In one line: Context = the situation a text comes from — who made it, when, where, and why. It quietly changes what the words mean.
Picture the text “I'm fine.”
From a friend after a good day — it means they're happy.
From a friend right after an argument — it might mean the opposite.
Same two words. The context flips them. That's why you always ask: who's saying this, and why?
Where do you find it?
- The source line you're given — the text's type, where it's from, the date. Read it first: it's free.
- Clues inside the text — names, places, slang, a mention of a phone that dates it.
The golden rule
- Use only context you're given or can see.
- Never invent it — ‘the writer probably had a hard life’ is a guess that wrecks your analysis.
So what?: The little source line above a Paper 1 text is a gift. It tells you the purpose and audience before you read a word — so use it.
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Why it matters in the exam: Strong answers use the source line to sharpen their reading — but only what's really there. You're analysing, not writing history.
IB-style questionAnalyse[4 marks]
How does the source change how you read this line? Source: a leaflet from a new dentist. Text: “Smiling should never hurt.”
Model answer plan
See the mark-by-mark plan — for / against / judgement, with marking guidance — in study mode.
Watch out: Never invent context. ‘The writer clearly hated school’ — if the text doesn't say so, you can't know it, and it sends your answer off course.