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How to Refine Your Extended Essay Draft IB EE

How to Refine Your Extended Essay Draft IB EE

2 min read | Lanterna Team | January 27, 2026

Learn how to refine your Extended Essay (IB EE) draft for an A grade. Expert revision tips on using your supervisor and the grading criteria as a checklist.

How to Refine Your Extended Essay Draft

If you’ve completed a full draft of your Extended Essay, congratulations! But the fun doesn’t end here. If you’re looking for that A grade in your EE, then the most important stage is yet to come. Editing and refining your Extended Essay draft is a crucial task. So this week’s blog is going to help you do just that!

It’s important to remember that once you’ve completed your EE draft, this isn’t the finished product. Try not to get disheartened or frustrated when it turns out you actually need to spend more time altering, improving, and refining your essay. Just remember that all of your editing will be worth it in the long run!

Person correcting a document

Use your Supervisor

Your Extended Essay Supervisor is an essential resource when it comes to dealing with your draft. Don’t be fooled by the fact that the EE is an independent, self-directed research project. Your Supervisor is there to support you too! They want to help you produce the best possible final essay, so make sure you use them to your advantage!

You are allowed to show your Supervisor one draft of your Extended Essay. Ensure that the draft you take to your Supervisor is as detailed as possible. This will mean that they can give you optimum feedback on your ideas, arguments and general structure. Take the time to go through all of your Supervisor’s comments, and consider them carefully. This will be incredibly valuable information in helping you take your Extended Essay to the next level!

Question mark

Critique Your Draft

Have you actually answered your title or question? As an IB student I was told that every sentence of your Extended Essay should relate back to the question you’re answering. So a great exercise is to go through your entire essay, and analyse every single sentence. If a sentence enhances the question you’re answering, then excellent! But if you come across a sentence that doesn’t really relate to your essay title, it’s a good idea to reword this section, or get rid of it. This is a worthwhile exercise to do, as it will make your Extended Essay more focused.

Use the Criteria

Another simple way to refine your EE draft is by using the criteria as a checklist. Have you included in your draft all the required elements stated in the criteria? If not, go and add in what’s missing. This will help make sure that your essay contains just what the examiners are looking for. If you’re looking to get the best grade possible in your EE, focus on the highest level criteria boxes.

And there we have it – three points to bring your Extended Essay draft to the next level!

Keep working hard – you can do it!

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Editing is crucial for achieving a top grade in your EE. The draft is rarely the final product; refining it allows you to strengthen arguments, improve clarity, and ensure it fully addresses your research question, transforming it into an A-grade submission.

Your supervisor is a key resource. You're allowed to show them one detailed draft for feedback. They can provide valuable insights on your ideas, arguments, and structure. Make sure to consider their comments carefully to elevate your essay.

The IB criteria should be your checklist. Go through each criterion, especially focusing on the highest-level descriptors, to ensure your essay includes all required elements and meets the examiners' expectations for an A grade.

Critiquing your draft means meticulously reviewing every sentence to ensure it directly relates to and enhances your research question. Remove or reword anything that doesn't contribute to your central argument to make your essay more focused and coherent.

Absolutely. Lanterna's expert tutors, many of whom scored 40+ in the IB or have examiner experience, specialise in guiding students through the EE process. They can provide targeted feedback on your draft, helping you refine your arguments, structure, and adherence to the IB criteria to aim for an A grade.

Lanterna offers personalised 1-on-1 tutoring for all stages of the EE, from topic selection and research question formulation to drafting, refining, and final submission. Our tutors help you develop critical thinking, academic writing skills, and ensure your EE meets the highest IB standards.

The Lanterna IB consultation is a free, no-pressure 20-30 minute session with an IB Student Success Expert. It's designed to help students and parents gain clarity on their IB situation, whether it's about the Extended Essay, other IAs, exam preparation, or general IB strategy.

Yes, the consultation is completely free. There's no obligation to book tutoring afterwards. Our goal is to provide you with a clear, personalised plan and actionable next steps to help you succeed in the IB.

Our Student Success Experts are experienced professionals with deep knowledge of the IB Diploma Programme. They've supported thousands of IB students and can offer invaluable guidance, helping you understand your challenges and identify the best strategies for improvement.

During the consultation, you'll discuss your specific EE challenges and goals. The expert will help you identify key areas for improvement and provide a simple, personalised plan. You'll walk away with clear priorities and next steps, feeling more confident about tackling your EE, with zero obligation to book tutoring.


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