Focus of the Essay:

On chemical principles and theory, emphasizing the study of matter and of the changes it undergoes.  Performing an experiment is strongly recommended.

 

Graded on ability to show the following:

Use of chemistry principles and ideas to describe and explain the properties and behavior of materials.

Use of methods and sources appropriate to chemistry.

Reasoning surrounding the research and its limitations.

 

Choosing the topic:

Idea must allow for an approach that distinctively involves chemistry, and any work on research that does not have chemical content will yield no points.

Must enable all criteria to be addressed.

A single research question is sharply focused and can be treated effectively within the word limit.

A topic that raises safety issues may be unsuitable.

Avoid experiments where the outcome is already well known and documented in standard textbooks.

 

Sources:

Use as many different types as possible, so long as they relate to the topic in chemistry.

Balance primary and secondary sources.

Primary Source: Raw data from the experiment

Secondary Source: any related study that backs up the findings from your experiment.

Use online sources sparingly.

 

Treatment of the topic:

May be based on literature, theoretical models, or experimental data.

Literature is least likely to produce a successful score since it often overshadows the chemical basis or personal understanding of the data.

Candidates are urged to undertake experimental work but the data collected is useless unless it is analyzed, which will be the majority of the essay.

Experiments designed by the student should be described in detail to allow the work to be repeated by others.

Essay must be based in the field of chemistry with sufficient data for evaluation, personal involvement, and a use of resources that are locally accessible to the candidate.

It is possible to write the essay based on data from other professional studies but then the personal analysis and evaluation is of much more importance.

Show that the theory underlying the experimental work is understood.

Must state any assumptions made, analyze the results, and interpret them with reference to the research question.

Critical of inadequate experimental design and suggestions/new questions should be posed in the conclusion.

 

Problems in the Past:

Some essays have had no evidence of chemical principles or have only very slightly related to chemistry.  Some essays have also only used a minimal amount of methods or have had little personal input.  Using less sophisticated equipment often causes the personal input level to be raised.  Specific conslusions must be made rather than a very broad one.  Analysing the method, the sources, and the equipment has also been weak in many essays.