Assessment Criteria #

With your Extended Essay, you can earn a maximum of 34 points, distributed across five different criteria that assess various components of your work:

Total marks: 34

This section focuses on how to master specific criteria and is tailored toward Computer Science. For a more general and in-depth overview refer to the Extended Essay Guide.

Content overview: #

• Criterion A
• Criterion B
• Critetion C
• Criterion D
• Criterion E

Criterion A: Focus and method #

Strands: Topic, Research question, Methodology

• Clear Title Focus:

  • Title should prominently feature the computer science aspect of the research.

• Avoid ITGS, Broad, and Futuristic Topics:

  • Ensure your topic aligns with computer science rather than leaning towards social aspects suited for ITGS.
  • Be cautious of selecting overly broad topics that may lead to a superficial treatment within the word limit.
  • Steer clear of speculative or futuristic topics that often result in opinion-based essays lacking substantial factual support.

• Sharp and Accessible Research Question:

  • Ensure a well-focused research question that allows for in-depth exploration within the 4,000-word limit and is suitable for an IB student’s understanding.
  • Clearly state the research question as a question in the introduction, providing context for the areas investigated.

• Justification for Topic:

  • Explain why the chosen topic and research question are suitable and significant for an Extended Essay. Provide sufficient background information related to the chosen topic.

• Transparent Methodology:

  • Clearly describe the methodology to be employed in answering the research question.
  • Consider incorporating experimental or programming elements with valuable data sources, avoiding reliance on small-scale surveys from fellow students.

• Well-Planned Essay:

  • Ensure a well-structured and planned essay that draws from authoritative sources, including internet, literature, and expert interviews.

Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding #

Strands: Context, Subject-specific terminology and concepts

• Demonstrate Personal Understanding:

  • Showcase your comprehension of the chosen topic, avoiding reliance on reworded source material.
  • Provide clarifications or simplified explanations of technical information, always linking it back to the original research question.

• Strategic Use of Source Material:

  • Select and incorporate source material to illustrate the knowledge you gained in relation to the chosen topic.

• Technical Language Appropriateness:

  • Employ a technical language suitable for computer science, ensuring clarity that reflects the student’s understanding.
  • Avoid excessive technicality, considering that the reader may not be an expert in the specific addressed topic.

Criterion C: Critical thinking #

Strands: Research, Analysis and Discussion and evaluation

• Logical Argument Development:

  • Develop a logically flowing argument throughout the essay.

• Selective and Critical Use of Information:

  • Select information directly relevant to the research question, avoiding an excessive number of sources.
  • Evaluate the relevance, necessity, and validity of sources.

• Thorough Analysis and Conclusions:

  • Draw conclusions throughout the essay, not solely in the concluding section.
  • Analyze tables and graphs, going beyond translation to explain the underlying reasons for the obtained results.

• Comprehensive Final Conclusions:

  • Final conclusions should extend beyond summarizing, presenting a justified answer to the original research question.
  • Indicate potential areas for future research to explore unanswered questions or expand the essay’s original scope.

Criterion D: Presentation #

Strands: Structure, Layout

• Use of Charts, Images, and Tables:

  • Carefully select and label charts, images, and tables from literature sources.
  • Include large tables of raw data you collected in the appendix, carefully labeled.
  • Design tables of processed data to clearly display relevant information in the most appropriate form.
  • Limit the use of graphs, charts, and tables to enhance the written explanation without overwhelming the communication.

• Acknowledgment and Referencing:

  • Acknowledge and reference any non-original material, including audio-visual material, text, graphs, and data.
  • Follow proper referencing standards, including the name of the author, date of publication, title of the source, and page numbers.

• Bibliography, Structure, and Presentation:

  • Include a bibliography in a standard format.
  • Ensure the title page, table of contents, and page numbers contribute to the overall quality of presentation.
  • Follow accepted academic standards for research paper presentation.
  • Consider using a section and sub-section structure with informative headings.

• Word Limit and Exclusions:

  • Keep the essay narrative within the 4,000-word limit.
  • Note that graphs, figures, calculations, diagrams, formulas, and equations are not included in the word count.
  • Examiners will not read beyond the 4,000-word limit, and no assessment will be made on material presented thereafter.

Criterion E: Engagement #

Strands: Reflections on planning and progress

The assessment of this criterion is based on the RPPF, which you complete after submitting your Extended Essay.

• Decision-Making and Planning:

  • Reflect on how you arrived at the chosen topic.
  • Explore the methods and approach you used in completing the essay.
  • Assess the rationale for decisions you made throughout the planning process.
  • Provide insight into your thinking, creativity, and originality in the research process.

• Critical and Effective Reflection:

  • Show evidence of critical and reflective thinking that goes beyond procedural descriptions.
  • Explore setbacks you faced in research and how you overcame them.
  • Reflect on questions that emerged as a result of the research.
  • Consider what you would do differently if undertaking the research again.
  • Ensure your voice is clearly present and demonstrates the learning that has taken place.