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Geography Extended Essay Guide
A guide to choosing a strong topic, collecting primary data, and writing a high-scoring IB Geography Extended Essay.
What is a Geography Extended Essay?
The Geography Extended Essay (EE) is one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the IB Diploma. Below you will find everything you need to choose a strong topic, design your methodology, and write a high-scoring EE in Geography.
Word Count
3,500 – 4,000 words
Excluding bibliography, abstract, and appendices. Budget every section carefully before you start writing.
Assessment
Graded A–E
Combined with the TOK essay for up to 3 bonus IB Diploma points. A strong EE and TOK = maximum bonus.
Timeline
12–18 months
From initial topic to final submission. Most students underestimate this. Start early and plan backwards from your deadline.
Supervision
3 required meetings
Initial, interim, and final (viva voce). Each requires an RPPF reflection. Your supervisor approves your RQ.
Strong Geography EE Topic Ideas
| Topic Idea | Why It Works | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| How has gentrification affected housing affordability in [specific neighbourhood, city]? | Human geography, fieldwork possible, localised | Medium |
| To what extent has the Three Gorges Dam achieved its flood management objectives? | Physical and human geography, data available | Medium |
| How has urban heat island effect developed in [specific city] between 2000 and 2023? | Climate geography, satellite data, temperature records | Hard |
| To what extent is ecotourism sustainable in Costa Rica’s national parks? | Tourism geography, sustainability, case study | Easy |
| How effective has Singapore’s water management strategy been in achieving water security? | Resource management, policy, case study | Medium |
| How has migration affected cultural landscape in [specific city or region]? | Population geography, fieldwork, observation | Medium |
Subject-Specific Advice
Primary Data
Fieldwork is highly valued
If you can collect primary data (surveys, measurements, observations, mapping), do it. Original data collection is one of the strongest differentiators in Geography EEs.
Geographical Concepts
Apply them explicitly
Use geographical vocabulary: spatial patterns, scale, interdependence, sustainability, place, process. Name the geographical frameworks you are applying.
Maps & Figures
Visual data is essential
Include maps, graphs, and photographs as evidence — but analyse every visual. A map without analysis earns no marks.
Scale
Local is better
A highly focused, local case study (one neighbourhood, one river, one city district) allows for depth and primary data. Global or national topics tend to be too broad.
Assessment & Common Mistakes
Assessed on: geographical knowledge, application of geographical concepts, use and analysis of evidence, and quality of argument. Primary data collection is rewarded. Generic, non-specific essays score in the lower bands.
⚠ Common Pitfall
Students often choose topics that are interesting but lack available data. Before committing to a topic, verify that you can access the specific data your RQ requires. A good Geography EE topic always has a clear, answerable data collection strategy.
Geography EE Checklist
- ✓ My RQ is specific to a defined location, time period, and geographical process
- ✓ I have a plan for primary data collection (fieldwork, surveys, measurements)
- ✓ I apply named geographical concepts and frameworks (sustainability, resilience, etc.)
- ✓ All maps and visual data are analysed — not just presented
- ✓ I discuss the spatial patterns, scale, and interconnections in my findings
- ✓ My conclusion makes a supported geographical judgement about my specific case study
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