IB Diploma · Extended Essay
IB Extended Essay feedback — all 5 criteria
The Extended Essay is worth up to 3 bonus points toward your IB Diploma and is graded against 5 criteria totalling 34 marks. iBacalao reads your draft and scores each criterion the way your examiner will — for any subject, free to try.
Total marks
34
Criteria
5 (A–E)
Word limit
4,000 words
Subjects
All IB subjects
The 5 Extended Essay criteria
iBacalao scores your essay against each criterion and explains exactly how to move up a band.
A: Focus and method
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student has chosen an appropriate topic, developed a clear and focused research question, and employed an effective and subject-appropriate methodology, including a purposeful selection of sources.
B: Knowledge and understanding
This criterion assesses the extent to which the student demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the topic studied, places the essay in an academic context, and uses appropriate subject-specific terminology and concepts.
C: Critical thinking
This criterion — worth 12 of 34 marks — assesses the quality of the student's argument: the critical analysis of research, the development and evaluation of a clear argument or conclusion, and the consideration of different perspectives.
D: Presentation
This criterion assesses the extent to which the layout, organisation, and visual presentation of the essay follow the standard format required by the IB and support effective academic communication.
E: Engagement
This criterion assesses the student's engagement with their EE research process as evidenced in the RPPF (Reflections on Planning and Progress Form). It captures intellectual initiative, personal engagement, and growth as a researcher across the three mandatory reflection sessions.
IB Extended Essay grade boundaries
iBacalao tells you your predicted letter grade after scoring your essay.
Work of an excellent standard
Work of a good standard
Work of a satisfactory standard
Work of a mediocre standard
Work of an elementary standard (failing condition)
Common questions
What subjects does iBacalao support for the Extended Essay?
All IB Diploma subjects. You enter your subject and research question when uploading, and iBacalao tailors its feedback to that discipline's conventions and academic expectations.
Does iBacalao write the Extended Essay for me?
No. iBacalao only reads your draft and gives you criterion-level feedback — the same lens your examiner uses. It never rewrites, paraphrases, or generates essay text.
Can iBacalao assess Criterion E (Engagement)?
Yes, if you append your RPPF to the uploaded document. If no RPPF is included, iBacalao notes this and bases an indicative Criterion E score on any reflective passages in the essay body.
Will using iBacalao create a Turnitin record?
No. Your essay is sent to Anthropic's Claude API to generate feedback and then immediately discarded. It is never stored on iBacalao's servers, so no submission record is created.