How do I get an A in a Global Politics EE?

Choose a topic you genuinely care about, research far past the first few articles, and treat your RQ as a real question you are investigating. Let your argument change through the research, and refine through revision rather than aiming for a perfect first outline.

What makes an A-grade Extended Essay?

Real depth and a genuine investigation, not an impressive-sounding topic. Thorough research that uncovers something interesting, an RQ that is actually a question, and an argument refined through revision.

When should I finalise my EE research question?

Often not until you are 20 to 30% into your research. That is when the genuinely interesting questions surface. Forcing a polished RQ before researching usually leads to a weaker one.

How to Get an A in a Global Politics Extended Essay

You are starting a Global Politics EE on a topic you are passionate about, and you are already worried your outline is not "A material." Here is some reassurance from someone who had no idea what their EE would become at the start and ended up the highest scorer in their grade. The outline is not the essay.

Choose a topic you genuinely care about

A lot of students pick topics based on what they think will score well. The best topic is usually the one you will still be excited to read, research and write about months from now. Execution matters far more than picking something that sounds impressive.

Don't judge your outline, or force a conclusion, too early

Your outline is only part of the story, so do not panic if it does not look like A material yet. And do not try to force a conclusion before you have done the research. One of the biggest surprises for most students is how much their argument changes as they learn more, and that is a good sign.

Be thorough with your research

Go well past the first few articles that show up online. Academic journals, professors' work, dissertations, niche publications, and opposing perspectives are where the depth is. The deeper you go, the more likely you are to find something genuinely interesting instead of repeating what everyone else already says.

A research question is a real question

So many students get caught up in making the RQ sound academic that they forget the whole point is to investigate something they do not yet know the answer to. Often you cannot write the best version of your RQ until you are 20 to 30% into your research, because that is when the genuinely interesting questions show up.

Tip

Ask your coordinator for deadlines early, plan your time, and use your supervisor feedback. The EE is built through revision, so your first outline does not need to be amazing.

Key Takeaways

Pick a topic you will still care about in months, execution beats impressiveness
Don't judge your early outline or force a conclusion before researching
Research deep: journals, dissertations, niche sources, opposing views
A real RQ investigates something you do not yet know, and it sharpens 20 to 30% into research
The EE is built through revision, not a perfect day-one outline

Free guide

See what separates an A-grade EE from a B, step by step.

How to get an A