100+ IB extended essay topics 2026

Finding a topic that holds your attention is only the first part of the process. Your Extended Essay needs to fit an approved subject, lead to a focused research question, and remain manageable with the time, evidence, and resources available to you. The most promising ideas are narrow enough to investigate but still leave room for analysis.

The topic starters below are not ready-made titles to copy. Adapt them by defining a population, location, period, text, material, or variable that fits your interests and your school’s requirements. For science-based EEs, make sure the work can be completed safely, ethically, and with equipment you can access.

How to choose the right IB Extended Essay topic

A workable topic connects to a subject you understand, asks a question that requires analysis, and relies on evidence you can realistically collect. “Climate change” is too broad for an essay, while a question comparing summer surface temperatures in two neighborhoods with different tree-canopy coverage gives you a clear direction.

Before committing to an idea, test whether it can survive the research stage. This early check can save you from selecting a subject that sounds interesting but leaves you with weak sources, impractical methods, or a question that is far too wide for the final paper.

• Choose a question that fits one IB subject and its assessment expectations.
• Narrow a broad interest through a place, period, group, text, or measurable variable.
• Check that credible sources, safe methods, and necessary equipment are available.
• Choose analysis, comparison, or evaluation instead of a topic that only describes facts.
• Ask whether the question can be answered clearly within the 4,000-word limit.
• Discuss the proposal with your supervisor before investing too much time in research.

A strong question also needs a suitable method. Your evidence may come from close reading, lab work, a public dataset, historical documents, field observations, or another discipline-appropriate source. Guidance on how to write my essay can help with planning and organization, but the research, interpretation, and final submission must remain your own work.

High school IB Extended Essay topics, organized by grade

The Extended Essay is a Diploma Programme requirement rather than a standard 9th- or 10th-grade assignment. Still, students can build useful research habits long before the formal EE process begins. These grade levels work as preparation stages rather than official IB categories.

Grade	Best use of the year	Topic direction	Useful outcome
9th	Build curiosity and source-evaluation skills.	Try short observations, reading projects, and controlled classroom investigations.	Identify subjects that remain interesting over time.
10th	Practice narrowing broad interests.	Compare two sources, variables, locations, or time periods.	Create a small portfolio of research questions.
11th	Choose an EE subject and test feasibility.	Read background sources, run pilot work, or select texts and datasets.	Develop a supervisor-ready proposal.
12th	Complete, revise, and reflect.	Build an evidence-based argument within an approved scope.	Produce a focused final essay.

9th grade

Use 9th grade to notice questions that stay interesting after the first class discussion or online search. Keep a record of topics from books, labs, local issues, and hobbies. A short experiment or source comparison can reveal whether an idea has enough depth for future work.

10th grade

By 10th grade, practice turning a broad theme into a smaller research problem. Compare two historical accounts, map an environmental pattern near your community, or test a single physical variable. The goal is not to write an EE early but to learn how researchers make questions manageable.

11th grade

Students who begin planning in 11th grade should focus on feasibility. Read introductory sources, check the relevant subject expectations, and test whether you can access suitable evidence. A narrow question with a realistic method is more valuable than an ambitious topic that cannot be completed well.

Bring a draft research question and a short explanation of your evidence or method to your supervisor. You should also be ready to explain what your essay will not cover, since a clear boundary is often what turns a broad interest into a workable investigation.

12th grade

Once you begin writing, avoid expanding the question simply because you discover more material. Keep research notes organized, protect your original scope, and make decisions you can explain in reflections. Feedback on presentation or citations can be useful, but it should not replace your own academic judgment.

An ib essay writing service may help with permitted structural or citation support. Your research process, interpretation of evidence, and final argument must remain your own.

High school IB Extended Essay topic ideas, organized by subject

The following ideas focus on science-related areas that can work well for students who prefer experiments, fieldwork, data analysis, or evidence-based comparisons. Each idea needs further refinement before it becomes a final research question. Choose a topic that fits your IB subject and allows you to explain a method in detail.

Life science

Life science topics work best when you can control conditions and repeat the investigation. Avoid projects involving unsafe microorganisms, protected species, or unapproved testing on people or animals. Use school-approved materials and select a variable you can measure consistently.

1. Investigate how light color affects basil growth under controlled conditions.
2. Compare the effect of temperature on yeast respiration rates.
3. Test how different sugar types influence fermentation speed.
4. Examine the relationship between soil pH and seed germination.
5. Compare mulch types by measuring soil-moisture retention.
6. Investigate whether leaf age affects stomatal density.
7. Test how fertilizer concentration changes root growth in seedlings.
8. Compare shade levels by measuring chlorophyll-related leaf changes.
9. Investigate whether water source affects plant growth.
10. Compare seed coatings by measuring germination speed.
11. Test how soil salinity affects radish germination.
12. Examine how drought cycles influence bean leaf area.
13. Compare compost types by measuring seedling development.
14. Investigate whether water hardness affects duckweed growth.
15. Test how seed-storage temperature affects viability.
16. Compare plant density by measuring herb growth.
17. Investigate the effect of salinity on brine shrimp hatching.
18. Examine how soil texture affects earthworm movement.
19. Compare food-waste materials by measuring composting rates.
20. Test whether natural dyes affect flower-petal color retention.

Earth science

Earth science allows you to combine local observation with maps, public datasets, weather records, and satellite images. A focused project should identify a location, a time period, and a reliable data source early. That approach makes large themes such as erosion, urban heat, and drought easier to investigate.

1. Compare tree-canopy coverage and neighborhood surface temperatures.
2. Investigate how pavement type affects daytime surface heat.
3. Measure shoreline change using satellite images from two periods.
4. Analyze drought frequency in one county over several years.
5. Compare elevation and temperature variation in a local region.
6. Investigate soil moisture across different land-use types.
7. Examine whether cloud cover affects daily temperature range.
8. Track creek depth after rainfall events during one season.
9. Compare heat-island intensity near different bus stops.
10. Analyze urban growth and wetland loss in one area.
11. Investigate whether rainfall patterns affect stream turbidity.
12. Compare slope angles by measuring soil-erosion rates.
13. Examine impervious surface coverage and runoff patterns.
14. Analyze land cover near areas with different flood risks.
15. Compare wildfire history and vegetation recovery in one region.
16. Investigate wind direction and local particulate levels.
17. Examine whether street orientation affects snowmelt rates.
18. Compare weathering patterns across two local rock types.
19. Analyze the relationship between lake and air temperatures.
20. Compare rooftop temperatures on green and conventional roofs.

Physical science

Physical science EEs need accurate measurement and a method you can repeat. Choose equipment you can calibrate, conditions you can control, and variables that produce enough data for analysis. A simple design with reliable results is usually more useful than a complicated setup you cannot explain.

1. Investigate how ramp angle affects a rolling object’s speed.
2. Compare pendulum lengths by measuring their periods.
3. Test how surface texture affects frictional force.
4. Examine whether insulation thickness changes heat-loss rates.
5. Compare solar-panel angles by measuring electrical output.
6. Investigate how launch angle affects projectile range.
7. Test whether string tension changes vibration frequency.
8. Compare tube lengths by measuring changes in sound pitch.
9. Investigate the effect of temperature on water viscosity.
10. Compare object shapes by measuring air-resistance effects.
11. Test how wire length affects electrical resistance.
12. Investigate the relationship between magnet distance and induced voltage.
13. Compare paper-glider wing shapes by measuring flight range.
14. Examine how water depth affects cooling rates.
15. Test whether fan speed changes air-flow distance.
16. Compare ball materials by measuring bounce height.
17. Investigate how mirror angle affects reflected light.
18. Examine how mass distribution changes spin stability.
19. Compare pulley arrangements by measuring required force.
20. Test how circuit design affects battery life.

Chemistry

Chemistry projects need methods that generate precise, repeatable results. A household reaction can provide a starting point, but your research question must allow you to measure change consistently and explain the chemistry behind the pattern. Follow laboratory safety procedures and use approved materials throughout the investigation.

1. Investigate how temperature affects vitamin C loss in juice.
2. Compare salt concentrations by measuring corrosion rates.
3. Test how acid concentration affects shell dissolution.
4. Examine whether sugar type changes caramelization temperature.
5. Compare water hardness by measuring soap efficiency.
6. Investigate how storage time affects caffeine extraction.
7. Test whether solvent type changes pigment extraction.
8. Compare temperatures by measuring tablet-dissolution rates.
9. Investigate how salt type affects ice-melting speed.
10. Examine how pH changes anthocyanin color.
11. Test whether catalyst amount affects decomposition rate.
12. Compare light exposure by measuring food-dye fading.
13. Investigate whether fruit type changes juice acidity.
14. Examine how buffer concentration affects pH stability.
15. Compare surface areas by measuring reaction rates.
16. Test whether metal type affects galvanic corrosion.
17. Investigate how temperature affects crystal growth.
18. Compare detergent concentrations by measuring surface tension.
19. Examine how steeping time affects tea color intensity.
20. Test whether filtration materials affect water clarity.

Environmental science

Environmental science becomes more manageable when you focus on a local system rather than a global issue. Public data, field observations, mapping, waste audits, and short surveys can provide useful evidence. Be specific about what you will compare and how you will evaluate the results.

1. Compare cafeteria waste before and after educational signage.
2. Investigate whether refill stations reduce disposable bottle waste.
3. Examine recycling-bin placement and contamination rates.
4. Compare transit access and student travel choices.
5. Investigate whether shade structures affect outdoor comfort.
6. Examine laundry habits and potential microfiber release.
7. Compare lawn-treatment areas by measuring insect diversity.
8. Investigate indoor plants and classroom humidity levels.
9. Examine walkability and vehicle-idling patterns near school.
10. Compare community gardens by measuring soil quality.
11. Investigate tree cover and pedestrian heat exposure.
12. Compare the food miles of selected school lunches.
13. Examine light pollution around school grounds.
14. Investigate native plant areas and pollinator activity.
15. Compare packaging types by estimating landfill volume.
16. Examine storm-drain litter after rainfall events.
17. Investigate rain gardens and standing-water reduction.
18. Compare water use across selected school fixtures.
19. Examine e-waste collection and student participation.
20. Investigate classroom energy use across different seasons.

Easy IB Extended Essay topic ideas

An easy topic should be practical rather than shallow. The best accessible projects use safe materials, clear variables, and a method you can repeat without specialized equipment. Choose one that fits your approved subject, then make it more specific through a defined material, setting, or measurement approach.

1. Compare insulation materials by measuring cooling over a fixed period.
2. Test how ramp surfaces change the distance a toy car travels.
3. Measure how light angle affects a small solar panel’s output.
4. Compare water-filter materials using a safe prepared sample.
5. Track how mulch types affect soil moisture after watering.
6. Test how salt concentration changes the melting rate of ice.
7. Compare paper-airplane designs using consistent launch conditions.
8. Measure vitamin C loss in juice stored under different conditions.
9. Compare sound absorption across common fabric materials.
10. Map temperatures in shaded and unshaded school areas.
11. Test how string length affects a pendulum’s period.
12. Compare compost mixes by measuring seedling growth.

Use one final feasibility check before committing to a topic. Write the draft question, identify the evidence you would need, and decide whether your method can be repeated. If you cannot find credible sources or a realistic approach, reshape the question before you spend more time on it.

FAQ

How do you make an IB Extended Essay topic specific?

Add limits that create a manageable investigation. You might define a location, time period, work of literature, dataset, material, or measurable variable. Then check that the method fits the relevant subject.

Can you use a science fair experiment for an Extended Essay?

Sometimes. A science-fair-style investigation can provide a useful starting point, but your EE must still meet subject-specific expectations for focus, method, analysis, and presentation. Confirm the fit with your supervisor before beginning.

How many topic ideas should you take to your supervisor?

Bring two or three feasible options. Each should include a draft research question and a brief explanation of the sources, data, texts, or method you expect to use.

What should you avoid when choosing a topic?

Avoid questions that are too broad, depend on inaccessible evidence, require unsafe procedures, or lead only to description. A smaller topic can still produce a thoughtful argument when it is framed carefully.