EE DAY 2024

Extended Essay (EE) Day  is valuable in three ways.

Firstly, it helps students to gain a diploma. No EE, no diploma! Failed EE, failed Diploma!  It´s that simple. So far though, no one in the history of the school has failed the EE so the danger is slight (but real). Together with the TOK Essay, this EE is worth up to 3 points: rather few given the scale of the undertaking – but still worth having.

Secondly, the EE is valued highly by universities. No wonder. The EE is a sustained piece of academic research, properly referenced and cited and with any use of AI clearly identified. It is the closest thing to university level research that IB students come, and it gives IB students a big advantage over those who have not been through this process.

Thirdly, the EE is a personal landmark. This is the longest essay any student has written to date and more than this it is focused on students´ own passion for a subject/question of their own choosing. What could be better than communicating this passion to a wider audience of sympathetic listeners?

Indeed, EE Day is really angled at the third of these three points. Every student enjoys ten minutes in the limelight, interviewed by their supervisors and sharing their conclusions with the audience. It can be a bit nerve-wracking but overcoming these nerves and performing nonetheless is an essential life skill.

(The remaining 20-minute third mandatory session is held on a one-to-one basis with the supervisor in the days that follow).

EE Day always ends with a glass of fizzy drink and a large chunk of fruit cake. What could be better than that?!

Finally, a suggestion. Why don´t other Finnish IB schools have an EE Day of their own? We have no copyright on this idea.