Find the intersection of interest and feasibility
Curiosity alone isn’t enough — your topic has to be something you can research.
Ask yourself three questions:
Can I find enough credible sources (such as books, journals, or data)?
Can I realistically collect or analyze evidence within the IB guidelines?
Can I narrow my question enough to answer it in 4,000 words?
Broad questions, such as “How does social media affect society?” can be overwhelming. Try narrowing it to:
“How does TikTok’s algorithm influence political engagement among teenagers in Canada?”
That’s still exciting — but now it’s researchable.
Use the lens method
If you’re stuck, try this:
Choose something you love and examine it through the lens of an IB subject.
What you love | Subject lens | Example EE question |
|---|---|---|
Fashion | Economics | How do supply chain disruptions affect pricing in the luxury fashion industry? |
Gaming | Computer Science | How does procedural generation affect user engagement in video games? |
Music | Psychology | How does tempo influence memory retention in teenagers? |
Climate issues | Geography | How has urban greening affected local microclimates in Toronto? |
This keeps your topic authentic while meeting IB’s academic criteria.
Play with “What if…” and “Why does…”
Great Extended Essay questions often begin with curiosity:
What if ________ changed over time?
Why does ________ happen in one case but not another?
How does ________ influence ________?
Even a vague question like “Why does nostalgia feel stronger online?” can open up exciting directions — psychology, media studies, or economics.
Balance passion with purpose
It’s tempting to pick something because you “love it,” but remember — this is research. The best EE topics sit at the sweet spot between:
interest — you’ll stay motivated,
depth — there’s enough to analyze,
focus — it’s narrow enough to conclude.
Ask yourself:
“Will I still find this topic interesting after reading 20 papers and writing 4,000 words about it?”
If yes, you’re on the right path.
Get feedback early
Talk to your EE supervisor, a subject teacher, or even a mentor.
If you can explain your idea clearly in two sentences and your listener says, “That sounds interesting,” you’re close.
Keep a short “EE Brainstorm Journal”
When you later write your RPPF* reflections, this journal will be a lifesaver.
Include:
Ideas explored and dropped
Questions that kept resurfacing
What surprised or frustrated you
Key sources or insights
This visible thinking process is exactly what IB examiners love to see.
*A quick note on the RPPF (Reflections on Planning and Progress Form)
As you brainstorm and take notes, remember that your reflections aren’t just for you — they directly contribute to your RPPF, or Reflections on Planning and Progress Form, which is a required part of the IB Extended Essay.
The RPPF is your mini research journal — you’ll complete it in three short reflections that document how your thinking evolved:
Initial reflection: Why you chose your topic and how you plan to start.
Interim reflection: How have your ideas or methods changed as you researched?
Final reflection (Viva Voce): What you learned about your topic — and yourself — through the process.
These reflections, taken together, comprise Criterion E: Engagement, and they often make the difference between an average and an excellent EE.
Keeping a short “brainstorm journal” throughout your EE journey will make it much easier to write these reflections later — and ensure they sound authentic rather than rushed at the end.
Do a “fit check” before committing
✅ Specific and focused
✅ Researchable with available data or sources
✅ Fits one IB subject
✅ Analytical, not descriptive
✅ Interesting to you
If it ticks these, you’ve found your Extended Essay topic.
Final Thought
Your IB Extended Essay isn’t just another assignment — it’s a rehearsal for how you’ll think, question, and learn beyond school.
So don’t chase a perfect topic.
Chase the one that makes you curious enough to keep going when it gets hard.
That curiosity — not the grade — is what stays with you long after the EE is done!
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