Computer Science Extended Essay #

Note on the sources used
The information provided in this and other sections of the Extended Essay is largely derived from two sources: Paul Baumgarten’s website and the subject-specific Extended Essay Computer Science guide. While I strive to incorporate the most crucial info from these sources and offer additional perspectives, I strongly encourage you to visit these references for a better understanding.

The Extended Essay (EE) in Computer Science (CS) is an independent research project where students conduct experiments to explore the vast realm of computing and its implications for the world. The work has a maximum length of 4,000 words, with an additional 500 words allocated for reflections, known as the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF). (Further details on RPPF can be found here, and you can refer to the format here).

CS EE is known for its technical complexity, and it’s relatively uncommon, to the extent that IB doesn’t keep statistics on it. However, this isn’t meant to discourage you; rather, it emphasizes that this journey is challenging and time-consuming but ultimately rewarding.

The key to a successful CS EE lies in selecting a good research topic. But what makes a topic good?

Choosing a Topic #

Here are some criteria to guide you in identifying a strong research topic:

Ensure your topic is technical: Given that Computer Science is a technical course, focus on aspects that delve into the technicalities of the subject. Social issues related to ICT are more suited for the ITGS course.
Ensure your topic is specific and measurable: Craft a research question with clear specificity and measurability. Avoid vague inquiries like “Will Windows or Linux give better performance?” Clarify the context, circumstances, and goals to achieve precision. Remember the 4,000-word limit.
Avoid speculative topics: Avoid questions about uncertain future developments, such as “Will quantum computing replace normal binary computers?” Analysis of trends and advances is possible, but should demonstrate technical knowledge without relying on speculation.
Steer clear of historical and ethical/social implications focus: While historical context or ethical considerations can be included, the primary focus should be on scientific analysis. Avoid turning the essay into a history dissertation; maintain a scientific approach.
Ensure your topic allows for primary research: Conduct original research instead of relying solely on existing statistics or summarizing views. Analyze your findings and consider their implications to fulfill the research requirements.
Avoid a computer science project focus: Save projects like desktop applications or online services for the IA. While data for analysis can be generated from a student-written program, the focus should be on relevant techniques rather than the code’s development.
Ensure your topic is feasible: Choose a topic that is manageable with available resources. Avoid investigating complex computing topics for which you lack access to appropriate background material or resources.

To give yourself a better sense of the differences between good and bad topics, look at the table below:

Good topics	Bad Topics
The impact of Kernel Page Table Isolation on performance in intel cpu-powered systems	Factors that affect processor speeds
Investigating the algorithmic efficiency of Binary Search Tree and Binary Heap based sorting algorithms	The future of sorting algorithms
The impact of contemporary quantum computing solutions on the security of RSA as a public key cryptography solution	Internet Security

(“Good topics” are taken from the CS EE World where you can also look for examplary essays)

Topic Suggestions #

The subject-specific guide mentions that you can explore various areas, including hardware and software development, algorithm efficiency for data transmission or encryption, network systems, and computer control systems.

You can also draw inspiration from the syllabus or Paper 3 case studies, provided you delve into those topics more deeply in your exploration. You can find the CS guide here and case studies here.

However, given the current hype for Artificial Intelligence, you and many other students might be tempted to choose this area for your research.

AI Topics #

Paul Baumgarten has compiled a helpful list of terms here that might guide you in choosing the direction for your research. He also emphasizes that, given the popularity of this area among students, it’s crucial to ensure that your work stands out.

He suggests considering a “cliché” Research Question, which involves evaluating how two things solve a similar problem. However, a more common yet effective approach to meet the EE’s requirements and secure a good mark is testing a specific model on a chosen dataset.

For further inspiration, you can explore the multitude of available models and datasets on the Hugging Face library website. They also offer courses.

Additionally, you can find more ideas on the Awesome Deep Learning Project Ideas project. Remember to keep the word limit in mind!