The IA and the Extended Essay — the components students fear most
Two of the most mark-heavy parts of IB Economics aren't exam papers at all — they're written coursework. Here's what they involve, and how we work through them together.
The Internal Assessment (IA)
The IA is a portfolio of commentaries: you take a recent news article and analyse it using a syllabus concept and the relevant diagrams, in around 800 words each. It's assessed on your use of economic terminology, theory, diagrams, and — crucially — evaluation, all tied to one of the course's key concepts. Choosing the right article and the right concept pairing is half the battle.
The Extended Essay (EE)
The EE is a 4,000-word independent research essay on an economics question you define. It rewards a sharp, narrow research question, real data or evidence, sound economic analysis, and genuine evaluation — not a broad survey. Most of the work is in framing the question well before any writing begins.
How we work through them
Step by step: choosing a workable topic or article, framing the question or concept, structuring the analysis, integrating diagrams and evidence, and building the evaluation that earns the higher mark bands. The coursework is where steady guidance matters most — and where students gain the most from working with someone who knows the criteria.
This is a taste of the full bank
These four are part of a larger set of carefully chosen real-world examples — each picked to stretch across several syllabus areas, with built-in evaluation and the deployment phrases that turn a fact into marks. I share the complete bank with my students. Book a free class and let's talk about how it fits your exam.