Maths EE criteria · 8 marks

Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation in a maths EE

Provisional The criteria, marks and reflection details on this page are from the new IB Extended essay guide (first assessment May 2027) as we understand it, and are being checked against the published guide. Treat them as provisional until this note goes.

This criterion, the most heavily weighted, looks at how you interpret your findings and judge them: what the results show and do not show, the assumptions and limits of your method, and a conclusion that follows from the evidence.

What examiners look for in a maths EE

  • A discussion of what the results mean for the research question, including what they do not show.
  • Evaluation of the method: assumptions, the range where results hold, sources of error, and how strong the evidence is.
  • Comparison with other approaches or known results where it helps.
  • A conclusion that answers the question and is fully supported by the essay, with open questions identified.

Common pitfalls

  • A conclusion that repeats the introduction or claims more than the mathematics showed.
  • Generic limitations ("I could have used more data") with no effect on the result discussed.
  • No evaluation of assumptions made earlier in the essay.
  • New material appearing for the first time in the conclusion.

How to reach the top band

  1. For each assumption you made, ask how the answer would change if it were false, and say so.
  2. Separate what you proved from what you observed numerically, and be precise about each.
  3. Say how confident you are in the answer and why.
  4. End with the natural next question: what would you investigate with more time, and why?

Check your own draft

  • I discuss what my results mean for the research question, including their limits.
  • I evaluate my method: assumptions, the range where results hold and possible errors.
  • My conclusion answers the research question and claims no more than the essay shows.
  • I separate what I proved from what I only observed or computed.
  • I suggest specific further questions that follow from my findings.

Answer these for every criterion in the free EE self-check.

Frequently asked questions

What does evaluation mean in a maths EE?

Judging your own work: whether the methods were suitable, what the assumptions cost you, where the results hold and where they might fail, and how convincing the evidence is. In mathematics, that includes the difference between a proof and a pattern.

Why is discussion and evaluation worth the most marks?

In the data we hold it has the highest maximum (to be confirmed against the guide). Plan for it from the start: keep notes on your assumptions and doubts as you work, so you have real material to discuss.

IB Math Revision is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the IB. Criterion descriptions are our own summaries; for the official wording see the IB's Extended essay guide (your EE coordinator has it).