Master the IB English B Standard Level exam. Learn paper structures, task command terms, marking criteria, and where to find easy marks.
150 teaching hours • 2 external papers • 1 internal oral
Know exactly what to expect in each paper and how to maximize your marks.
One written task of 250–400 words, chosen from three options that span the five prescribed themes. Each option specifies a text type (e.g. blog, email, speech, article, set of instructions).
What to expect:
Key Tips
Easy Marks
Watch Out
What to expect:
Key Tips
Easy Marks
Watch Out
Command terms tell you exactly what the examiner expects. Filter by Assessment Objective (AO).
Match your answer depth to the marks available.
Example questions:
Show range AND control — a few ambitious structures used accurately beat lots of errors.
Example questions:
Develop, don’t list — take one idea and explain it rather than naming five in passing.
Example questions:
Decide audience and text type first — Conceptual marks are the easiest to lose by accident.
Example questions:
In the oral, never give one-word answers — always add a reason, opinion or example.
These concepts appear throughout English B SL exams. Master them to score higher.
Before writing or speaking, decide WHO you are addressing and pick a formal or informal register. The whole task — greetings, tone, sign-off — flows from that one choice.
Bank accurate tenses, articles, prepositions, and natural word order. Range plus accuracy is what scores Language marks.
For Message marks, take one idea and grow it with a reason and an example, rather than naming several ideas you never explain.
Read every question before the audio begins so you know what to listen for. Each recording plays twice — use the first listen for gist, the second to confirm details.
In the individual oral, never stop at one word. Add an opinion, a reason, or a link to the English-speaking world — this lifts both Message and Interactive marks.
Learn from others' mistakes. These cost students marks every exam session.
Wrong register — mixing formal and casual English
Choose one register for the audience and keep it consistent through greetings, body, and sign-off.
Article and preposition slips
Watch a/an/the and the prepositions that go with common verbs and nouns — these are frequent Criterion A losses.
Listing ideas instead of developing them
Develop one idea fully with a reason and example — depth scores higher than a long list.
True/False answers with no justification
Always copy the exact words from the text that prove your true/false choice, or you score zero.
One-word answers in the individual oral
Extend every response with an opinion, reason, or example to gain Message and Interactive marks.
Ignoring text-type conventions
Lay out each text type correctly — a blog, formal email, and speech each open and close differently.
25% of final grade • Approx. 12–15 minutes
A recorded conversation with your teacher. You present and interpret a visual stimulus (an image, advert, or infographic) linked to one of the five prescribed themes, then have a follow-up conversation about it and a wider discussion.
Marking Criteria
Tips for Top Marks
Apply these exam skills with our English B practice questions. Get instant AI feedback that shows exactly what scored marks and how to improve.