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Topics
IB Group 1 — Studies in Language and Literature
IB English A: Literature 2026
IB English A Literature develops close reading and analytical writing skills through the study of literary works across cultures, genres, and periods. Students explore how texts construct meaning through literary devices, structure, and context.
HL · 240hSL · 150h
HL & SL
Levels
30%
IA Weight
240h
HL Hours
Past Papers Archive
Browse IB English A: Literature past papers
View the normalized archive for English A: 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 (how texts are constructed and interpreted) | 50h | 80h |
| Area of Exploration 2: Time and Space (texts in historical/cultural context) | 50h | 80h |
| Area of Exploration 3: Intertextuality — Connecting Texts (comparative study) | 50h | 80h |
| SL: 4 literary works studied; HL: 6 literary works studied | 0h | — |
| HL Essay — additional assessed component for HL onlyHL only | — | 0h |
| Total | 150h | 240h |
Assessment Structure
External Assessment
Paper 1 (guided literary analysis of unseen text(s): SL = 1 text, 35%; HL = 2 texts, 35%). Paper 2 (comparative essay on studied works, SL 35% / HL 25%). HL Essay (literary feature across 1–2 works, 1,200–1,500 words, 20% HL only). Individual Oral (IO: 10-min recording + 5-min Q&A connecting work to global issue, SL 30% / HL 20%).
Internal Assessment — Individual Oral
HL: 20%SL: 30%
A 15-minute oral examination (10-min presentation + 5-min Q&A). Students connect a global issue to a literary work and a non-literary body of work. Recorded and externally moderated.
Exam Tips for IB English A: Literature
1
Paper 1 unseen: read the text twice — first for meaning, second to annotate literary devices before writing
2
Use precise literary terminology: enjambment, caesura, dramatic irony, free indirect discourse — always with effect
3
Paper 2: prepare three comparative points per pair of works before the exam
4
HL Essay: argue a specific literary feature (e.g. use of unreliable narration) across one or two works — narrow scope scores higher
5
IO global issue: pick an issue that genuinely connects both texts — forced connections are obvious to examiners
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 | 52 | 39 | 26 | 15 | 100 |
| May 2024 | SL | 80 | 66 | 52 | 37 | 24 | 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: Literature grade
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Related IB Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
What topics are in IB English A: Literature?
IB English A: Literature covers Area of Exploration 1: Readers, Writers and Texts (how texts are constructed and interpreted), Area of Exploration 2: Time and Space (texts in historical/cultural context), Area of Exploration 3: Intertextuality — Connecting Texts (comparative study), SL: 4 literary works studied; HL: 6 literary works studied, 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: Literature assessed?
Paper 1 (guided literary analysis of unseen text(s): SL = 1 text, 35%; HL = 2 texts, 35%). Paper 2 (comparative essay on studied works, SL 35% / HL 25%). HL Essay (literary feature across 1–2 works, 1,200–1,500 words, 20% HL only). Individual Oral (IO: 10-min recording + 5-min Q&A connecting work to global issue, 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: Literature IA?
The IB English A: Literature IA is the Individual Oral. A 15-minute oral examination (10-min presentation + 5-min Q&A). Students connect a global issue to a literary work and a non-literary body of work. Recorded and externally moderated. It accounts for 30% of the final grade at SL and 20% at HL.
Should I take IB English A: Literature HL or SL?
Take HL if English A: Literature is relevant to your university course (English literature, journalism, law, and humanities university 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.