Your Extended Essay research question is arguably the single most important sentence you’ll write in the entire process — it shapes your entire 4,000-word essay, determines how you’ll be assessed against the Focus and Method criterion, and, if it’s too broad or too narrow, puts a ceiling on your final grade before you’ve written a single paragraph of analysis.
What Makes a Research Question “Strong”
A strong Extended Essay research question is:
- Specific — it names a precise variable, event, text, or comparison, not a general topic
- Arguable or analyzable — it can’t be answered with a simple factual statement; it requires genuine analysis, comparison, or evaluation
- Researchable — you can realistically access enough credible sources or data to support a 4,000-word argument
- Appropriately scoped — narrow enough to explore in real depth, but broad enough to sustain the full word count
Weak vs Strong Research Questions by Subject
History
- Weak: “What caused World War I?” (far too broad — entire books are written on this)
- Strong: “To what extent was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand the primary catalyst for Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war on Serbia in July 1914?”
Biology
- Weak: “How do plants respond to stress?”
- Strong: “What is the effect of increasing salinity (0-4% NaCl) on the germination rate of [specific species] seeds?”
English/Literature
- Weak: “How is love presented in [novel]?”
- Strong: “How does [author] use unreliable narration to complicate the reader’s understanding of romantic obsession in [specific novel]?”
Economics
- Weak: “Is minimum wage good or bad for the economy?”
- Strong: “To what extent did the 2021 minimum wage increase in [specific region] affect youth unemployment in the retail sector?”
The Formula That Works Across Most Subjects
Many strong research questions follow a recognizable structure: “To what extent…” or “How does/did [specific factor] affect/shape [specific, measurable outcome], in [specific context]?” This structure forces you to include a clear variable, a clear outcome, and a clear scope — the three ingredients examiners consistently reward under the Focus and Method criterion.
How to Narrow a Broad Topic Into a Real Question
- Start with your general area of interest (see our list of 50 Extended Essay topic ideas for inspiration)
- Identify one specific case, text, region, time period, or variable within that broad topic
- Add a precise analytical angle — comparison, causation, extent, effectiveness
- Check that the question can genuinely be answered using sources or data you can access
Common Research Question Mistakes
- Too broad: questions that could realistically be a full book rather than a 4,000-word essay
- Purely descriptive: questions that only require summarizing information rather than analyzing or arguing something
- Impossible to research: questions requiring primary sources, data, or interviews you can’t realistically access
- Multiple questions disguised as one: trying to answer two or three separate things within a single research question, diluting your focus
Testing Your Research Question Before You Commit
Before finalizing, ask yourself: “Could I write a one-paragraph answer to this right now, using only common knowledge?” If yes, your question is too broad or too simple. A strong research question should require genuine, sustained research and analysis to answer convincingly — not just background reading.
Final Tip
Write your research question, then rewrite it three more times, each time making it slightly more specific. Most students’ third or fourth version of a research question is significantly stronger than their first instinct.