IB English B SL · 2020 to 2025
Unit 1: Core Themes
48 past paper questions from 16 papers across 11 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.
SL archive · 2020 to 2025
Unit 1: Core Themes
Latest exam session: November 2025
- questions
- 48
- questions
- papers
- 16
- papers
- exam sessions
- 11
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 21
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 marks180 of the 1440 marks across the 16 English B SL papers analysed (13%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 6 questions
1.2
Experiences
25% of marks360 of the 1440 marks across the 16 English B SL papers analysed (25%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 12 questions
1.3
Human Ingenuity
23% of marks330 of the 1440 marks across the 16 English B SL papers analysed (23%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 11 questions
1.4
Social Organization
21% of marks300 of the 1440 marks across the 16 English B SL papers analysed (21%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 10 questions
- DueEducation
- DueSocial relationships
1.5
Sharing the Planet
19% of marks270 of the 1440 marks across the 16 English B SL papers analysed (19%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 9 questions
- DueUrban & rural
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 21 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.2.2Travel & holidays | ·Travel & holidays, 2020: 0 questions | ·Travel & holidays, 2021: 0 questions | ·Travel & holidays, 2022: 0 questions | ·Travel & holidays, 2023: 0 questions | 1Travel & holidays, 2024: 1 question | 3Travel & holidays, 2025: 3 questions |
1.2.1Leisure & free time | ·Leisure & free time, 2020: 0 questions | ·Leisure & free time, 2021: 0 questions | ·Leisure & free time, 2022: 0 questions | ·Leisure & free time, 2023: 0 questions | 3Leisure & free time, 2024: 3 questions | 1Leisure & free time, 2025: 1 question |
1.5.1The environment | ·The environment, 2020: 0 questions | ·The environment, 2021: 0 questions | ·The environment, 2022: 0 questions | 2The environment, 2023: 2 questions | 1The environment, 2024: 1 question | 2The environment, 2025: 2 questions |
| ·Social relationships, 2020: 0 questions | ·Social relationships, 2021: 0 questions | 1Social relationships, 2022: 1 question | ·Social relationships, 2023: 0 questions | 1Social relationships, 2024: 1 question | ·Social relationships, 2025: 0 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueEducation· last May 23 P1 TZ2
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.
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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.
November 2025
6 questions across 2 papers
May 2025
9 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
3 questions across 1 paper
May 2024
6 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
3 questions across 1 paper
May 2023
6 questions across 2 papers
November 2022
3 questions across 1 paper
May 2022
3 questions across 1 paper
November 2021
3 questions across 1 paper
May 2021
3 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
3 questions across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which English B SL exam sessions are covered for Unit 1: Core Themes?
11 exam sessions from 2020 to 2025, the latest November 2025. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 16 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 1: Core Themes topic comes up most?
Travel & holidays (1.2.2): in 25% of papers, last seen May 25 P1 TZ3. Usually "write", worth about 30 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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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.
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