Guided textual analysis
Analyse how language, structure, visual features, form, medium, audience, and context work together in an unseen non-literary passage.
IB Group 1 - Language A • SL
IB English A Lang & Lit SL
Use this IB English A Lang & Lit SL study guide to browse the syllabus topic structure, study materials, and practice resources.
Structured practice
IB English A Lang & Lit SL Question Bank
Jump straight into grouped unit practice without losing your place in the syllabus overview.
Everything You Need to Know About Analysis
Analysis 101
Surface Techniques: The Scene
Suggestive Techniques: The Clues
Structural Techniques: The Patterns
Layered Techniques: The Motive
Synthesized Techniques: The Full Picture
Paper 1 Lang & Lit
English Lang & Lit Paper 1 Tablestakes
Planning Your English Lang & Lit Paper 1 Essay
Writing Your English Lang & Lit Paper 1 Essay
English Lang & Lit Paper 1 Exemplar
Paper 2 Lang & Lit
English Lang & Lit Paper 2 Tablestakes
Planning Your English Lang & Lit Paper 2 Essay
Writing Your English Lang & Lit Paper 2 Essay
Paper 2 Exemplar
Individual Oral (IO)
Presenting Your IO
IO Exemplar
Overview
Course overview
How to study IB English A Lang & Lit SL
IB English A: Language and Literature SL develops critical literacy across literary works and non-literary bodies of work. Strong revision connects precise textual evidence with analysis of authorial choices, audience, purpose, context, and larger meaning. Use this course hub to move from the syllabus structure into focused study notes, comparative practice, and Individual Oral preparation.
Comparative literary argument
Build Paper 2 arguments around the question and compare two studied literary works without separating them into unrelated summaries.
Individual Oral focus
Use a focused global issue to analyse one literary work and one non-literary body of work, moving between each extract and the wider work or body of work.
Assessment at a glance
For the current Language A: Language and Literature course first assessed in 2021, SL combines two external papers with an internally assessed Individual Oral. The oral uses one literary work and one non-literary body of work and is externally moderated by the IB.
| Component | Format | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Guided analysis of one unseen non-literary passage | 35% |
| Paper 2 | Comparative essay on two studied literary works | 35% |
| Individual Oral | 10-minute response plus 5 minutes of teacher questions | 30% |
Sources: current IB subject guide and IB Language A: Language and Literature course page.
Revision plan
- 1.Practise annotating short unseen texts by linking detail, authorial choice, effect, audience, and meaning.
- 2.Build flexible evidence maps for studied literary works rather than memorising complete essays.
- 3.Plan comparative Paper 2 paragraphs around one shared claim and purposeful differences between the works.
- 4.Rehearse Individual Oral analysis with different texts and global issues while keeping the assessed oral authentic.
Exam strategy
Let the question determine the argument. Select brief evidence, name the authorial choice precisely, explain how it constructs meaning, and connect every paragraph back to the line of inquiry instead of listing techniques.
Practise IB English A Lang & Lit SL questionsPrepare for the IB English Individual OralFrequently asked questions
What does IB English A: Language and Literature SL study?
The course studies literary works and non-literary bodies of work, focusing on how language, form, medium, audience, purpose, and context shape meaning. SL students prepare for textual analysis, comparative literary writing, and the Individual Oral.
How is IB English Language and Literature SL assessed?
Paper 1 is worth 35%, Paper 2 is worth 35%, and the internally assessed Individual Oral is worth 30%. The oral is externally moderated by the IB.
What is Paper 1 in IB English LangLit SL?
Paper 1 requires a guided analysis of one previously unseen non-literary passage. A strong response develops a coherent interpretation and explains how specific authorial choices construct meaning for an audience.
What is the IB English LangLit Individual Oral?
The Individual Oral examines how a focused global issue is presented through one literary work and one non-literary body of work. The assessed oral includes a 10-minute response followed by five minutes of teacher questions.