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Marksy maps your draft against the rubric so you can see where marks are gained or lost in each criterion.
Every important scoring decision is anchored to your writing so revision is evidence-based, not guesswork.
Get structured next actions so you can move from draft to stronger markband performance in the right order.
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This guide keeps the essay anchored to a manageable research question, relevant political concepts, and a coherent evaluation of evidence.
Recommended Length
3,500-4,000 words
Build Timeline
10-12 weeks: topic refinement, source gathering, outline, drafting, and revision
Anchor Question
Does each section advance the research question with clear political reasoning rather than broad commentary?
Want a full playbook format? Read Global Politics EE Guide.
Use each criterion as a checklist for revision. Strong drafts make the scoring evidence obvious, not implied.
Examiner focus: This criterion assesses the topic, research question, methodology, and the justification for their selection in the context of a contemporary global political issue.
Top-band move: A contemporary global political issue is clearly identified, and its significance and relevance for investigation are well-explained. The research question is focused and aligns with the theoretical frameworks and terminology of global politics. Methodological choices are justified, and relevant sources (e.g., case studies, comparative analysis) are selected to support the development of arguments. Effective planning is evidenced.
Common penalty: A topic is identified, but its relevance to global politics is weak. The research question is broad or lacks focus. The methodology is vaguely described, with limited justification.
Examiner focus: This criterion assesses the student's understanding of the global political context, application of relevant concepts and terminology, and awareness of social and cultural influences.
Top-band move: Clear connections are established between the research question and the global political context, including institutions, actors, and theories. Terminology and concepts are used accurately and clarified where needed. There is a strong awareness of social and cultural influences on political understanding. Knowledge gained from selected approaches and sources is analyzed to form arguments and conclusions.
Common penalty: Limited connections are made between the research question and the global political context. Terminology is used sparingly or inaccurately. Awareness of social and cultural influences is minimal.
Examiner focus: This criterion assesses the student's ability to critically engage with the chosen issue, construct a reasoned argument, and support it with relevant evidence.
Top-band move: Critical engagement with a contemporary political issue using relevant approaches, techniques, and sources. A specific argument or position is constructed, presented, and supported in response to the research question. Analysis is supported with specific, relevant material chosen from research, ensuring alignment with the research question. The essay avoids being wholly narrative or descriptive. A reasoned argument is developed based on research, supported by evidence and culminating in conclusions that align with presented evidence, refrain from introducing new material, and consider questions for further study.
Common penalty: Limited engagement with the issue. Arguments are weak or unsupported. Analysis is superficial, and evidence is lacking or irrelevant.
Examiner focus: This criterion assesses the clarity, organization, and academic conventions of the essay.
Top-band move: The essay utilizes a structured layout with clear headings to aid the organization without distracting from the argument. The title page, table of contents, page numbers, etc., contribute to the quality of the presentation. The inclusion of charts, tables, and images within the essay body directly supports or clarifies the argument. All essential content relevant to analysis, discussion, and evaluation is in the main essay body. Appendices are used wisely. Referencing is accurate and consistent.
Common penalty: The essay has some structure, but it is not consistently applied. Academic conventions are partially followed.
Examiner focus: This criterion assesses the student's reflection on the research process, including decision-making, planning, and skills developed.
Top-band move: Students reflect on decision-making, planning, and the approach used in completing the essay, demonstrating rationale and skills developed. Effective reflection showcases critical and reflective thinking, providing insight into student creativity, originality, and learning throughout the research process.
Common penalty: Limited reflection on the research process, primarily descriptive.
Match your draft to the descriptors below to identify the smallest edits that can move you into a higher band.
Points 0
The topic is not clearly identified, or the research question is absent or irrelevant to global politics. The methodology is not described or justified.
Points 1-2
A topic is identified, but its relevance to global politics is weak. The research question is broad or lacks focus. The methodology is vaguely described, with limited justification.
Points 3-4
A contemporary global political issue is identified, and its significance is explained. The research question is articulated but may lack specificity. The methodology is described with some justification, and relevant sources are mentioned.
Points 5-6
A contemporary global political issue is clearly identified, and its significance and relevance for investigation are well-explained. The research question is focused and aligns with the theoretical frameworks and terminology of global politics. Methodological choices are justified, and relevant sources (e.g., case studies, comparative analysis) are selected to support the development of arguments. Effective planning is evidenced.
Points 0
There is no evidence of knowledge or understanding of global politics. Terminology is absent or misused.
Points 1-2
Limited connections are made between the research question and the global political context. Terminology is used sparingly or inaccurately. Awareness of social and cultural influences is minimal.
Points 3-4
Connections are established between the research question and the global political context, including institutions, actors, or theories. Terminology and concepts are used with some accuracy. There is some awareness of social and cultural influences on political understanding.
Points 5-6
Clear connections are established between the research question and the global political context, including institutions, actors, and theories. Terminology and concepts are used accurately and clarified where needed. There is a strong awareness of social and cultural influences on political understanding. Knowledge gained from selected approaches and sources is analyzed to form arguments and conclusions.
Points 0
There is no evidence of critical analysis. The essay is primarily descriptive or narrative.
Points 1-4
Limited engagement with the issue. Arguments are weak or unsupported. Analysis is superficial, and evidence is lacking or irrelevant.
Points 5-8
Some critical engagement with a contemporary political issue using relevant approaches, techniques, and sources. An argument is presented but may lack clarity or consistency. Analysis is supported by some relevant material chosen from research. The essay may be overly descriptive in parts.
Points 9-12
Critical engagement with a contemporary political issue using relevant approaches, techniques, and sources. A specific argument or position is constructed, presented, and supported in response to the research question. Analysis is supported with specific, relevant material chosen from research, ensuring alignment with the research question. The essay avoids being wholly narrative or descriptive. A reasoned argument is developed based on research, supported by evidence and culminating in conclusions that align with presented evidence, refrain from introducing new material, and consider questions for further study.
Points 0
The essay lacks structure and organization. Academic conventions are not followed.
Points 1
The essay has some structure, but it is not consistently applied. Academic conventions are partially followed.
Points 2-3
The essay utilizes a structured layout with clear headings to aid the organization. The title page, table of contents, page numbers, etc., contribute to the presentation. Referencing is generally accurate.
Points 4
The essay utilizes a structured layout with clear headings to aid the organization without distracting from the argument. The title page, table of contents, page numbers, etc., contribute to the quality of the presentation. The inclusion of charts, tables, and images within the essay body directly supports or clarifies the argument. All essential content relevant to analysis, discussion, and evaluation is in the main essay body. Appendices are used wisely. Referencing is accurate and consistent.
Points 0
There is no evidence of reflection on the research process.
Points 1-2
Limited reflection on the research process, primarily descriptive.
Points 3-4
Reflections encompass strategies chosen, learning skills developed, conceptual understandings, setbacks faced, emerging questions, and potential improvements for future research.
Points 5-6
Students reflect on decision-making, planning, and the approach used in completing the essay, demonstrating rationale and skills developed. Effective reflection showcases critical and reflective thinking, providing insight into student creativity, originality, and learning throughout the research process.
Step 1
Aim for a question that can be answered with political analysis, not a general survey of a broad issue.
Step 2
Organise sections around political concepts, actors, and context so the argument stays focused throughout.
Step 3
Use sources to test claims, expose trade-offs, and show why some interpretations are stronger than others.
Step 4
End with a defensible answer to the research question and make clear what the evidence does and does not prove.
The research question is specific, political, and answerable in 4,000 words.
Evidence is analysed, not stacked as isolated background.
Terms and concepts are used accurately and consistently.
The final judgement follows from the argument already built in the body.
Turn one descriptive paragraph into a comparison of competing political interpretations.
Check that every paragraph ends by linking back to the research question.
Flag any source that informs context but does not actually move the argument forward.
The grader evaluates your submission against the active IB criteria for Global Politics Extended Essay and returns criterion-level marks with actionable feedback.
Yes. Most students use draft grading to identify weak criteria, revise, and re-check before final submission.
Yes. Teachers can upload multiple files in one batch from the bulk grading route for faster class-wide feedback.
Absolutely. By default, nobody other than you can access your uploaded files, however you may make them shareable to others. Even then, you have full control to delete your files at any moment, and your files are not used to train AI models. More information here.
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