What Subject Do Students Write Their IB Extended Essays In? May 2024 Top‑10 List Reveals All
English A stays dominant, History holds second place, and Economics sneaks into the Top 10. Here’s how 95 k Extended Essays were distributed in the May 2024 session.
The May 2024 IB Extended Essay League Table
Every May session the IB releases a Statistical Bulletin detailing exactly what Diploma Programme (DP) candidates study, write and score. Page 12 of the May 2024 Final Statistical Bulletin showcases the Top 10 Extended Essay (EE) subjects, summarised in the chart above.
| Rank | Subject | Approx. number of essays* | Share of all EEs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English A | ~15 000 | ~16 % |
| 2 | History | ~13 000 | ~14 % |
| 3 | Business Management | ~9 000 | ~9 % |
| 4 | Psychology | ~7 000 | ~7 % |
| 5 | Biology | ~6 500 | ~7 % |
| 6 | World Studies | ~5 500 | ~6 % |
| 7 | Economics | ~4 500 | ~5 % |
| 8 | Physics | ~4 000 | ~4 % |
| 9 | English B | ~3 500 | ~4 % |
| 10 | Mathematics | ~3 200 | ~3 % |
*Rounded from the bar lengths shown on the IB’s official chart (scale 0–15 000).
Why English A & History Dominate
- Built‑in familiarity. Nearly every DP student studies an English A course, making it a natural EE choice.
- Resource depth. Literary works and historical archives offer readily available primary and secondary sources, easing the research process.
- Teacher expertise. Most schools have multiple language‑and‑literature or history specialists who can supervise an EE confidently.
Together, these two subjects account for roughly 30 % of all Extended Essays worldwide.
Where Does Economics Stand?
Economics sits 7th with an estimated 4 500 essays, about 5 % of the global total. That places it ahead of Physics and Mathematics but behind Business Management and Psychology. What explains its mid‑table position?
- Perceived difficulty. Original research in economics often requires data collection, statistical analysis, or field surveys—tasks some students find daunting compared to textual analysis in English or History.
- Supervisor availability. Smaller schools may lack an Economics specialist, nudging students toward subjects with more in‑house support.
- Curricular fit. Students chasing STEM pathways might prioritise Science or Math EEs, while business‑oriented students gravitate to Business Management.
Tip for future economists: A focused micro‑study (e.g., price elasticity at a local café) or policy analysis (e.g., sugar‑tax impact) can yield a high‑scoring EE without national‑level data.
Big Picture: 95 k Essays, Wide‑Open Choices
The bulletin records 95 494 Extended Essays submitted in May 2024 across 27 subject groups and interdisciplinary areas. English A may top the chart, but students still spread their research across every IB discipline—from Film to Sports Science.
Download the Full Report
Dig into grade distributions, group averages, and subject‑specific statistics here:
IB DP Final Statistical Bulletin – May 2024.
Data sourced directly from the International Baccalaureate’s official publication (May 2024 session).
