Your extended essay is a formally written research paper and you should strive to present it as professionally as you can. See the boxes on the right for IB documents giving detailed requirements for presentation, required elements, and suggestions on formatting. See the box below for guidance on what should be on the title page.
Font and spacing
Use a readable 12-point font and double spacing. You will be helping your examiners read and assess your essay on-screen.
Referencing and citations
The IB does not specify what referencing/citation format you should use. Whichever system you choose, make sure that you follow it consistently. Check, too, that it meets the minimum requirements for acknowledging both written and electronic sources expected by the IB. See the IB publication:
What should be on the first page/title page of your EE?
The title page should include only the following information:
Distinguishing Between the Title and the Research Question
Your extended essay can have a title and a research question. The research question is required on the cover page, while the title is optional.
What should NOT be on the first page/title page of your EE?
The title page should NOT include only the following information:
WHY???
When work is uploaded, the IB tags each document with the student's digital profiles so personal details like your name, your school, and your candidate number are not required. Very important: to make sure that IB assessment is unbiased and fair, IB does not give your name to examiners, so there should be nothing that could identify you in the essay itself.
Compare and contrast: which would be better to send to IB?
Submitting a paper in the recommended format will set a serious tone. Take a look at the example text below formatted in two drastically different fonts. Notice the difference in tone and mood—which format would be easier for the examiner to read, assess and comment on?
Example A (12 point, Arial, double-spaced)
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The revenue received by the government will increase with the increasing prices if there is no significant change in demand. As it does not, the revenue will rise but not at a steady pace. The sales of used cars will increase the scope of the revenue of the government, as its demand will rise as a result of the rise in COE prices of relatively new cars. However, its full impact cannot be determined as its supply fluctuates in different time periods as the government predefines the number of quotas released every six months in a year. |
Example B (9 point, Comic Sans, single-spaced)
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The revenue received by the government will increase with the increasing prices if there is no significant change in demand. As it does not, the revenue will rise but not at a steady pace. The sales of used cars will increase the scope of the revenue of the government, as its demand will rise as a result of the rise in COE prices of relatively new cars. However, its full impact cannot be determined as its supply fluctuates in different time periods as the government predefines the number of quotas released every six months in a year. |
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