Is a History EE harder than an English EE?

History demands more depth and sustained interest, which is why it's seen as harder. But if you have genuine passion and good sources, that depth becomes a strength rather than a barrier — and depth is what IB rewards most.

Should I pick the easy EE subject or the one I'm passionate about?

If you're indifferent, pick the easier subject. If you have real passion and material for a "harder" one, follow it — passion drives the depth that scores well and makes the process enjoyable rather than a grind.

I have too many sources for my EE — what do I do?

Don't analyse everything. Identify the two or three sources that actually change the assumptions behind your research question, and go deep on those. Depth beats volume in the EE.

Is a History EE Hard? How to Choose a Subject You're Passionate About

Here's a dilemma a lot of pre-IB students face: the "easy" EE subject at your school is something like English B, but you're genuinely obsessed with a History topic — say WW1 medicine — and you've already got archives and academic papers piling up. Is History too hard to risk it?

EEs grade you on depth

English is often called the "easier" EE subject because it's easier for most people to go deep, whereas History, Maths and the sciences demand a level of depth and interest most students don't want to engage with. But if you already have the passion and the material, you're in exactly the category that goes deep — and depth is the main thing IB rewards, which most students miss.

Passion can't be replicated

A friend who did a Maths EE — one of the harder choices — mastered it purely because he was passionate enough to go deep. The general advice is to pick the easier subject if you're indifferent. But if you have genuine passion, follow it: you'll actually enjoy the process instead of grinding through it.

Too much material is a real problem

If you've got hundreds of archive pages and a stack of papers, you have too much — and that's its own challenge. Use AI to help surface the two or three highest-leverage sources rather than drowning in volume. Ask yourself: which archive or paper actually changes the initial assumption behind your RQ? Those one or two are the ones worth analysing deeply.

Tip

Narrow the topic. "WW1 medicine" is too broad — tighten it to where your sources concentrate, e.g. European WW1 medicine. Primary sources are a huge advantage most EE writers don't have, so lean into them.

Key Takeaways

History rewards depth — if you have passion and sources, you're already in the right category
Pick the easier subject only if you're indifferent; genuine passion is worth following
Too much material is a real problem — find the 2-3 sources that change your RQ's assumptions
Narrow a broad topic to where your sources concentrate
Primary sources are a major advantage — use them

Free guide

See how to frame a History RQ that goes deep instead of wide.

Read the History guide