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Topics
IB Group 1 — Studies in Language and Literature
IB English A: Language & Literature 2026
IB English A Language and Literature combines literary analysis with the study of language in context — media, advertising, political rhetoric, and cultural representation. Students analyse both literary and non-literary texts.
HL · 240hSL · 150h
HL & SL
Levels
30%
IA Weight
240h
HL Hours
Past Papers Archive
Browse IB English A: Language & Literature past papers
View the normalized archive for English A: Language & Literature, organized by session and file type.
Syllabus Topics
Official topic breakdown with approximate teaching hours.
| Topic | SL Hours | HL Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Area of Exploration 1: Readers, Writers and Texts (close analysis of language and literary techniques) | 50h | 80h |
| Area of Exploration 2: Time and Space (production/reception context; how time/culture shapes meaning) | 50h | 80h |
| Area of Exploration 3: Intertextuality — Connecting Texts (literary + non-literary text connections) | 50h | 80h |
| SL: 4 works (2 literary + non-literary body); HL: 6 works (4 literary + non-literary body) | 0h | — |
| HL Essay — additional assessed component for HL onlyHL only | — | 0h |
| Total | 150h | 240h |
Assessment Structure
External Assessment
Paper 1 (SL: one unseen non-literary text, 35%; HL: two unseen texts, 35%). Paper 2 (comparative essay on studied works: SL 35% / HL 25%). HL Essay (language or literary feature, 1,200–1,500 words, 20% HL only). Individual Oral (IO: global issue connecting literary + non-literary text, SL 30% / HL 20%).
Internal Assessment — Individual Oral
HL: 20%SL: 30%
A 15-minute oral (10-min presentation + 5-min Q&A) connecting a global issue across a literary work and a non-literary text. Recorded and externally moderated.
Exam Tips for IB English A: Language & Literature
1
Paper 1: analyse purpose, audience, and context before diving into language techniques
2
Use language analysis vocabulary: rhetorical question, anaphora, dysphemism, hypophora, juxtaposition
3
HL Paper 1: two texts, ~30 min each — practise annotating both in under 15 minutes combined
4
IO: choose a global issue with genuine evidence in both texts — not just a surface-level theme
5
HL Essay: a tight, arguable claim about a specific language feature outperforms a broad thematic survey
Grade Boundaries
View all subjects →| Session | Level | Grade 7 | Grade 6 | Grade 5 | Grade 4 | Grade 3 | Grade 2 | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | HL | 78 | 65 | 53 | 40 | 26 | 15 | 100 |
| May 2024 | SL | 81 | 66 | 51 | 36 | 23 | 13 | 100 |
Grade boundaries shown are percentages. Actual boundaries vary by session and are set after grading. Use the score calculator →
Predict your IB English A: Language & Literature grade
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Related IB Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are in IB English A: Language & Literature?
IB English A: Language & Literature covers Area of Exploration 1: Readers, Writers and Texts (close analysis of language and literary techniques), Area of Exploration 2: Time and Space (production/reception context; how time/culture shapes meaning), Area of Exploration 3: Intertextuality — Connecting Texts (literary + non-literary text connections), SL: 4 works (2 literary + non-literary body); HL: 6 works (4 literary + non-literary body), HL Essay — additional assessed component for HL only. HL students study additional depth and some HL-only extensions. Total teaching hours: HL 240, SL 150.
How is IB English A: Language & Literature assessed?
Paper 1 (SL: one unseen non-literary text, 35%; HL: two unseen texts, 35%). Paper 2 (comparative essay on studied works: SL 35% / HL 25%). HL Essay (language or literary feature, 1,200–1,500 words, 20% HL only). Individual Oral (IO: global issue connecting literary + non-literary text, SL 30% / HL 20%). The Internal Assessment (Individual Oral) counts for 30% of the final grade at SL and 20% at HL.
What is the IB English A: Language & Literature IA?
The IB English A: Language & Literature IA is the Individual Oral. A 15-minute oral (10-min presentation + 5-min Q&A) connecting a global issue across a literary work and a non-literary text. Recorded and externally moderated. It accounts for 30% of the final grade at SL and 20% at HL.
Should I take IB English A: Language & Literature HL or SL?
Take HL if English A: Language & Literature is relevant to your university course (Media studies, communications, marketing, law, and social sciences applications.), or if you are genuinely strong in the subject. HL adds 90 extra hours of content and deeper examination requirements. SL is suitable if you need the subject for the diploma but it is not your primary focus.