Structure is your biggest competitive advantage. A well-structured EE makes it easy for the examiner to find evidence of each criterion — and award you marks. A poorly structured one forces them to search, and they won't always find what they're looking for.
The Grade-A Structure Template
Introduction (400-600 words)
Hook, context, significance, and your research question. Targets Criterion A.
Literature Review (600-800 words)
Critical evaluation of existing research. Not a summary — a conversation with the academic field.
Methodology (400-500 words)
What tools you used and WHY. Targets Criterion B.
Analysis (1200-1500 words)
Apply tools, present findings with evidence. The heart of your essay. Targets Criteria B + C.
Discussion (500-700 words)
Evaluate findings, connect to literature, assess limitations. Targets Criterion C.
Conclusion (300-400 words)
Directly answer your RQ. Summarise evidence. Suggest future research.
Mapping Sections to Criteria
| Section | Primary Criteria |
|---|---|
| Introduction | Criterion A — Knowledge & Understanding |
| Literature Review | Criterion A |
| Methodology | Criterion B — Application & Analysis |
| Analysis | Criteria B + C |
| Discussion | Criterion C — Synthesis & Evaluation |
| Conclusion | Criteria C + D |
| Throughout | Criterion D — Communication |
After building your structure, go through each section and write which criterion it targets. If a section doesn't clearly target any criterion, cut it or refocus it.
Word Count Distribution
Your 4,000-word limit is tight. Here's how the strongest EEs distribute their words:
35%
Analysis section — where most marks are won
15%
Introduction + Conclusion combined
50%
Literature Review + Methodology + Discussion
The most common structural mistake: spending too many words on description and not enough on analysis. If your literature review is longer than your analysis section, rebalance.
Key Takeaways
- Follow the 7-section structure: Intro → Lit Review → Methodology → Analysis → Discussion → Conclusion → References
- Map every section to specific criteria
- Spend 35% of your word count on analysis
- No purposeless writing — every paragraph serves a criterion