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Beginning the Extended Essay can feel overwhelming. Most students start with only a vague sense of what they like. This is completely normal. Step 1 helps you move from uncertainty to a clear starting point.
Your aim at this stage is not to choose a research question. Your aim is simply to choose a subject and a broad area that genuinely interests you.
Choose a subject you enjoy
Choose a subject you enjoy
Your strongest research will come from a subject you feel confident in. Think about the lessons you look forward to, the topics you find engaging or the kinds of questions you naturally ask in class.
Ask yourself:
Which subject do I enjoy learning about
Which subject gives me the best tools to explore ideas
Which subject will allow me to read, analyse or investigate comfortably
You do not need commitment yet. You only need a direction.
Identify a broad area of interest
Identify a broad area of interest
Within your chosen subject, note down any areas that spark your curiosity. They can be small or wide. They can come from class, from your own reading or from real life.
For example:
In Biology, you might be interested in enzymes, ecology, genetics or plant physiology
In Literature, you might be drawn to narrative voice, memory, identity or symbolism
In History, you might be intrigued by revolutions, diplomacy, ideology or conflict
In Economics, you might be curious about consumer behaviour or market responses
It is perfectly fine to have more than one area at this stage.
Explore your ideas through light reading
Explore your ideas through light reading
Before you decide on anything, take twenty to thirty minutes to read lightly around your chosen area. You are not doing deep research. You are simply trying to understand what is already known and what people discuss.
Look for:
key ideas
debates or tensions
recurring issues
surprising facts
concepts you want to understand better
Suitable places to start include:
introductory textbook sections
BBC Science, BBC History, reputable news outlets
academic abstracts on Google Scholar
podcasts or videos from reliable organisations
subject websites recommended by your teacher or librarian
You are reading to explore, not to decide.
Notice what captures your attention
Notice what captures your attention
As you read, pay attention to what feels interesting. This early curiosity often becomes the heart of a strong research question later.
Ask yourself:
What do I want to understand more deeply
What seems confusing or unresolved
What do people disagree about
What patterns or changes stand out
Good research begins with noticing.
Write down your early ideas
Write down your early ideas
Finally, record your initial thinking. It does not need to be polished. A few simple notes are enough.
For example:
“I am interested in climate resilience because different countries respond in different ways”.
“I keep returning to the idea of unreliable narrators in fiction”.
“There are conflicting studies on fast fashion sustainability”.
“I want to understand how memory works in learning”.
Writing helps you see what you genuinely care about.
Task to Try
Task to Try
Write down:
one subject you might choose
two or three broad areas you find interesting
one idea or question that stood out during your reading
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