All Global Politics guides

Global Politics EE Criteria Guide

Show focused research, precise political terminology, and a sustained argument built from evidence.

For assessment in 2027. Submit a single RPF reflective statement of up to 500 words. This guide keeps the essay anchored to a manageable research question, relevant political concepts, and a coherent evaluation of evidence.

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

    Narrow the research question

    Aim for a question that can be answered with political analysis, not a general survey of a broad issue.

  2. 2

    Build a concept-led outline

    Organise sections around political concepts, actors, and context so the argument stays focused throughout.

  3. 3

    Interrogate your evidence

    Use sources to test claims, expose trade-offs, and show why some interpretations are stronger than others.

  4. 4

    Conclude with judgement

    End with a defensible answer to the research question and make clear what the evidence does and does not prove.

Before you submit

  • 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.

Quick wins

  • 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.

Pressure-Test Your EE Before Submission

Upload your Global Politics EE draft to Marksy and get criterion-level feedback on focus, analysis, and evaluation before you submit. 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".