Math Extended Essay Topics. Let's Make Yours Stand Out!

Introduction – What is an IB Math Extended Essay?

An extended essay (EE) is a research paper of up to 4,000 words for the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. It is an independent study done by the student in a chosen subject, and it is a requirement for all IB diploma students. An IB Math EE is an individual project done by a student that explores a mathematical concept, question or problem. Students are asked to explain their understanding of the concept and develop their own argument(s) surrounding it.

Before you start your EE, it is important to understand exactly what the assignment entails. First and foremost, you should understand how the IB Math EE relates to the general subject of mathematics. The EE should be focused around a specific question or hypothesis related to mathematics. The aim of the essay is to explore this particular topic, conduct research and analysis, and draw conclusions based on the evidence provided.

The essay should also demonstrate the student’s in-depth knowledge of mathematical concepts, and the ability to apply that knowledge in a rigorous academic setting. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and hone their expertise in mathematics. Lastly, it is a great way for students to practice their research and independent study skills.

IB Maths Extended Essay Process – Step-by-Step Guide

Writing an International Baccalaureate (IB) Maths extended essay can be a challenging, yet rewarding experience. Many students often find the process to be daunting, but with the right plan of action and understanding, you can make it through with ease.

The first step in the process is to determine the essay topic and type of essay you will be writing. Make sure the topic you choose is relevant to IB Maths and that you can back up any claims you make. Once you have chosen your essay topic, you will need to create an outline or plan of action for yourself. This includes setting individual deadlines and goals for yourself in order to stay on track.

Next, you will need to begin researching and gathering resources for your essay. This is the time where you will look for books, articles, and other materials to support your thesis statement. Be sure to take precise notes and cite your sources as you go to avoid plagiarism.

Find someone to act as your supervisor, who can help guide you through the extended essay process. Your supervisor should be available to answer any questions, provide feedback, and help you stay focused on the task at hand. It is important to establish a good relationship with your supervisor in order to ensure timely and effective communication.

Beforehand, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the assessment criteria and rubric for the extended essay. This will give you a clearer understanding of what is expected from you and how you will be evaluated. Having this knowledge will allow you to create a better structure for your essay that meets the required standards.

Now, you are ready to start writing your essay. Use the plan you created for yourself along with the research you gathered to construct the body of your essay. As you write, be sure to reference all sources correctly, double check for grammar and spelling errors and keep your essay on track. Once you have finished, you are all done.

By following this step-by-step guide and understanding each part of the IB Maths extended essay process, you will make the process easier and less intimidating. Keep in mind the key points discussed throughout the guide and make it a priority to respect deadlines and be organized throughout.

Choosing a Good Extended Essay Topic

When it comes to the IB Maths Extended Essay, one of the most important steps is choosing a good topic. A good topic should be interesting and challenging, but not too complex for you to handle. It should also relate directly to IB Maths, so you can use your knowledge to write the essay.

Here are some criteria to consider when selecting an appropriate topic:

• Does the topic have relevance to your field of study?
• Is the topic researchable and easy to access resources?
• Will the data you need be available?
• Is the scope of the topic manageable?
• Is the topic interesting enough to keep you motivated to finish it?

Some examples of good topics for an IB Maths Extended Essay include:

• The Impact of Advanced Mathematics on Financial Markets
• The Benefits of Using Probability In Business Decisions
• The Use of Calculus in Medicine
• The Role of Algebra in Cryptography
• The History of Numbers

Exploring a few topics before settling on one will give you a better understanding of what kind of topic will work best for your essay. Consider your interests and the resources you have access to, and choose a topic that you will be passionate about. Once you’ve selected a topic, you can begin researching and preparing for the essay!

Preparing the Extended Essay – Resources, Planning and Researching

Once you have chosen your topic for your Maths Extended Essay, the next step is to prepare for it. This involves compiling a list of resources that you will need in order to carry out research and complete the essay. These could include books, research papers, articles and any other material that is relevant to your topic.

You will then need to plan how you want to go about researching and writing your essay. This planning process should involve breaking down the process into manageable steps, such as researching the topic, planning how to structure the essay, writing the first draft and then editing and proofreading. By breaking down the process into smaller chunks, it can be easier to manage and track your progress.

The next step is to carry out the research which your EE will require. Depending on your topic, this could involve looking through textbooks, reading articles and papers, interviewing people or conducting other experiments or surveys. It’s important in the research stage to keep track of where you found each piece of information so that you can cite it correctly later on.

Finally, when you have finished researching and written your first draft, you can start the process of refining and editing the EE. This involves making sure that everything is presented correctly and that all grammar, spelling and punctuation are perfect. Once you are happy with the essay, you can submit it for evaluation.

Supervisors & The Roles They Play

The supervisor plays a crucial role when it comes to your IB Maths Extended Essay. It’s important to find a supervisor who is knowledgeable and experienced in the field of mathematics, as they will help guide you through the process of researching and writing the essay.

Your supervisor should be able to provide you with guidance and advice, as well as setting you deadlines for completing your essay. Depending on the type of Extended Essay you are writing, your supervisor may also have the opportunity to read drafts of the essay and provide feedback along the way, helping to ensure the EE meets all of the assessment criteria.

A supervisor will also typically be responsible for giving the final grade for the Extended Essay, which means that it is essential to develop a good working relationship with them. This can be achieved by attending meetings regularly and using the resources available from your supervisor to ensure you’re making steady progress.

In any event, it is important to remember that your supervisor is there to help you throughout the writing of the EE. They can offer a wealth of knowledge, experience and support so make sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

Evaluation – Possible assessment criteria & EE rubrics

Once you have completed your extended essay for math, it is important to evaluate your work based on the assessment criteria. This means checking how well your essay aligns with the criteria set out by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Different aspects of the essay will be marked separately and then combined to generate a final score.

Here are some of the criteria that you might need to consider for your math extended essay:

• Clarity: Is the essay easy to read and understand? Are there any points that could be interpreted differently?
• Research and Analysis: Has enough research been undertaken in order to support the discussion? Does the analysis of this research accurately reflect the original source?
• Approach: Is the essay structured correctly? Has the argument been logically built, using appropriate evidence?

The IB provides several rubrics which can help you to evaluate your own essay. These rubrics are designed to show you what the IB is looking for when they mark your work. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the rubrics before you submit your essay so that you know what to expect from the evaluation process.

It’s important to be aware of the evaluation criteria for your maths extended essay, as it will help you to understand why certain sections of your essay may score higher or lower than others. This in turn will help you to improve your writing and ensure that you submit the best possible essay.

Example topics to get started – Highlighting five example topics related to IB Maths

When starting your IB Maths extended essay, it can be daunting to think of a suitable topic. To help you get started, here are five example topics you may want to consider:

• Exploring the Relationship Between Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Ratio – Investigate how the Fibonacci sequence relates to the golden ratio and its applications in mathematics.
• Analysis of Different Methods Used to Solve Quadratic Equations – Analyze different methods of solving quadratic equations and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
• Explaining the Fundamental Theorems of Algebra – Study the theorems of algebra and explain their importance in mathematical theory.
• A Study on the Mechanics of Number Theory – Analyze the various concepts and principles of number theory and describe its applications.
• Understanding the Geometry of Non-Euclidean Geometry – Examine the different principles of non-Euclidean geometry, including hyperbolic geometry.

These are just five examples to get you started – there are endless other possibilities for topics in IB Maths. Remember to choose a topic that you find interesting and make sure it is relevant to your course of study.

When writing an extended essay for IB Maths, it is important to structure your essay correctly. A good structure helps to clearly communicate your ideas and ensures that you are presenting your argument in a way that is easy to follow. The standard structure of an essay includes an introduction, body paragraphs and a conclusion. To start off, your introduction should provide an overview of the argument you are making and a brief summary of the essay. The body of the essay is where you will present your detailed arguments and evidence. Make sure to divide your body into separate areas of focus and have a main point for each part. For example, if you are discussing different methods for solving a certain problem, create one section for each method and then expand on how it can be used. Lastly, make sure to include references where applicable. Finally, the conclusion should be a short summary of the main points you discussed and how they relate to each other. It should also state any implications that can be drawn from the evidence presented. Structuring an essay in this way will clarify your ideas and help ensure that your essay is well received by the reader. If you are unsure about the structure of your essay, consider reading other students’ work for guidance and possibly seek feedback from your supervisor.

Presenting Essential Content

Having chosen a topic for your IB Maths Extended Essay, it is time to begin writing. Having an outline of what you are going to discuss in each section and thinking about the themes you will focus on can help to guide and structure your essay.

When it comes to presenting the core information that needs to be included, this is where brainstorming and researching helps to create the ‘meat’ of the essay.

Think carefully about which topics could be explored in each section, as well as looking at any suggested themes or topics that examiners may look for. You can create a draft outline of each section if this helps.

You may want to consider the following when planning the content of your essay:

• The aim of the essay
• What evidence will be provided to support your arguments
• Any potential counter-arguments and how to rebut them with evidence
• How to develop a balanced discussion, using comparison and contrast
• Key theories and concepts that need to be discussed
• Insightful quotes from reliable sources
• Any numerical information or data that can be used to support arguments

It is always a good idea when creating your essay to refer back to the main research question or aim of the assignment to ensure that you remain focused.

By doing this, you can be sure that you have included all the essential content needed to answer the research question properly, as well as demonstrating your understanding of the topic.

Referencing correctly

Correct referencing is very important when it comes to writing an IB Maths Extended Essay. It’s how you show the examiner where you’ve got your research from, and how you demonstrate the ideas that you’re presenting in your essay are backed up with evidence.

When it comes to referencing, there are a few main types: in-text citations (where references are mentioned within the body of the essay), endnote citations (where references are included in an endnotes section), and bibliographies (where sources are listed alphabetically at the end of the essay).

In-text citations and endnote citations should include the author’s name, the year of publication, the title of the document, and the page number (if possible) of the reference you are citing. Bibliographies should list the title, author’s name, publication date and URL of any webpages cited. It’s also important to make sure that you’re consistent with the style of referencing – for example, if you’ve used Harvard referencing for one source, make sure you use it for all sources.

It’s also worth noting that some examiners prefer that referencing isn’t done inline – in other words, each reference should be listed in an endnote or bibliographic section at the end of the essay. If you’re unsure of which style to use, it’s best to check with your supervisor – they will be able to give you more advice on the specifics.

In summary, when including references and citations in your IB Maths Extended Essay, make sure they are accurate and consistent. Remember to include all relevant information such as author, year of publication, title and page number (if applicable), and make sure that you are consistent with the referencing style used. Your supervisor will be able to provide more advice on the specifics.

Editing & Proofreading Tips

Writing an extended essay on an IB Maths topic can be a challenging task – especially when it comes to the editing and proofreading stage. The whole process involves careful attention to several areas of the essay, which can make all the difference when it comes to achieving a high grade.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare your essay for submission:

• Start Early: Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to go through each part of the essay and make the necessary revisions.
• Check Your Sources: Check to ensure that all the sources you used are accurate and up-to-date.
• Check Grammar and Spelling: One of the most important aspects of editing is making sure that your grammar and spelling are correct. Use a spell checker before submitting your essay.
• Check for Clarity: Read your essay through from start to finish to check for clarity of thought and make sure everything ties together in the conclusion.
• Get a Second Opinion: Consider getting someone else to read your essay and give their opinion on it. This can help to spot any errors or points that need improvement.

Doing all of the above will ensure your essay is well polished and ready for submission. Taking these steps will also help you to become a better writer and ensure that you receive the best possible grade for your efforts.

Conclusion

The completion of an International Baccalaureate Math Extended Essay (EE) is a challenging task that requires a great deal of research, preparation and dedication. In this guide, we have discussed the process from start to finish, as well as some tips and tricks to make it easier. We began by introducing what an EE entails in the context of IB Maths, then progressed through the process step by step. This included topics such as choosing an appropriate EE topic, preparing the essay, and getting it assessed correctly.

We discussed some example topics to get you started on your own EE, and important elements such as structuring the essay and presenting essential content. Referencing correctly was also highlighted so you can be sure your essay is academically sound. Finally, we rounded off with some proofreading tips to ensure your work is error free.

To conclude, it is worth mentioning that the EE process can be daunting. But with the guidance presented within this guide, you should be able to complete a top-notch EE with ease. Good luck!

Including Reference Links and External Sources

Having access to helpful resources is a key part of putting together an excellent extended essay. There is usually a wealth of relevant material available, covering a range of topics related to IB Math. It’s important to reference these sources correctly, so that you can demonstrate the breadth and depth of your research.

Here are some useful tips for collecting appropriate sources and referencing them correctly:

• Collect Appropriate Sources – Use a range of academic sources such as books, journal articles, websites, and other types of documents. Don’t forget to check out online databases for extra research material.
• Use Reliable Sources – Ensure that the sources you use are reliable and up-to-date. Try to use recent published sources where possible.
• Cite Accurately – When citing the sources you use, be sure to include the author’s name, year of publication, and the page number (if relevant).
• Avoid Plagiarism – As mentioned above, it’s important to cite any sources you use. Plagiarism should be avoided at all costs as it can result in a loss of points.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your extended essay makes good use of external sources, and that you cite and reference them correctly. Taking the time to look through a range of materials will also help you to form a well-informed opinion, which is essential for a successful paper.