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Geography EE Criteria Guide

Shape a focused research question, use the right evidence, and keep the argument geographically grounded.

For assessment in 2027. Submit a single RPF reflective statement of up to 500 words. This structure keeps the essay focused on the question, the evidence disciplined, and the evaluation explicit.

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 manageable question

    Make the topic specific enough to support fieldwork, case studies, or comparative analysis without drifting.

  2. 2

    Choose the right evidence

    Use sources that genuinely help you analyse the spatial issue rather than simply describing it.

  3. 3

    Keep the geography explicit

    Tie every section back to place, scale, patterns, and the geographical concepts in play.

  4. 4

    Pressure-test the conclusion

    Make sure the final judgement follows from the analysis and directly answers the research question.

Before you submit

  • The question is clear, focused, and appropriate for geography.
  • The terminology and concepts are accurate and consistently used.
  • Analysis and evaluation are sustained across the essay.
  • The essay is clear, and the RPF statement evaluates learning and how it can transfer to other work.

Quick wins

  • Draft the conclusion early to expose weak evidence or a drifting scope.
  • Use a source log to track how each piece of evidence supports the question.
  • Add one linking sentence per section back to the geographic issue.

Get Rubric Feedback Before You Submit Your EE

Upload your Extended Essay draft to Marksy and get useful feedback on focus, evidence, 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".