In one line: HL Paper 1 is 2 hours 15 minutes for two separate analyses, so each text gets the same share of the clock.
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Read both texts and choose your order | ~5 min |
| Each text in total | ~65 min |
| • reading & planning | ~15 min |
| • writing | ~45 min |
| • checking | ~5 min |
Then switch: When Text 1's time is up, switch, even if Text 1 feels unfinished.
The clock is part of the exam — and with two texts, a plan for it matters twice.
The commonest problem isn't a weak point — it's letting Text 1 eat Text 2's time, then writing the second analysis in a panic with no conclusion. Each text is worth the same 20 marks, so each gets the same time. Decide your switch time before you start (about 1h10 into the exam), watch the clock, and protect both endings.
The 2h15 plan (HL)
0:00–0:05 · read both, choose
Read both texts and both guiding questions once. Start with the one you can see a thesis for fastest.
0:05–1:10 · Text 1
~15 min read & plan (thesis + a 3–4 paragraph plan), ~45 min write (body paragraphs ~12–13 min each), ~5 min conclude & check.
1:10–2:15 · Text 2
The same 15 / 45 / 5 on a fresh analysis, with its own thesis and its own conclusion.
Switch on time
At about 1h10, close Text 1 with a short conclusion and move on. A half-finished Text 2 costs more than a slightly shorter Text 1.
The key move: Decide your switch time before you start and treat each text as its own 15 / 45 / 5 essay. Two finished, focused analyses beat one brilliant essay and one fragment.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Why it matters in the exam: An unfinished analysis is the biggest self-inflicted loss in HL Paper 1.
What running out of time costs
- No conclusion hurts Criterion C
- A rushed second text drops B and D
- The two analyses are marked separately (/20 each), so minutes you steal from Text 2 cost more than they earn on Text 1
HL Paper 1: two unseen texts, 2 hours 15 minutes. Text A (a charity advert) looks clear; Text B (a dense opinion column) looks harder. How do you spend the time?
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Don't let Text 1 run over. Every extra ten minutes there is ten minutes stolen from an analysis worth just as much. Switch at your planned time and protect both conclusions.