80% of IB Extended Essay grades are decided before you write Page 1—by your Research Question.
If your Research Question is too broad, you are forced into descriptive summary (which caps Criterion C). Here is how to scope a laser-focused 4,000-word investigation and earn all 6 RPPF points.
The 5-step Socratic study workflow
Audit your syllabus and isolate high-yield targets in scoping a narrow, testable Research Question
Before reading a single page passively, extract the official learning objectives or exam weighting for scoping a narrow, testable Research Question. Upload your syllabus or chapter outline so your AI tutor knows the exact depth required.
Convert passive reading on Criterion C (12/34 pts): analysis vs. description into Socratic active recall
Close your textbook after each section on Criterion C (12/34 pts): analysis vs. description and ask the tutor to quiz you one question at a time. Never let the AI hand you a summary until you attempt a 2-sentence explanation from memory.
Drill multi-step problem setups and edge cases in primary/secondary source methodology matrix
Exams rarely test isolated definitions—they test how primary/secondary source methodology matrix behaves when a variable or assumption changes. Practice 3 graduated problems (foundational, midterm-level, and curveball) with no-spoiler hints.
Synthesize writing the 3 RPPF reflections (500 words total) into a 1-page visual trigger sheet
Condense your week's work on writing the 3 RPPF reflections (500 words total) into a single comparison table, decision tree, or formula sheet. If it takes more than one page, you are copying textbook prose instead of extracting rules.
Run a timed 10-minute error-log post-mortem before moving on
Log every missed question across scoping a narrow, testable Research Question and primary/secondary source methodology matrix by root cause (concept gap, misread prompt, or calculation slip) and schedule a 48-hour spaced repetition re-test.
High-impact ways to use AI for this workflow
Diagnostic Weak-Spot Quizzes
Run a 5-question Socratic diagnostic on scoping a narrow, testable Research Question before spending hours rereading chapters you already know.
Feynman Analogy Breakdowns
Translate complex mechanisms in Criterion C (12/34 pts): analysis vs. description into intuitive everyday analogies, then map them back to technical terminology.
No-Spoiler Problem Coaching
Get line-by-line Socratic hints on primary/secondary source methodology matrix so you build independent exam stamina instead of copying answers.
Pre-Exam Synthesis & Triage
Build high-yield comparison matrices and error checklists for writing the 3 RPPF reflections (500 words total) in the final 48 hours before your test.
The 500 words on your RPPF (Criterion E) are worth 6 out of 34 points—nearly 18% of your entire EE grade!
Never treat the 3 RPPF reflections as an afterthought. Show the examiner how your methodology evolved when you hit obstacles, how you evaluated your sources, and how your intellectual perspective shifted.
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