Three criteria, out of 30: Paper 1 (HL) is marked out of 30 on three criteria — here's what each one rewards:
How your 30 marks split
A — Language
the range and accuracy of your vocabulary and grammar
the language itself
B — Message
how relevant, developed and organised your ideas are
your ideas
C — Conceptual
text-type conventions and tone matched to your reader
the right form & tone
Write for the marker, not just the page: Every feature you add can be tied to a criterion: a varied verb (A), a developed reason (B), a proper sign-off (C). If you can name which criterion a sentence is winning, you're writing like a candidate who scores.
One move per criterion: You don't earn the criteria by luck — each rewards a specific habit you can build in. Show a range of language (A), develop every idea (B), organise clearly (B), use the conventions (C) and match the register (C). Do all five and you've touched all three criteria.
Earn marks on every criterion
Show a range of language (A)
Reach for varied vocabulary, tenses and connectors instead of repeating the same easy words — range and accuracy are what Criterion A rewards.
Develop each idea fully (B)
Don't just list points — back each one with a reason or example. Developed, relevant ideas are what Criterion B rewards.
Organise with paragraphs & connectors (B)
Group ideas into clear paragraphs and link them with connectors so the message flows — organisation also counts towards Criterion B.
Use the text-type conventions (C)
Give the text the features its form needs — a blog title, an email greeting and sign-off, an article's intro and conclusion — to bank Criterion C.
Match the register to the reader (C)
Choose tu or Lei to fit your destinatario and keep the tone consistent throughout — register and tone are the rest of Criterion C.
Range → Develop → Organise → Conventions → Register
C is the easiest to lose and to win: Language (A) and ideas (B) take years to build, but Criterion C is fast: the right greeting, sign-off and register cost you nothing and bank up to 6 marks. Never write a beautiful answer in the wrong form — that throws C away.
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One paragraph, three criteria: Here's a short slice of a blog post with the marker's eyes on it — each line is doing a job for a different criterion. Watch how a greeting, a varied sentence, a developed idea and a sign-off each bank marks. Tap Mostra traduzione to see which criterion each feature earns, or 🔊 to hear the Italian.
One paragraph, three criteria
What earns each mark
- «Ciao a tutti i lettori del blog!»
- «Lo sport non solo rafforza il corpo, ma migliora anche l'umore e la concentrazione.»
- «Per esempio, da quando ho iniziato a nuotare tre volte a settimana, dormo meglio e rendo di più a scuola.»
- «Perciò vi incoraggio a provare uno sport che vi piaccia: il vostro corpo e la vostra mente ve ne saranno grati.»
- «Un saluto, e ci leggiamo nel prossimo articolo del blog.»
Make every sentence earn something: Notice that no sentence is wasted: the greeting and sign-off win C, the varied structure wins A, and the reason-plus-example wins B. Aim to write so that, line by line, you could point at the criterion each sentence is earning.
What lifts vs sinks each criterion: Most lost marks come from predictable habits, criterion by criterion. Here's the contrast: the Alza il voto column banks marks on A, B and C; the Abbassa il voto column throws the same marks away. Fix these and your grade climbs without learning a single new word.
Alza il voto
- Usa vocabolario e strutture varie.
- Sviluppa ogni idea con un esempio.
- Usa le convenzioni del tipo di testo.
- Mantieni il registro adeguato al lettore.
Abbassa il voto
- Repeat the same easy words again and again → loses A.
- List points with no reasons or examples → loses B.
- Write a generic essay that ignores the text type → loses C.
- Use the wrong register (slang for a formal task) → loses C.
Protect C — it's the cheapest 6 marks: The most common avoidable loss is Criterion C: a strong, accurate answer written in the wrong form or register. Before you write, name the text type and register in your head and give the text its features — that protects up to 6 marks for free.