Formatting is the most boring part of your EE — but it's also the easiest way to signal professionalism. Examiners see hundreds of essays. The properly formatted ones immediately say "this student is serious" before they've read a word.
The Non-Negotiable Formatting Rules
Font. Times New Roman, 12pt. No exceptions. The universal academic standard.
Spacing. Double-spaced throughout. Exceptions: block quotes and bibliography entries.
Margins. 2.54 cm (1 inch) on all sides. Usually the default — double-check.
Alignment. Left-aligned, not justified. Justified creates uneven word spacing.
Word Count: What Counts and What Doesn't
| Included in Word Count | NOT Included |
|---|---|
| All body text | Title page |
| In-text citations | Table of contents |
| Headings and subheadings | Maps, charts, and tables |
| Footnotes (if containing arguments) | Bibliography/Works Cited |
| Block quotes | Appendices |
4,000Maximum word count — this is a hard limit
Going over 4,000 words is an automatic problem. Examiners may stop reading at the 4,000-word mark. Any content after that may not be assessed.
Recommended Word Distribution
| Section | Word Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | 400–600 | 10–15% |
| Literature Review | 600–800 | 15–20% |
| Methodology | 400–500 | 10–12% |
| Analysis | 1200–1500 | 30–38% |
| Discussion | 500–700 | 12–18% |
| Conclusion | 300–400 | 8–10% |
Title Page Requirements
- Title of your EE
- Research question
- Subject
- Word count
- Session (e.g., May 2026)
Do NOT include: your name, school name, or any identifying information. IB requires anonymous marking. No borders, colours, images, or decorative elements.
The 15-Minute Formatting Checklist
- Font and spacing are correct throughout
- Page numbers are in place (starting from first content page)
- Title page has all required elements and no personal info
- Table of contents matches actual page numbers
- Headings are consistent in style and hierarchy
- Citations are consistent throughout
- Bibliography is complete and alphabetically ordered
- Word count is under 4,000
- One final spell-check and proofread
Key takeaways
- 4,000 words is a hard limit — don't exceed it
- Times New Roman 12pt, double-spaced, left-aligned, 1-inch margins
- Spend 35% of words on analysis, 15% on intro + conclusion
- Run the 15-minute checklist before submission