IB English B HL · 2020 to 2025
Unit 1: Core Themes
970 past paper questions from 50 papers across 13 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
Starter set across the most-tested skills, with AI marking and model answers.
HL archive · 2020 to 2026
Unit 1: Core Themes
Latest exam session: May 2026
- questions
- questions
- papers
- papers
- exam sessions
- exam sessions
Topics in Unit 1: Core Themes
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
1.1
Identities
13% of marks · 94 questions
- RisingHealth & well-being
- RisingLanguage & identity
1.2
Experiences
17% of marks · 227 questions
- RisingLife stories
1.3
Human Ingenuity
19% of marks · 244 questions
- DueCommunication & media
- RisingArtistic expression
1.4
Social Organization
29% of marks · 254 questions
- DueSocial engagement
- RisingEducation
1.5
Sharing the Planet
22% of marks · 151 questions
- RisingEquality
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Top 4 of 25 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13Education, 2020: 13 questions | 13Education, 2021: 13 questions | ·Education, 2022: 0 questions | 10Education, 2023: 10 questions | ·Education, 2024: 0 questions | 2Education, 2025: 2 questions | 37Education, 2026: 37 questions | |
| ·Health & well-being, 2020: 0 questions | ·Health & well-being, 2021: 0 questions | 22Health & well-being, 2022: 22 questions | 6Health & well-being, 2023: 6 questions | ·Health & well-being, 2024: 0 questions | 4Health & well-being, 2025: 4 questions | 1Health & well-being, 2026: 1 question | |
1.3.4Technology | 24Technology, 2020: 24 questions | ·Technology, 2021: 0 questions | 6Technology, 2022: 6 questions | 13Technology, 2023: 13 questions | 1Technology, 2024: 1 question | 2Technology, 2025: 2 questions | 2Technology, 2026: 2 questions |
| 6Equality, 2020: 6 questions | ·Equality, 2021: 0 questions | ·Equality, 2022: 0 questions | 1Equality, 2023: 1 question | ·Equality, 2024: 0 questions | 39Equality, 2025: 39 questions | ·Equality, 2026: 0 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueCommunication & media· last May 24 P1 TZ2
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
Free account · no card needed
See the full exam pattern
Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.
You come straight back to this page with your set built.
- With a free account
- 3 generated sets of 10 past-paper questions, any scope
- One AI-marked practice set with step-by-step feedback
- The full exam pattern: every micro-topic and the watch list
Past paper generator
Generate English B HL past paper questions
Choose what to revise and build a set in one click. Every question stays whole, so multi-part questions come as they appeared in the exam.
- 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
- 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
- 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
Questions on Unit 1: Core Themes, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 1: Core Themes, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
144 questions across 7 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20
- P2 (Reading) TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40
- P2 (Reading) TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38
- P2 (Reading) TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
November 2025
103 questions across 5 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21
- P2 (Reading) TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39
- P2 (Reading) TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
May 2025
144 questions across 7 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21
- P2 (Reading) TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
- P2 (Reading) TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40
- P2 (Reading) TZ3Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
November 2024
98 questions across 5 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20
- P2 (Reading) TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35
- P2 (Reading) TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
May 2024
26 questions across 3 papers
November 2023
67 questions across 4 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21
- P2 (Reading)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40
May 2023
66 questions across 4 papers
- P1 TZ1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P1 TZ2Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20
- P2 (Reading)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40
November 2022
60 questions across 3 papers
- P1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20
- P2 (Reading)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
May 2022
63 questions across 3 papers
- P1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20
- P2 (Reading)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q40
November 2021
41 questions across 2 papers
May 2021
40 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
61 questions across 3 papers
- P1Q1, Q2, Q3
- P2 (Listening)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21
- P2 (Reading)Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37
Specimen 2020
57 questions across 2 papers
Every Unit 1: Core Themes question, unlocked
Generate all 970 questions in this unit at once, practise every one with AI marking, and see how each mark is awarded.
- Every past-paper question in any unit, topic or micro-topic
- Generate sets of 20 or all questions, as often as you like
- Unlimited practice with AI marking and worked answers
- See how every mark is awarded for each question
- Predicted papers and crash courses built from the same data
Used by IB students preparing for Nov 2026, May 2027 and May 2028
From €8.29/mo. 14-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which English B HL exam sessions are covered for Unit 1: Core Themes?
13 exam sessions from 2020 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1, 2 (Listening) and 2 (Reading) in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 50 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 1: Core Themes topic comes up most?
Education (1.4.4): in 20% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 (Reading) TZ3. Usually "Write", worth about 19.4 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.
What is free and what needs Pro?
Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.
Keep going
More English B HL exam preparation
Every question, by paper
What each English B HL paper tests across all its sittings: the marks by unit and the micro-topics it keeps coming back to.
Open the paper analysis
What comes up most
Which English B HL topics recur in this archive, and which have no matching questions in it.
See the pattern
Mock exams
Full English B HL papers under timed conditions, marked by AI against IB criteria.
Sit a mock
All IB past papers
Every subject we have classified by topic, with the same exam-pattern analysis.
Browse subjects
Practise Unit 1: Core Themes the way it is examined.
Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic, see what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.