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IB English A: Language & Literature SL - Study Hub
A public revision hub for IB English A: Language and Literature SL — a skills course, not a body of facts. Learn the 22-technique analysis toolkit, close reading of unseen non-literary texts for Paper 1, the comparative essay for Paper 2, and the Individual Oral, with worked model answers throughout.
Subject Group
Group 1 (Studies in Language and Literature)
Available on Aimnova
SL and HL
First assessment
Assessment
Paper 1 (guided analysis) · Paper 2 (comparative essay) · Individual Oral · HL essay (HL)
01—The course
What is IB English A: Language and Literature?
IB English A: Language and Literature is a Group 1 course for students working in their strongest language. It is a skills course rather than a fixed body of content: you learn to read closely and argue about how meaning is made — how a writer's choices of language, structure, and style shape an audience's response — across both literary works and non-literary texts.
The course is assessed by Paper 1 (a guided analysis of one or two unseen non-literary texts), Paper 2 (a comparative essay on two literary works studied), the Individual Oral (a global issue explored through one literary and one non-literary text), and — at HL — the HL essay. Aimnova covers English A: Lang & Lit across five study units — the analysis toolkit taught up front, non-literary text types, Paper 1, Paper 2 and the Individual Oral, and the HL essay — so you build the technique vocabulary first, then apply it to real text types and exam-style tasks with model answers.
02—Assessment
IB English A: Lang & Lit SL Assessment
Paper 1 — Guided textual analysis
An analysis of one previously unseen non-literary text, written in response to a guiding question. You show how the writer's choices of language, structure, tone, and style shape meaning for a particular audience and purpose — the core skill the 22-technique toolkit is built to support.
Paper 2 — Comparative essay
One comparative essay responding to a general question, drawing on two of the literary works studied. You build and sustain an argument that compares how both works treat an idea, technique, or effect — not a summary, but an analysis.
Individual Oral (Internal assessment)
A 10-minute prepared oral, followed by questions, exploring how a global issue is presented in one literary and one non-literary text. Marked on knowledge and understanding, analysis and evaluation, focus and organisation, and language.
HL essay (HL only)
Higher Level only: a formal written essay of 1,200–1,500 words developing a focused line of inquiry into one literary or non-literary work studied, submitted from outside class. It rewards a sustained analytical argument built on a clear research question and close textual evidence.
03—Syllabus
IB English A: Lang & Lit Units
Unit 1Analysing Texts
Unit 2Non-literary Text Types
Unit 3Paper 1: Guided Analysis
- 3.1The guided-analysis method3 sub-topics
- 3.2The non-literary text-type bank1 sub-topic
- 3.3Reading and annotating1 sub-topic
- 3.4Planning your analysis1 sub-topic
- 3.5Writing an excellent response3 sub-topics
- 3.6Managing your time1 sub-topic
- 3.7Examiner feedback and common mistakes1 sub-topic
- 3.8Grade-7 walkthroughs2 sub-topics
- 3.9Timed practice1 sub-topic
Unit 4Paper 2: The Comparative Essay
Unit 5The Individual Oral
04—Resources
Free IB English A: Lang & Lit Study Resources
05—FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about IB English A: Lang & Lit
What does IB English A: Language and Literature cover?
It is a skills course centred on the close analysis of both literary works and non-literary texts. You learn to read closely and argue about how meaning is made — how language, structure, style, and context shape an audience's response — and apply an explicit toolkit of analysis techniques (tone, diction, imagery, structure, register, rhetorical appeal, and more) to unseen texts and studied works.
How is IB English A: Lang & Lit SL assessed?
Three components: Paper 1 is a guided analysis of one unseen non-literary text (35%); Paper 2 is one comparative essay on two literary works studied (35%); and the Individual Oral, an internally assessed exploration of a global issue across one literary and one non-literary text (30%). There is no multiple-choice — every task rewards a sustained, evidenced argument.
What is the difference between English A and English B?
English A (Group 1) is for students working in their strongest language, centred on the analysis of literary and non-literary texts. English B (Group 2) is a language-acquisition course for students learning the language, focused on communicating accurately across five prescribed themes. English A expects fluent, independent analytical writing rather than language acquisition.
How should I revise a skills course like English A?
You cannot memorise your way through it — you practise. Learn the analysis toolkit first so you have precise vocabulary for what a text is doing, then rehearse the move from choice to effect to significance on many short passages. For Paper 1, drill guided analysis of unseen non-literary texts; for Paper 2, plan comparative arguments on your studied works; and for the oral, prepare a clear global issue and evidence from both a literary and a non-literary text.
Start revising IB English A: Lang & Lit with structure
Use the analysis toolkit, text-type breakdowns, and live study path to master the skills English A is marked on — Paper 1 guided analysis, the Paper 2 comparative essay, and the Individual Oral.
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