How Long Does it Take to Write an IB Extended Essay?

Many students studying International Baccalaureate are searching for an approximate time needed to write an IB extended essay. The IB extended essay needs to be of a maximum of 4000 words. Given that many words need to be completed, it goes without saying that there is a lot of research involved too. This is why this does take a sufficient amount of time as well.
According to expert IB extended essay writers, completing an IB extended essay can take around 40-50 hours. IMPORTANT! Make sure not to write all at once two nights before the deadline. Why? Because the process is not that simple!
The process begins in the November of your junior year and ends in the November of your senior year. So make sure to leave enough time to write your extended essay. Let’s look into the process deeper.
The first part that students usually spend the most time on is the topic selection. Once the topic is selected, the next part that takes up time is the research stage.
The research needs to be done extensively to ensure that it is detailed and has all information that is required as well. Otherwise, you won’t be able to write an extended essay that will get you a good grade.
Once you’re done with that, you can come to the writing stage.
The time needed to write an extended essay is subjective
Having said all of that, there is no one definitive answer to the question. The amount of time it takes to write an extended essay depends entirely on the student’s speed and the amount of time they have for this. It also depends on the nature of the subject. For more research-based subjects, it definitely takes much longer since the research phase takes up the most amount of time.
Here are a few factors that determine how long it can take to complete an IB extended essay.
1. Type of Topic
The topic that you select for your extended essay is crucial. If the nature of the topic is too pervasive, you might need to do a lot of research before completing it. For example, a history extended essay takes much lesser time than a science extended essay. The main reason for this is that a history extended essay can easily be done by taking most of the information from the internet.
However, for a science extended essay, you might also need to conduct experiments, which are all very time-consuming.
2. Complexity of the Topic
Sometimes, research topics can seem to be very complex. This means that you might take some time to understand what is being asked. First, you need to look at the prompt and understand what is required. Next, you can begin working on it.
3. Deadline for the Assignment
If we check the latest updates in the IB ee criteria, you have around ten months to complete the essay. So it is always advisable that you start working beforehand and use your time in the best way possible. For example, try to get done with 1500 words right after your third reflective session and with 3000 words in total after your fifth meeting. This way, you can plan your time well and complete things in due time.
Before the sixth session, try to get done with your whole essay.
Good luck with your extended essay
So from here, you can see that this is dependent on several factors. However, if you utilize your time well and plan things out, you can surely get them done in time and complete your International Baccalaureate Diploma program.
Should you need expert assistance with your extended essay, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our experts will guide you and help you write an extended essay that follows all the latest IB criteria.


Vasy Kafidoff
Vasy Kafidoff is a co-founder at WritingMetier and loves all things related to the written word. When he is not buried in a good book, you can find him discussing sports and politics or kicking up his feet for some R&R.
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