Why Reflection Is Assessed

The Extended Essay is not only about the final product; it is also about the journey you took to produce it. The IB formally assesses your reflection on that journey, recorded on a dedicated form and discussed in a concluding conversation with your supervisor. This lesson explains what reflection means in this context and why it carries marks.

Reflection as a distinct assessed element

Reflection is one of the criteria against which your essay is judged. In the current guide it falls under the criterion often called Engagement, and in the revised guide first assessed in 2027 it appears as a Reflection criterion; in both, the marks reward evidence that you engaged thoughtfully with the research process. The reflection is recorded on the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form, usually abbr