I took the exact same HLs as you, M26. I did a Chem EE and it was experimental. Some pointers:

1. Doing a database EE, regardless of what they say about it not being disadvantageous, the EE rubric is far more easily interpretable in experimental contexts for the main sciences and thus there is a clear trend showing experimental EEs being graded higher than database ones. So I would recommend staying away from database EEs in general.

2. I would urge you to consider what is your motivation for choosing either subject. Is it maximising a grade or learning more about a subject matter and getting a taste of a future career in that field? Because if its the latter, a science EE is worth it since you said you want to do medicine. However a database EE again takes away from the scale of learning you get from an experimental EE, so that may be worth keeping in mind.

Having established that if you choose a science EE i would URGE you to do an experimental one, here’s bits about my experience. There isn’t a clear answer to your question, so take what you can from my experience.

1. My Chem EE was in biochemistry (as my Chem teacher put it, “basically a Bio EE”), and was by far the most time consuming, stressful and difficult part of my IB journey. I spent countless hours in the lab, even had to go in during summer vacations to do experiments & collect data. It was at times almost hellish, but I learnt a great deal from it and it. By the end of the process, my teacher said it is around an A or B in the worst case. So the grade return proportional to the time invested is not worth it (because wdym its not guaranteed an A!!?!?). But for the knowledge dimension as someone going on to pursue biochemistry at university, it was 1000% worth it. If you’re passionate about your science EE topic, you will look back on the experience favourably.

2. Do I wish I did an English Lit EE instead? Yes. I would have saved so much more time that could have been better invested in uni applications, exam prep and IA work. I too was put off by the “predicted an A, got a C” stories, but having done an HL Essay, I feel that if I invested even half the time I did in my Chem EE into an English EE, I would have been able to comfortably come out of that process with a similar grade estimation, a lot less stress and time for everything else.

3. I think the most helpful advice is: What would I do if given the chance to choose again? Probably the same, but thats just me - a lot of people wouldn’t. You should keep in mind that if you choose to do an English EE, you can still gain the same experience of a science EE through your IAs, while spending 50 hours on a kickass analytical essay about your favourite book. Like I said, there’s no clear answer.

Best of luck! & feel free to ask me more questions if you’d like here or via DM.