What is included in the word count of an IB Extended Essay?

Are you currently working on your extended essay? It's essential to plan effectively to stay within the word limit of 4,000 words. There is no restriction on the number of pages. Continue reading for CiteCount's advice on how to allocate your words to align with the assessment criteria. Our extensive experience with IB students can help you achieve top marks in your coursework.

EE Word Count Guidelines

The specific word distribution for extended essays varies by subject due to differing structural requirements. However, all EEs share a common framework consisting of an introduction, main body, and conclusion.

Introduction

Your introduction, which includes background information, should be approximately 600 words. This section should adequately introduce your topic and the objective of your essay, state the research question and hypothesis, and outline your research approach. Additionally, you will define key concepts relevant to your investigation.

Main Body

The main body is crucial, as it carries the most weight in terms of assessment points. It should be the longest section, ideally around 3,000 words. The organization of the main body will depend on the subject area, for example:

Group 4 subjects (like Chemistry, Biology, and Physics) will involve variables, equipment, results, and their analysis.
For History, these 3,000 words should be split between sources and their analysis.
The main body of an Economics essay will encompass methodology (for both primary and secondary data) and analysis.

Conclusion

Allocate the final 400 words for your conclusion and evaluation. A high-scoring EE includes evaluative elements and mini-conclusions throughout the essay. In this section, you will answer the research question and summarize the key findings of your investigation. You should also discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your work, proposing improvements and extensions.

Important Reminder!

Remember to exclude the following from your word count:

Acknowledgments
Contents page
Diagrams
Labels of five words or fewer
Headings on diagrams of ten words or fewer
Tables of statistical data
Equations, formulas, and calculations
Citations (must be included in the body of the essay)
References (to be included in footnotes/endnotes)
Bibliography
Appendices

Utilize CiteCount's tools for efficient word counting. Our tool is designed to help you monitor your word usage accurately, ensuring you remain within the limits while enhancing the quality of your content.

We hope you find this guide helpful! While we suggest this word allocation, feel free to adjust it to suit your preferences, considering the point distribution for each EE section.

Best of luck!

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