IB English A Lang & Lit SL · 2023 to 2025

4.3 Writing the essay

44 past paper questions from 11 papers across 5 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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SL archive · 2023 to 2025

4.3 Writing the essay

Latest exam session: May 2025

questions
44
questions
papers
11
papers
exam sessions
5
exam sessions
micro-topics
3

Micro-topics in 4.3 Writing the essay

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 82

    4.3.2

    Comparing literary techniques

    11 questions · in 82% of papersAppears in 9 of the 11 English A SL papers analysed (82%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 100

    4.3.3

    Comparing themes

    28 questions · in 100% of papersAppears in 11 of the 11 English A SL papers analysed (100%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 36

    4.3.4

    Comparing authorial choices

    5 questions · in 36% of papersAppears in 4 of the 11 English A SL papers analysed (36%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ2

Exam pattern

How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.

Does it repeat?

Questions per year for each micro-topic.

fewermore

Micro-topic202320242025
4.3.3Comparing themesFrequently tested
9Comparing themes, 2023: 9 questions11Comparing themes, 2024: 11 questions8Comparing themes, 2025: 8 questions
4.3.2Comparing literary techniquesFrequently tested
5Comparing literary techniques, 2023: 5 questions5Comparing literary techniques, 2024: 5 questions1Comparing literary techniques, 2025: 1 question
4.3.4Comparing authorial choicesFrequently tested
2Comparing authorial choices, 2023: 2 questions·Comparing authorial choices, 2024: 0 questions3Comparing authorial choices, 2025: 3 questions
  • Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years

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Questions on 4.3 Writing the essay, by exam session

Which papers asked about 4.3 Writing the essay, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which English A SL exam sessions are covered for 4.3 Writing the essay?

5 exam sessions from 2023 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 11 papers in this archive.

Which 4.3 Writing the essay topic comes up most?

Comparing themes (4.3.3): in 100% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ3. Usually "compare", worth about 76.4 marks in a paper that includes it.

Can I see the original question and mark scheme?

No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.

What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?

Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.

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