The Extended Essay Viva Voce is a short interview mandated by the IB, which marks the formal conclusion of the student's research journey. Held after the final EE is submitted, the session is designed as a conversational reflection rather than a test. Typically lasting between 10 and 30 minutes, this "by word of mouth" discussion between the student and their EE Coach serves primarily as an authenticity check to ensure the work is the student's own. It offers students a final, valuable opportunity to articulate the challenges they faced, the knowledge they gained, and their personal growth throughout the extensive research and writing process.
This essential dialogue between student and EE Coach plays a crucial role in the overall assessment. The Coach uses the insights from the Viva Voce to complete their final comments on the RPPF form, a document the IB examiner reviews to evaluate the student's engagement with the topic (Criterion E). The open-ended questions asked during the session delve into the students' research journey, their understanding of their sources, and the difficulties they overcame. This process provides closure to the project and ensures a complete picture of the student's work is presented for examination.
This essential dialogue between student and EE Coach plays a crucial role in the overall assessment. The Coach uses the insights from the Viva Voce to complete their final comments on the RPPF form, a document the IB examiner reviews to evaluate the student's engagement with the topic (Criterion E). The open-ended questions asked during the session delve into the students' research journey, their understanding of their sources, and the difficulties they overcame. This process provides closure to the project and ensures a complete picture of the student's work is presented for examination.
WRITING YOUR REFLECTION
Writing the Reflective Statement
- Your 500-word reflective statement is written at the end of the extended essay process and included on your RPF (Reflection Progress Form)
- Keeping a thoughtful and regular record of your reflective thinking along the way is essential to crafting a satisfying and effective reflective statement to accompany your essay.
- My record of the viva voce
- My record of the other reflection sessions with my supervisor
- My completed extended essay
- My RRS or any other record of my reflective thinking
- Informal feedback from my supervisor and others
- The main ideas discussed in the viva voce
- Learning skills I developed that I could use elsewhere as a learner
- Insights I gained from researching and writing the extended essay
- Changes in my perspective on the topic
- The impact of the choices I made during the extended essay process
- Experiences and insights that could shape my future thinking
Examiners look for the following in the reflective statement.
- Reflection on the extended essay learning experience is consistently evaluative and includes specific examples.
- Reflection consistently demonstrates the student’s growth and transfer of learning.
- Experiences and insights that could shape future thinking.
- Explicit examples of how skills learned could be used in other current contexts and in the future.
- How changes in perspective impacted decision-making.