IB Assessments

New Subject Guide

Student Friendly Course Companion: IB document to explain assessments conceptual framework

Link to Examples of Assessments 

HL External Assessments 80%

Paper 1: Guided textual analysis (2 hours 15 minutes)-analyze two passages

The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students write an analysis of each of the passages. (40 marks)  35%

Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. (30 marks) 25%

Paper Two Prompts  

HL Essay

Students submit an essay on one non-literary text or a collection of non-literary texts by the same author, or a literary text or work studied during the course.  The essay must be 1,200 - 1,500 words in length. (20 marks) 20%

HL Internal Assessments 20%

This component consists of an individual oral which is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Individual Oral (15 minutes)

Supported by an extract from one non-literary text and one from a literary work, students will offer a prepared response of 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions by the teacher, to the following prompt:

Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of two of the texts that you have studied. (40 marks) 20%

SL External Assessments 70%

Paper 1: Guided textual analysis (1 hour 15 minutes)-analyze one passage

The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students choose one passage and write an analysis of it. (20 marks)  35%

Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. (30 marks) 35%

SL Internal Assessments 30%

This component consists of an individual oral which is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

Individual Oral (15 minutes)

Supported by an extract from one non-literary text and one from a literary work, students will offer a prepared response of 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of questions by the teacher, to the following prompt:

Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of two of the texts that you have studied. (40 marks) 30%

Examples of IB Assessments (from IB)

Paper One

Paper Two

Paper One: 

External Assessments (first examinations 2021)

HL Paper 1: Guided textual analysis (2 hours 15 minutes)-analyze two passages

The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students write an analysis of each of the passages. (40 marks)  35%

SL Paper 1: Guided textual analysis (1 hour 15 minutes)-analyze one passage

The paper consists of two non-literary passages, from two different text types, each accompanied by a question. Students choose one passage and write an analysis of it. (20 marks)  35%

The only difference between HL and SL is that HL writes TWO textual analyses while SL write only ONE. 

• • Guided textual analysis of non-literary texts HL/SL (HL writes TWO paper ones that are averaged to one grade, while SL only writes one. 

  • Paper One Explained

  • Paper One Rubric

Paper Two: 

HL External Assessments, first examinations 2021

HL Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. (30 marks) 25%

SL Paper 2: Comparative essay (1 hour 45 minutes)

The paper consists of four general questions. In response to one question, students write a comparative essay based on two works studied in the course. Students are required to answer one question only.(30 marks) 35%

The only difference between HL and SL is that HL Paper 2 is weighted less at 25% while SL Paper 2 is weighted at 25%. 

• • Comparative essay on literary texts

  • Paper Two Explained

  • Paper Two Rubric

Oral Commentary 

• • Oral Commentary Explained

  • Oral Commentary Rubric