u/Dry_Muscle5119

Coming from a third year politics uni student who did IB and is planning to go into academic research:

A 4,000 word research essay pushed onto high school students who've never read academic material is way out of your depths. I only learned how to write distinction essays (way shorter than the EE) in my third year of uni. I imagine that most school students (including myself) is at least somewhat clueless with the EE. 4,000 words is way too long, the EE is way too self-directed.

ADVICE FOR CURRENT IB STUDENTS: just try your best, but understand that it is VERY normal to not excel doing the EE, only read the introduction and conclusion of academic articles, and RELY ON YOUR SUBJECT SYLLABUS AND SUPERVISORS A LOT! Good Luck!!