Extended Essay in the DP Foundation program: Stepping into the world of academic research

Extended Essay (EE) is one of the three compulsory and core requirements of the IB-DP program for high school students. To graduate with an international IB diploma, students must undertake an individual research topic of up to 4000 words. The rigorous process of completing this essay helps students enhance their academic writing skills and fosters an active, independent mindset. Consequently, students will have a strong foundation to meet other requirements of the IB program, as well as those in their future university studies. 

In the DP Foundation program for grade 10 students at The Olympia Schools, teachers have organized an Extended Essay guidance class to support students in every step of their academic research, therefore prepare them for their independent essays that they will have to finish during the DP years in grade 11 and 12. In this class, students not only receive detailed guidance on each step of the process but also acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to excel in the demanding requirements of the task, including time management and effective task organization. 

Specifically, teachers help Olympians in creating a logical working plan and regularly monitor their progress to ensure it aligns with the set goals. By the end of the DP Foundation academic year, students must submit a 2000-word research paper on a self-selected topic. 

Shared by Ms. Vo Thuc Anh - Head of the English Program and teacher of EE, completing the Extended Essay equips students not only with writing and research skills but also helps them develop critical thinking and a proactive attitude towards their studies. This reflects Olympia's philosophy of focusing on students and encouraging each individual to design their own suitable educational path within the IB program. Along with the advantages of a dynamic learning environment, diverse experiences, and a highly experienced teachers, Olympia offers the most comprehensive IB program experience for its students. 

After learning EE in the DP Foundation program, Le Ngoc Chau Anh (11DP) shared that this course has helped Olympians develop many supplementary skills for academic writing, such as researching and selecting between various information, organizing different arguments logically,... These are valuable skills that enable students to feel more confident when completing essays in university programs or higher-level studies. For Chau Anh, EE is not only a course but also an individual project that allows students the freedom to choose a topic they are passionate about. During the process, one of Chau Anh’s struggles was structuring the essay, but with the support of Olympia teachers, she was able to successfully overcome this difficult phase. 

Olympia was honored to be the first Vietnamese Bilingual School recognized by the IB Organization as an IB World School in 2022 to deploy the IB program. Students can join the DP Foundation program at Olympia from Grade 10 to familiarize themselves with teaching and prepare crucial skills for highly academic requirements in IB program. 

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The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is one of the oldest and well-known international education systems led by experts, based on a student-centred learning approach that emphasizes on integrity, creativity and critical thinking skills. The core value of IB is to train "a young generation who is knowledgeable, eager to learn, ready to adapt, care and share in a world with a lot of changes and complexities, thereby building a harmonious, peaceful and better world". (According to International Baccalaureate, “What is an IB Education” ).  

IB - DP is an intensive and comprehensive program for students aged 16-19. This program is recognized and appreciated by many leading universities around the world.