Extended Essay Topics: The Easy Way to Get Started

Extended essays can feel like a huge task, but they don’t have to be. At their core, these 4,000-word essays are just detailed research projects. You pick a topic, explore it thoroughly, and show off what you’ve learned. The tricky part is choosing the right topic. Something too broad or boring can make the process way harder than it needs to be.

This article is here to save you from hours of second-guessing. It’s full of extended essay topics that are interesting, manageable, and designed to make your life easier.

And if you’re still stressed, EssayHub, a trusted provider of legitimate essay writing services, specializes in helping students get unstuck — whether that means finding a topic, structuring your ideas, or fine-tuning the final draft. 

How to Choose a Good Extended Essay Topic?

Here’s a straightforward guide to help you pick good extended essay topics without the stress. Follow these steps, and you’ll set yourself up for success:

Best Extended Essay Topics

Below are some great ideas to get you started. These topics will surely keep you engaged and make research easier. 

1. How did samurai warfare strategies shape modern martial arts?
2. What role did women play in espionage during World War II?
3. How do Icelandic sagas reflect Viking-age social structures?
4. How did punk fashion challenge mainstream culture in the 1970s?
5. What influence did Persian miniature painting have on Mughal art?
6. How did the Harlem Renaissance redefine Black identity in literature?
7. How has deep-sea mining affected marine biodiversity?
8. How did Renaissance anatomy drawings influence medical education?
9. How has AI-generated art challenged traditional concepts of creativity?
10. What impact did Cold War propaganda have on Hollywood films?

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Biology Extended Essay Topics

From genetics to ecosystems, these biology topics let you explore fascinating questions through research and experiments.

1. How do urban heat islands affect insect biodiversity?
2. How does microplastic pollution impact freshwater ecosystems?
3. How do carnivorous plants adapt to nutrient-poor soils?
4. How does pH influence enzyme activity in honey fermentation?
5. How do gut bacteria compositions differ between vegans and meat-eaters?
6. How do urban bats navigate using echolocation among skyscrapers?
7. How does altitude affect plant growth in mountain environments?
8. How does noise pollution impact the stress levels of birds?
9. How do different wavelengths of light affect mushroom growth?
10. How does soil salinity impact root development in mangrove trees?

English Extended Essay Topics

If you love language or analyzing how words shape meaning, then these English extended essay topics are a great choice!

1. How does Frankenstein challenge the boundaries between science and morality?
2. How does Black satire expose social injustices in contemporary literature?
3. How does surrealism shape character perception in Haruki Murakami’s works?
4. How do unreliable narrators manipulate truth in contemporary thrillers?
5. How do Gothic horror tropes manifest in modern dystopian fiction?
6. How does language shape colonial resistance in Caribbean poetry?
7. How does magical realism blur the lines between history and mythology?
8. How do feminist retellings of myths challenge traditional hero narratives?
9. How does nostalgia function as a narrative tool in immigrant literature?
10. How do non-linear narratives alter reader engagement in postmodern novels?

Physics Extended Essay Topics

From the smallest particles to the immensity of space, physics helps us understand the world. These subjects examine motion, energy, and the laws governing space.

1. How do different surface textures affect rolling friction?
2. How does air resistance impact paper airplane flight stability?
3. How do temperature variations affect the elasticity of rubber bands?
4. How does changing magnet strength influence electromagnetic induction?
5. How does the Doppler effect impact astronomical measurements?
6. How does humidity affect the efficiency of solar panels?
7. How do different liquid viscosities affect wave propagation?
8. How does light intensity change with increasing water depth?
9. How do different materials affect sound wave absorption?
10. How does wind speed influence the lift of a model glider?

Chemistry Extended Essay Topics

These extended topics center on the hidden chemistry of daily life, the practical applications of substances, and their interactions.

1. How does caffeine content degrade in stored coffee over time?
2. How do different acids affect the rusting rate of iron?
3. How does water hardness impact the effectiveness of soap?
4. How do different sugar types affect fermentation rates in yeast?
5. How do pH levels impact the color of natural dyes?
6. How does salinity affect the freezing point of water?
7. How does carbonation level impact the acidity of soft drinks?
8. How do temperature changes influence vitamin C retention in vegetables?
9. How does the fat content of milk impact its heat stability?
10. How do different cooking oils degrade when exposed to high temperatures?

Psychology Extended Essay Topics

By examining behavior, emotions, and mental processes, these topics provide insight into the reasons behind our thoughts and actions.

1. How does virtual reality exposure therapy compare to traditional CBT for phobias?
2. What role does nostalgia play in emotional resilience?
3. Can scent association improve memory recall in aging adults?
4. How does ADHD affect entrepreneurial tendencies?
5. What psychological effects do online conspiracy theories have on belief systems?
6. How does synesthesia impact cognitive processing speed?
7. Can pet ownership mitigate stress-induced cortisol levels in students?
8. How does social rejection influence risk-taking behavior in teenagers?
9. What are the long-term psychological effects of growing up in a minimalist household?
10. How does the brain process music differently when listening in a foreign language?
11. What role does boredom play in childhood creativity?
12. How does the fear of missing out (FOMO) influence spending habits?
13. Can microexpressions reveal early signs of deception?
14. How does urban noise pollution impact cognitive function in children?
15. What psychological factors contribute to the placebo effect in pain management?

Literature Extended Essay Topics

Books challenge ideas, reflect history, and tell stories. An extended essay on literature allows you to go deeply into the themes, characters, and writing styles.

1. How does metafiction challenge reader expectations in If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler?
2. What role does silence play in shaping power dynamics in Waiting for Godot?
3. How does The Left Hand of Darkness challenge traditional gender narratives?
4. What is the function of unreliable narration in The Remains of the Day?
5. How does One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich depict survival as resistance?
6. In what ways does The House of the Spirits use magical realism to critique political oppression?
7. How does The Vegetarian explore the intersection of bodily autonomy and societal norms?
8. How does The Master and Margarita use satire to undermine Soviet authority?
9. What is the significance of fragmentation in House of Leaves?
10. How does Persepolis convey personal identity through visual storytelling?
11. What role does nature symbolism play in The Overstory?
12. How does Never Let Me Go blur the line between humanity and artificiality?
13. What is the role of irony in The Sellout’s critique of racial identity?
14. How does Blood Meridian subvert the concept of the Western hero?
15. How does Wide Sargasso Sea reframe Jane Eyre through a postcolonial lens?

History Extended Essay Topics

Through these topics, you can study significant events, figures, and movements that altered the course of history.

1. How did postal networks shape intelligence gathering in the American Revolution?
2. What role did Viking trade routes play in shaping early global commerce?
3. How did underground newspapers influence resistance movements in Nazi-occupied France?
4. How did Japan’s Sakoku policy shape economic resilience during the Edo period?
5. What impact did medieval guilds have on early labor rights?
6. How did culinary exchanges during the Columbian Exchange shape national cuisines?
7. How did female pirates challenge gender norms in the 17th century?
8. What was the role of propaganda in shaping public perception of the Spanish Civil War?
9. How did medieval European witch trials reflect shifting religious power structures?
10. How did the 19th-century Opium Trade shape China’s economic policies?
11. What were the environmental consequences of the Industrial Revolution in Victorian Britain?
12. How did dueling traditions in early America reflect evolving social hierarchies?
13. What impact did Black Seminoles have on resistance movements in the Southern US?
14. How did underground railways operate in the Soviet Union to protect dissidents?
15. What role did religious syncretism play in shaping African resistance to colonial rule?

Economics Extended Essay Topics

Economics is the study of choices, including the operation of markets and the factors influencing financial choices. These topics examine economic theories and practical uses.

1. How do universal basic income experiments impact consumer spending patterns?
2. What economic factors drive the longevity of roadside food vendors in Southeast Asia?
3. How has blockchain technology influenced global remittance markets?
4. What is the effect of planned obsolescence on consumer behavior in electronics?
5. How do gig economy wages compare across different industries?
6. What are the economic consequences of fast fashion in developing nations?
7. How does esports sponsorship affect digital advertising revenue?
8. What economic patterns emerge in communities with a high percentage of remote workers?
9. How do microfinance institutions impact rural entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa?
10. How has AI-driven automation reshaped employment in supply chain management?
11. What factors determine the profitability of pop-up retail stores in urban centers?
12. How does disaster relief aid impact long-term economic recovery?
13. What are the economic implications of aging populations in East Asia?
14. How do shifts in luxury goods consumption reflect economic downturns?
15. How does influencer marketing compare to traditional advertising in ROI?

Math Extended Essay Topics

Math is everywhere, from patterns in nature to algorithms behind technology. These topics let you explore problem-solving and mathematical concepts in action.

1. How does topology apply to robotic motion planning?
2. What mathematical models best predict crowd movement in evacuation scenarios?
3. How does game theory explain strategies in professional poker tournaments?
4. What is the role of Markov chains in predicting stock market trends?
5. How do fractals contribute to the design of efficient wireless networks?
6. What mathematical models are used to track the spread of misinformation online?
7. How does probability theory apply to climate change predictions?
8. What is the significance of prime numbers in cryptographic security?
9. How does non-Euclidean geometry impact the physics of black holes?
10. How do algorithms optimize last-mile delivery in logistics?
11. How does chaos theory explain financial market volatility?
12. What are the mathematical principles behind error detection in digital communication?
13. How does calculus apply to drone flight path optimization?
14. What mathematical methods improve speech recognition software?
15. How does geometry influence the efficiency of solar panel designs?

Good Extended Essay Topics

Some topics don’t fit neatly into one category but are still worth exploring. From environmental issues to cultural trends, here are some great ideas.

1. How do folk medicine traditions influence modern herbal pharmacology?
2. What is the impact of bioluminescence on marine ecosystem interactions?
3. How do abandoned industrial sites contribute to urban biodiversity?
4. What role does scent play in immersive virtual reality experiences?
5. How has space junk accumulation influenced satellite engineering?
6. What are the effects of long-term space travel on human circadian rhythms?
7. How do ancient agricultural techniques compare to modern permaculture methods?
8. How do forensic linguistics help solve cold cases?
9. How has tattooing been used as a cultural preservation tool among Indigenous groups?
10. What is the impact of AI-generated art on copyright law?
11. How do modern protest movements use memes as political tools?
12. What is the ecological impact of deep-sea mining?
13. How do escape rooms utilize psychology to enhance player engagement?
14. What are the long-term health effects of living in tiny homes?
15. How does the psychology of color influence consumer spending habits?

Final Stretch: Your Extended Essay Toolkit

By now, you have a full list of ideas to help you tackle your extended essay topics. To make it easier, here are five categories that students tend to gravitate toward:

1. History – Exploring major events and their long-term outcomes.
2. Literature – Analyzing texts with thought-provoking themes and styles.
3. Biology – Investigating everything from ecosystems to genetic studies.
4. Psychology – Examining human behavior and the science behind it.
5. Economics – Unpacking policies, market trends, and financial systems.

If the process feels a bit overwhelming, remember you don’t have to do it alone. EssayHub can guide you through every step, helping you bring your ideas to life and craft an essay that’s uniquely yours. Take the stress out of the equation, and focus on creating something you’re proud of.