points from your analysis.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of your essay in addressing the question.
• Note any limitations and unresolved questions.
• Conclusions should come directly from your research findings.
• No new points or information should be introduced.

Reference list or bibliography

• A reference list includes only sources cited in the body; a bibliography includes all sources consulted during research.
• Use a recognised, consistent citation and referencing system throughout.
• Only sources used in the body need to appear — but all must be included (including sources for images, maps, and data).
• Include access dates for online sources. Alphabetical order.
• Poor, insufficient, or incomplete referencing can be raised as possible academic misconduct.

Appendices (if used)

Suitable for long lists, detailed fieldwork/experiment procedures, raw data tables, or visual material that would disrupt the flow of the main body. Raw data should be placed in an appendix, not in the body of the text.