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Economics EE Criteria Guide

Develop a focused question, support it with sound evidence, and sustain analysis and evaluation throughout.

For assessment in 2027. Submit a single RPF reflective statement of up to 500 words. This structure keeps the essay aligned to the research question, the economics concepts, and the expected depth of argument.

Assessment criteria

What each criterion measures, how many marks it carries, and what stronger evidence usually looks like.

Criterion names, marks and mark bands follow the IB subject guide. The band descriptions are our own summaries, so check your subject guide for the exact wording.

Criterion A: Framework for the essay (6 marks)

Use a clear question, suitable research methods and an effective essay structure.

Stronger evidence
A precise, relevant question is supported by well-chosen methods and a structure that makes the research easy to follow.
Early-stage evidence
The question lacks focus or relevance, the methods fit poorly, and the structure does little to help the reader.

Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding (6 marks)

Show subject knowledge through relevant sources, concepts and accurate terminology.

Stronger evidence
A well-chosen body of sources supports strong knowledge, with accurate terminology and effective use of relevant concepts.
Early-stage evidence
The chosen material is weakly relevant, concepts receive shallow treatment, and terminology is sparse or inaccurate.

Criterion C: Analysis and line of argument (6 marks)

Analyse the research and connect the question, findings and conclusions.

Stronger evidence
Effective analysis produces relevant findings, and a sustained argument connects these findings to the question and conclusions.
Early-stage evidence
The essay mainly describes its material and the argument is incomplete.

Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation (8 marks)

Weigh the findings and assess the strengths and limits of the research.

Stronger evidence
A balanced discussion is supported throughout. Relevant strengths and limits are explained when judging the research.
Early-stage evidence
The importance of the findings is described without supporting evidence. Evaluation is incomplete and does not identify strengths or limits.

Criterion E: Reflection (4 marks)

Evaluate what the essay taught you and how that learning transfers to other situations.

Stronger evidence
The reflection evaluates the experience throughout, using examples that consistently show growth and transfer.
Early-stage evidence
The reflection recounts the process without showing how learning could transfer.

Mark bands

Want to know where your EE sits in these bands? Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion.

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How to build it

Most weak drafts fail on order, not on ideas.

  1. 1

    Define a focused question

    Make the question narrow enough to answer with economics, but substantial enough to support evaluation.

  2. 2

    Collect the right evidence

    Use sources that give you enough depth to analyse economic issues instead of just describing them.

  3. 3

    Keep the theory disciplined

    Apply concepts carefully and make sure every theoretical point is doing real analytical work.

  4. 4

    Test the conclusion

    Check that the conclusion follows from the analysis and that it answers the question directly.

Before you submit

  • The topic and question are clear, focused, and subject-appropriate.
  • Economic concepts and terminology are accurate and consistent.
  • The analysis and evaluation are sustained, not tacked on.
  • The essay communicates clearly. The RPF statement evaluates your learning and how it can transfer.

Quick wins

  • Write a short claim for every section before you draft it.
  • Use one source note to track how each paragraph supports the question.
  • Replace summary with explicit reasoning about cause, effect, and trade-offs.

Get Rubric Feedback Before You Submit Your EE

Upload your Extended Essay draft to Marksy and get useful feedback on focus, theory use, and criteria alignment in minutes. The result includes a mark for every criterion, evidence from your draft, and the changes to make first.

Grade My EE DraftSee Pricing
  1. 1

    Upload your EE draft as a PDF

  2. 2

    Get a mark and feedback for every EE criterion

  3. 3

    Revise and grade the new version

A mark for every criterion
A mark for every criterionSee where the draft is now, criterion by criterion.
Comments on your sentences
Comments on your sentencesEach comment points at the passage it is about.
What to fix first
What to fix firstConcrete next edits instead of "improve your analysis".