In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
Your Essay's Blueprint for Success
Criterion A is the architectural plan for your entire Extended Essay. It assesses whether you have a clear, focused research question and a sensible, well-chosen method to answer it. Getting this right from the start is crucial, as it guides every other part of your work.
Imagine building a custom house. Your broad topic (e.g., '20th-century architecture') is the plot of land. Your research question is the detailed architect's blueprint: it specifies the exact dimensions, layout, and purpose of the house (e.g., 'To what extent did Bauhaus principles influence residential design in Chicago between 1945 and 1960?'). Your methodology is your set of tools and construction techniques (e.g., using original blueprints as primary sources, architectural journals as secondary sources, and a formalist analytical approach). A vague blueprint or the wrong tools will lead to a weak and unstable structure.
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Select a narrow, manageable topic within your IB subject that genuinely interests you.
- 2
Craft a precise, analytical research question that is not too broad, not too narrow, and invites argument rather than simple description.
- 3
Choose a specific methodology (e.g., source analysis, literary criticism, experimental investigation) and explicitly justify why it is the most effective approach to answer your question.
- 4
Ensure your introduction clearly states the topic, research question, scope, and methodology, providing the examiner with a clear roadmap of your essay.
Explore the concept
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Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
Deconstructing Criterion A: What Examiners Reward
This criterion is composed of two interconnected elements: 'Focus' and 'Method'. Examiners are trained to look for clarity, precision, and appropriateness in both.
Focus relates to the topic and the research question (RQ). A high-scoring essay moves beyond a general subject area to a specific, well-defined topic. This topic is then distilled into a single, sharply focused research question that will be answered in the essay. Examiners reward RQs that are not just questions, but analytical problems that require investigation and argument.
Method refers to the way in which you answer that question. It is not enough to simply list your sources. You must demonstrate a conscious choice of research and analytical processes. This includes the selection of primary and secondary sources, the theoretical lens you might apply (e.g., a feminist reading in Literature, a Keynesian model in Economics), and the specific steps you took to gather and analyse your evidence. The key here is that the method must be appropriate for the question and justified as such.
Topic: Must be specific and appropriate for the chosen IB subject.
Research Question: Must be stated clearly and precisely, usually in the introduction. It must be focused and encourage analysis.
Methodology: The choice of sources and analytical tools must be explicitly stated and justified as being suitable for the RQ.
Alignment: The topic, RQ, and methodology must be perfectly aligned. A mismatch between these elements is a common reason for low marks.
Crafting a High-Scoring Research Question
The research question is the single most important sentence in your entire essay. It dictates the scope of your research and the structure of your argument. A weak, descriptive, or overly broad question makes a focused, analytical essay impossible. A strong RQ is your guide and your anchor.
Selecting and Justifying Your Methodology
Your methodology is your plan of action. For Criterion A, you must not only have a plan but also explain why it is a good plan. This justification is often what separates a mid-band essay from a top-band one. You need to demonstrate that you have thought critically about the research process itself. Your introduction should briefly outline your method, making it clear to the examiner that your approach has been deliberate and is fit for purpose.
Group 1 (Studies in Language and Literature): Your method will involve close textual analysis of literary works (primary sources), informed by literary theory and critical perspectives from academic articles (secondary sources).
Group 3 (Individuals and Societies): Your method might be a historical investigation analysing primary documents and weighing the interpretations of different historians (secondary sources), or a case study in Geography using interviews, surveys, and GIS data.
Group 4 (Sciences): Your method could be a hands-on experiment where you control variables and collect quantitative data, a database analysis, or a theoretical model. You must justify your experimental design and choice of variables.
Justification is Key: Do not just state 'I will use primary and secondary sources.' Instead, explain which sources and why they are the most reliable and relevant for answering your specific RQ. For example: 'This investigation will analyse the private letters of Queen Victoria (primary sources) to offer insight into her personal political influence, a perspective often absent in official government records from the period.'
Maintaining the 'Golden Thread': Ensuring Cohesion
A well-focused essay has a 'golden thread' running through it: the research question. Every piece of evidence you introduce, every paragraph you write, and every point of analysis you make must directly contribute to answering your RQ. Any information that is merely 'interesting' but does not serve this central purpose will weaken your focus and should be removed. The examiner should be able to pick any paragraph from the body of your essay and see a clear link back to the question posed in your introduction.
Signposting: Use topic sentences at the beginning of paragraphs to link back to the language of the research question.
Relevance: Constantly ask yourself, 'How does this piece of evidence help me answer my RQ?' If it doesn't, it doesn't belong.
Conclusion: Your conclusion must directly and explicitly answer the research question based on the evidence and argument presented. It should be the final knot in the golden thread.
Avoid Narrative: A common pitfall is lapsing into a chronological story or a simple description of a topic. This is a sign that the focus on the analytical RQ has been lost.
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
Analyse the evolution of a weak research question into a strong one for a History EE.
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Here is a typical progression that demonstrates increasing focus and analytical potential:
Write a model introduction paragraph for a Visual Arts EE that effectively establishes focus and method.
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Here is a sample introduction that clearly addresses Criterion A:
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
Criterion A: Focus and Method
Assesses the extent to which the essay centres on a clear, focused research question and employs an appropriate methodology to investigate it. Worth 6 marks.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
- ✓
Topic: Must be specific and appropriate for the chosen IB subject.
- ✓
Research Question: Must be stated clearly and precisely, usually in the introduction. It must be focused and encourage analysis.
- ✓
Methodology: The choice of sources and analytical tools must be explicitly stated and justified as being suitable for the RQ.
- ✓
Alignment: The topic, RQ, and methodology must be perfectly aligned. A mismatch between these elements is a common reason for low marks.
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test Your Understanding of Criterion A
Test Your Understanding of Criterion A
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test Your Understanding of Criterion A on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.