ib english language and literature sl paper 1 sample essay

IB English Paper 1 Explained

Ace your IB English Paper 1 exam with the #1 IB English Resource for 2022 as Voted by IB Students & Teachers

IB English Paper 1 is one of those nerve-wracking experiences that everyone has to endure. It's especially scary because you have no idea what you'll end up writing for your final exam–and your grades depend on it!

The best preparation you can do is be acutely aware of the exam structure and proven strategies that have worked for past IB7 graduates.

If you want to fully wrap your head around the IB English Paper 1 guided analysis, then this quick guide is for you.

Meet your instructor Jackson Huang, Founder of LitLearn. His mission is to make IB English as pain-free as possible with fun, practical lessons. Jackson scored an IB45 and was accepted to Harvard, Amherst, Williams Colleges, and full scholarships to University of Melbourne & Queensland.

What is a Paper 1 exam?

In a Paper 1 exam, you are given two mysterious, unseen texts . Each text is between 1-2 pages in length.

For SL students, you're in luck! Your task is to write a guided analysis on just one of the two texts. Total marks: 20. You have 1 hour and 15 minutes.

For HL students, you're in less luck… Your task is to write two guided analysis essays–one on each of the texts. Total marks: 40. You have 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The mystery text types you'll get for Paper 1 depend on whether you're in IB English Language & Literature or IB English Literature.

For IB English Literature , Paper 1 text types belong to four neat categories (hooray!):

• Fictional prose (e.g. short stories, extracts from novels)
• Non-fiction prose (e.g. scientific articles, extracts)
• Dramatic plays

For IB English Language and Literature , your text types could be… really… anything. Be prepared to be surprised. Typically, at least one of the text types will include some visual element like an image, photo, or cartoon. Here's the (non-exhaustive) list of Lang Lit text types:

• Magazines, blogs, articles and editorials
• Speeches, interview scripts, radio transcripts
• Instruction manuals, brochures
• Comic strips, political cartoons
• … and the list goes on…

What do I write in a guided analysis?

For each Paper 1 text, the IB English Gods pose a short, open-ended question.

This question is called the guiding question , and your essay must focus on answering this guiding question using analysis (we'll explain “analysis” in a second).

Examples of guiding questions:

• How does the writer characterize the protagonist's state of mind?
• How and to what effect do textual and visual elements shape meaning?
• How is narrative perspective used to create meaning and effect?

Even though you're technically allowed to choose your own focus and ignore the default guiding question, it's highly recommended that you go along with what's given… unless you really don't know how to answer it, or you're super confident in your Paper 1 skills.

Now, what are we supposed to do with the guiding question?

Guiding questions always ask you to explain how and why certain language or visual choices are used to build one or more central ideas .

And so the vague instruction "Answer the guiding question" actually translates to something very specific:

Explain  how and why the writer uses specific language to build their central idea(s).

This sentence pretty much sums up not just IB English Paper 1, but the gist of analysis and IB English overall.

Writing Deep, Insightful Analysis

If you want to get a high score on Paper 1 (and every IB English assessment in general), you must know how to write deep, insightful analysis.

After helping numerous IB English students at LitLearn, we've found that weak analysis is the #1 reason students struggle in IB English.

Biggest Mistake

The main mistake you're likely making is that your analysis doesn't dig deep enough .

Students make the mistake of only touching the surface-level meaning of the texts. For example, common mistakes include:

• only recounting the plot
• mentioning techniques and ideas without digging into the how and why
• not identifying the most relevant techniques for analysis.

The diagram below shows the difference between surface-level meaning, deep analysis, and deeper analysis.

If you're unsure about how to write strong analysis for IB English, or you're not confident in what to look for in your texts, then you should watch this free 7-minute video lesson from Learn Analysis: Analysis Foundations.

Learn Analysis

No sign up or credit card required.

Essential Techniques you need to know

So how do we write strong analysis that scores highly on Criterion B?

First things first, we need to know how to analyze the major literary and visual techniques (visual for Lang Lit), so that we can quickly find and analyze them under exam stress.

If you're cramming for Paper 1, here are the 7 most important techniques and concepts that you should know for IB English Paper 1. They apply to all text types in Lang Lit as well as Literature:

• Tone, atmosphere and mood
• Diction and voice
• Metaphor, simile, and personification
• The 4 main types of imagery
• The 3 types of irony
• Juxtaposition and contrast
• Grammatical and structural techniques

There's a bunch more, but these 7 categories make a great starting point. The first step is to learn their names and definitions, and flashcards are an excellent way to do this.

Of course, memorizing isn't enough. We also need to know the common effects and purposes behind each of these core techniques, so that we can build a mental library of the most common ways to deeply analyze each technique. If you don't study each technique in detail, it's much harder to invent deep analysis on-the-spot during an exam.

We go deep into each of the techniques in Learn Analysis . Here are just a couple of them to get you started.

Level 1 Techniques

Your One Mission in Paper 1

Let's quickly recap what you need to do in a Paper 1.

• You need to discuss the characters, themes and plot of a chosen  literary text, OR the visual and stylistic elements (diagrams, headings, titles, images) for a non-literary text.
• You then need to explain how and why these aspects were achieved by the writer or artist.

These two points are helpful as a basis for understanding, but they won't help you get concrete words onto the exam page. What we need now is a practical guide to writing an actual essay:

• Deciding on a good  thesis
• Choosing the right  points
• Choosing the right structure

A Practical Guide to Writing a Paper 1 essay

An IB English Paper 1 essay boils down to 3 separate parts:

• An introduction paragraph : contains a thesis and an outline of your points
• A body (usually 3 paragraphs) : contains your points
• A conclusion : wraps up the essay

Choosing a thesis

The thesis or subject statement is a single sentence in the introduction of the guided analysis that states how the writer achieves their overall purpose.

This is also the main argument that you are trying to prove in your essay, and it's typically related to the guiding question . The examiner can usually judge the strength of your analytical skills JUST from your subject statement alone, so it needs to be well-written!

Choosing the right essay structure for IB English Paper 1

Every text works best with a specific paragraph structure. Finding this match isn't always easy, but it's also one of the most important things to get right in your Paper 1 guided analysis.

You can organise your essay by:

• ideas or themes
• sections (sequential, e.g. stanza by stanza for poems)
• the ‘Big 5'
• and probably a whole host of other acronyms that English teachers love to invent.

Criterion C for IB English Paper 1 is Organisation . It's worth a whole 5/20 marks, so it's definitely in your best interest to choose the most appropriate structure for your essay.

Pro Tip: I recommend students to stay away from the Big 5 . Sure, it's useful as a memory device to tell you what elements to look for in a text, but it's not a good essay structure for analysis.

Why? Because analysis is about examining the causal interplay between techniques, stylistic choices, audience, tone, and themes. The Big 5 and SPECSLIMS artificially silo these components in your discussion.  Heed my advice or pay the price! (notice that rhyme?)

So in my opinion, there are only two types of structure that are most  conducive (yep, another new vocab, omnomnom) to getting a 7. Ideas/themes  and Sections . Take this as a hot tip and run with it. If your teacher is forcing you to use other structures, then you'll need to know why this is recommended.

We go into much more depth and explain it all inside Learn Analysis.

Pro members only

Writing body paragraphs: Why and How

Once you've chosen the best structure for your essay and decided on a strong thesis as your central argument, the rest of the essay needs to revolve around proving  this argument.

How do you prove this subject statement? You do it by looking at individual points. These smaller points support smaller, more specific aspects of the overall thesis.

The idea is that each body paragraph, or point, aims to prove a separate, smaller aspect of the bigger thesis. It's like a jigsaw puzzle : You must piece together smaller, more manageable pieces to build the bigger argument (i.e. the thesis).

In reality, this translates into writing 2, 3 or 4 points, each of which fits snuggly it its own paragraph or multiple paragraphs (depending on the complexity of the point).

In each point, you must include:

• Quotes, references to images, titles, headings, or visual elements. This is the evidence.
• Analysis of language and literary techniques.  Use specific quotes from the text and explain how and why they are used by the writer to shape his/her message.

Obviously, this is a quick summary of how to write a high-quality body paragraph. We dive deeper into the specific details of how to structure a body paragraph in the guided analysis.

Planning ahead

Ironically, the most important part of IB English Paper 1 is not the analysis itself (well it is, but not really). The part you have to get right the first time is the plan. Most students do not know how to plan effectively, or get flustered in the exam and don't plan, or don't even try to plan because they think they're above it. Big mistake!

Before you even begin writing, you should plan out your essay in sufficient detail. You will lose track of time, thought and sanity if you do not have a clear road map of every part of your essay before you begin writing.

You can learn how to annotate and plan quickly & efficiently using the flowchart method, which we demonstrate inside Learn Analysis and Paper 1 .

In the Pro lesson below, we go into detail on exactly how to plan a Paper 1 essay effectively and efficiently under exam conditions.

How do I practice for Paper 1?

Most students think that doing a lot of practice papers is the best way to improve in Paper 1. However, there's a much more efficient, targeted method to study for Paper 1.

We work our way up from the smallest, most manageable chunks of analysis to the full Paper 1 exam. It's a good idea to reserve real IB English past papers for 2 months before your final exam so that you don't run out of past papers--they are the best preparation for the final exam. Also, if your analysis skills aren't already strong, doing real past papers is a waste of an excellent exam prep resource.

Questionbank

Quote analysis exercises with exemplar IB7 solutions

Short guided analysis exercises with exemplar IB7 solutions

1 hour practice exams with detailed markschemes or video solutions

IB past paper solutions: Exemplar essay plans and full essay responses

Question​bank

Paper 1 Practice Exams

Past Paper 1 Solutions

Paper 2 Guide

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English Paper 1

Analyze the text and explore its primary and secondary purpose.

Identify and describe the key visual features of this parody.

Explore how the visual imagery conveys a critique of industrial pollution.

Explain how the use of satire in these images criticize society's response to environmental issues?

Analyze how the use of symbolism enhances the satirical message of the illustrations.

Discuss the tone of the illustrations and how it contributes to the overall satirical effect.

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How do the images use parody and satire to critique society’s response to environmental issues?

This text features a large banner of basketball player Caitlin Clark (#22) taking a shot, placed on the side of a building. Caitlin Clark was the #1 pick in the WNBA Class of 2024, and winner of the season’s Rookie of the Year award. She is known for her distance three-pointers. Analyze how visual elements is used to convey the purpose of this text.

Identify and describe the key visual elements of this advertisement.

How does the slogan "This was never a long shot" enhance the advertisement's message?

Explore how the ad appeals to emotions (pathos) to engage its audience.

Analyze how the ad uses symbolism to convey its message of confidence and success.

Discuss how the placement of the ad in an urban environment contributes to its effectiveness.

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does this ad effectively convey its message of confidence and success?

The following text is an article from Reuters published on October 9th, 2024 titled: "US considers breakup of Google in landmark search case."

Explain how the article use loaded language and legal jargon to emphasize the gravity of the DOJ’s proposed breakup of Google

How does the article’s structure contribute to its persuasive tone, particularly in how it positions Google’s defense against the DOJ’s claims?

How does the use of numerical data in the article serve to enhance its objectivity while also supporting the DOJ’s case?

Analyze the article’s use of contrast between Google’s portrayal of its success and the DOJ’s characterization of its monopoly. How does this rhetorical device serve the article’s purpose?

How does the article’s use of metaphor and figurative language help to simplify and communicate the complexity of antitrust issues to a general audience?

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does the Reuters article use language techniques and structure to convey the significance of the DOJ’s case against Google?

This op-ed was published on March 17, 2024 in the Huntington News, an independent student newspaper at the Northeastern University. The author, Lily Cooper, is a member of the Huntington News staff.

How does the text use hyperbole to emphasize the media circus surrounding Taylor Swift’s NFL appearances?

Analyze how the author employs juxtaposition to contrast Taylor Swift’s influence with the male-dominated NFL culture.

Explore how the text uses statistics to support its argument about the changing demographics of the NFL audience?

Examine how the text uses irony to critique the conspiracy theories surrounding Taylor Swift’s relationship with Travis Kelce.

Explain how the text uses anecdotal evidence to personalize the issue of gender and sports?

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does the op-ed use rhetorical devices and language techniques to critique the reaction to Taylor Swift’s presence in the NFL?

In this open letter addressed to all MPs in Parliament, footballer Marcus Rashford advocates for the extension of the free school meals voucher scheme during the summer holidays, urging the government to reconsider its decision to cancel it.

To all MPs in Parliament,

On a week that would have opened Uefa Euro 2020, I wanted to reflect back to May 27th, 2016, when I stood in the middle of the Stadium of Light in Sunderland having just broken the record for the youngest player to score in his first Senior International match. I watched the crowds waving their flags and fistpumping the three lions on their shirts and I was overwhelmed with pride not only for myself, but for all of those who had helped me reach this moment and achieve my dream of playing for the England national team. Understand: without the kindness and generosity of the community I had around me, there wouldn’t be the Marcus Rashford you see today: a 22-year old Black man lucky enough to make a career playing a game I love.

My story to get here is all-too-familiar for families in England: my mum worked full-time, earning minimum wage to make sure we always had a good evening meal on the table. But it was not enough. The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked.

As a family, we relied on breakfast clubs, free school meals, and the kind actions of neighbours and coaches. Food banks and soup kitchens were not alien to us; I recall very clearly our visits to Northern Moor to collect our Christmas dinners every year. It’s only now that I really understand the enormous sacrifice my mum made in sending me away to live in digs aged 11, a decision no mother would ever make lightly.

This Summer should have been filled with pride once more, parents and children waving their flags, but in reality, Wembley Stadium could be filled more than twice with children who have had to skip meals during lockdown due to their families not being able to access food. (200,000 children according to Food Foundation estimates).

As their stomachs grumble, I wonder if those 200,000 children will ever be proud enough of their country to pull on the England national team shirt one day and sing the national anthem from the stands. Ten years ago, I would have been one of those children, and you would never have heard my voice and seen my determination to become part of the solution.

Ten years ago, I would have been one of those children, and you would never have heard my voice and seen my determination to become part of the solution. As many of you know, as lockdown hit and schools were temporarily closed, I partnered with food distribution charity FareShare to help cover some of the free school meal deficit. Whilst the campaign is currently distributing 3 million meals a week to those most vulnerable across the UK, I recognize it’s just not enough.

This is not about politics; this is about humanity. Looking at ourselves in the mirror and feeling like we did everything we could to protect those who can’t, for whatever reason or circumstance, protect themselves. Political affiliations aside, can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry?

Food poverty in England is a pandemic that could span generations if we don’t course correct now. Whilst 1.3 million children in England are registered for free school meals, one quarter of these children have not been given any support since the school closures were ordered.

We rely on parents, many of whom have seen their jobs evaporate due to Covid-19, to play substitute teacher during lockdown, hoping that their children are going to be focused enough to learn, with only a small percentage of their nutritional needs met during this period.

This is a system failure and without education, we’re encouraging this cycle of hardship to continue. To put this pandemic in to perspective, from 2018-2019, 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom were living in poverty in the UK. This figure is expected to rise by an additional 1 million by 2022. In England today, 45% of children in Black and minority ethnic groups are now in poverty. This is England in 2020…

I am asking you to listen to their parent’s stories as I have received thousands of insights from people struggling. I have listened when fathers have told me they are struggling with depression, unable to sleep, worried sick about how they are going to support their families having lost their jobs unexpectedly, headteachers who are personally covering the cost of food packages for their vulnerable families after the school debit card has been maxed out; mothers who can’t cover the cost of increased electricity and food bills during the lockdown, and parents who are sacrificing their own meals for their children. In 2020, it shouldn’t be a case of one or the other.

I’ve read tweets over the last couple of weeks where some have placed blame on parents for having children they ‘can’t afford’. That same finger could have been pointed at my mum, yet I grew up in a loving and caring environment.

The man you see stood in front of you today is a product of her love and care. I have friends who are from middle- class backgrounds who have never experienced a small percentage of the love I have gotten from my mum: a single parent who would sacrifice everything she had for our happiness. THESE are the kind of parents we are talking about. Parents who work every hour of the day for minimum wage, most of them working in hospitality, a sector which has been locked down for months

During this pandemic, people are existing on a knife’s edge: one missed bill is having a spiral effect, the anxiety and stress of knowing that poverty is the main driver of children ending up in care, a system that is designed to fail low- income families. Do you know how much courage it takes for a grown man to say, ‘Ican’t cope’ or ‘I can’t support my family’? Men, women, caregivers, are calling out for our help and we aren’t listening.

I also received a tweet from an MP who told me ‘this is why there is a benefit system’. Rest assured, I am fully aware of the Universal Credit scheme and I am fully aware that the majority of families applying are experiencing 5-week delays. Universal Credit is simply not a short-term solution. I also know from talking to people that there is a 2-child- per-family limit, meaning someone like my mum would only have been able to cover the cost of 2 of her 5 children. In April 2020, 2.1 million people claimed unemployment related benefits. This is an increase of 850,000 just since March 2020. As we approach the end of the furlough scheme and a period of mass unemployment, the problem of child poverty is only going to get worse.

Parents like mine would rely on kids’ clubs over the Summer break, providing a safe space and at least one meal, whilst they work. Today, parents do not have this as an option. If faced with unemployment, parents like mine would have been down at the job centre first thing Monday morning to find any work that enables them to support their families. Today, there are no jobs.

As a Black man from a low-income family in Wythenshawe, Manchester, I could have been just another statistic. Instead, due to the selfless actions of my mum, my family, my neighbours, and my coaches, the only stats I’m associated with are goals, appearances and caps. I would be doing myself, my family and my community an injustice if I didn’t stand here today with my voice and my platform and ask you for help.

The Government has taken a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to the economy – I’m asking you today to extend that same thinking to protecting all vulnerable children across England. I encourage you to hear their pleas and find your humanity. Please reconsider your decision to cancel the food voucher scheme over the Summer holiday period and guarantee the extension.

This is England in 2020, and this is an issue that needs urgent assistance. Please, while the eyes of the nation are on you, make the U-turn and make protecting the lives of some of our most vulnerable a top priority.

Yours sincerely, Marcus Rashford

Identify and describe the tone of Marcus Rashford's letter.

How does Marcus Rashford use personal anecdotes to strengthen his argument in the letter?

Explore how Rashford appeals to pathos (emotions) in the letter to engage his audience.

How does Marcus Rashford use statistics and factual information to support his argument?

Discuss how the structure of Rashford’s letter contributes to its overall persuasive effect.

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does Marcus Rashford use his personal experience and emotional appeals to persuade MPs to extend the free school meals voucher scheme?

This Oxfam brochure titled "Protection, Dignity, and Rights: Reshaping Disaster Aid" highlights the importance of local voices and leadership in disaster response.

How does the use of typography in the title and subheadings reinforce the main message of the brochure?

In what way does the image of the CERT team contribute to the overall message of local leadership?

How does the language used in the brochure reflect the urgency of its message?

How does the brochure use contrast between global and local organizations to highlight its argument?

How does the use of visual elements such as color and layout guide the reader's understanding of the brochure’s message?

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does the brochure use visual and language techniques to convey the importance of local leadership in disaster aid?

The following text is an advert from 1996 by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. Analyze how copy and visual elements are used to convey the purpose of the text.

Identify and describe the key visual features of this advertisement.

How does the ad use humor to engage its audience?

Analyze how the ad’s slogan and imagery work together to convey its message.

Explore how the ad appeals to practicality through its description of the vehicle’s features.

Examine how the ad uses exaggerated comparisons to make its message memorable.

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does this ad effectively use humor and exaggeration to promote the Daihatsu Hijet MPV?

The following text is a blog post from Hubspot, a marketing agency.

Identify and give examples of the blog’s structural features.

Describe the target audience for this blog post.

Identify how the blog post uses personal anecdotes or examples to engage readers.

Explore how the blog uses informal language and tone to appeal to its readers.

Explore how the blog post uses the concept of storytelling to convey its message.

Identify and explain how the blog post uses a Call to Action (CTA) and how it encourages further engagement.

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does the blog post encourage businesses to prioritize customer-centric marketing?

The following is an excerpt from an interview between Anderson Cooper and Prince Harry for the release of his memoir, Spare. Explore how the interview uses tone and imagery to deliver the core message.

Anderson Cooper (00:58):

You write about a contentious meeting you had with him in 2021. You said, “I looked at Willy, really looked at him, maybe for the first time since we were boys. I took it all in: His familiar scowl, which had always been his default in dealings with me. His alarming baldness, more advanced than my own. His famous resemblance to Mummy, which was fading with time, with age.” That’s pretty cutting.

Prince Harry (01:18):

I don’t see it as cutting at all. My brother and I love each other. I love him deeply. There has been a lot of pain between the two of us, especially the last six years. None of anything that I’ve written and anything I’ve included is ever intended to hurt my family, but it does give a full picture of the situation as we were growing up, and also squashes this idea that somehow my wife was the one that destroyed the relationship between these two brothers.

Anderson Cooper (01:53):

I think so many people around the world watched you and your brother grow up, and feel like you two were inseparable. And yet in reading the book, you have lived separate lives from the time your mom died. Even when you were in the same school, in high school-

Prince Harry (02:11):

Sibling rivalry.

Anderson Cooper (02:12):

… your brother told you, “Pretend we don’t know each other.”

Prince Harry (02:15):

Yeah. And at the time, it hurt. I couldn’t make sense of it. I was like, “What do you mean? We’re now at the same school. I haven’t seen you for ages. Now we get to hang out together.” He’s like, “No, no, no. When we’re at school, we don’t know each other.” And I took that personally. But yes, you’re absolutely right. You hit the nail on the head. We had a very similar traumatic experience, and then we dealt with it two very different ways.

Anderson Cooper (02:37):

William tried to talk to you occasionally about your mom, but as a child you couldn’t respond.

Prince Harry (02:44):

For me, it was never a case of, “I don’t want to talk about it with you.” I just don’t know how to talk about it.

Anderson Cooper (02:50):

How to talk about it.

Prince Harry (02:51):

I never, ever thought that maybe talking about it with my brother or with anybody else at that point would be therapeutic.

Anderson Cooper (02:59):

In August, 1997, Harry and William were vacationing in Scotland with their father. Harry was 12, William 15. They were asleep at Balmoral Castle on August 31, when Harry was awakened by his father, who told him his mother had been in a car crash in Paris. In the book you write, he says, “They tried, darling boy. I’m afraid she didn’t make it.” “These phrases remained in my mind like darts on a board,” you say. Did you cry?

Prince Harry (03:30):

No. No. Never shed a single tear, at that point. I was in shock. You’re 12 years old, sort of 7:00, 7:30 in the morning, early. Your father comes in, sits on your bed, puts his hand on your knee, and tells you there’s been an accident. I couldn’t believe.

Anderson Cooper (03:49):

And you write in the book that, “Pa didn’t hug me. He wasn’t great at showing emotions under normal circumstances, but his hand did fall once more on my knee, and he said, ‘It’s going to be okay.'” But after that, nothing was okay for a long time.

Prince Harry (04:02):

No, nothing was okay.

Anderson Cooper (04:04):

Harry says his memories of the next few days are fragmented, but he does remember this: Greeting mourners outside Kensington Palace in London the day before his mother’s funeral.

When you see those videos now, what do you think?

Prince Harry (04:18):

I think it’s bizarre, because I see William and me smiling. I remember the guilt that I felt.

Anderson Cooper (04:27):

Guilt about-

Prince Harry (04:28):

The fact that the people that we were meeting were showing more emotion than we were showing. Maybe more emotion than we even felt.

Anderson Cooper (04:38):

They were crying, but you weren’t.

Prince Harry (04:40):

There was a lot of tears, and I talk about how wet people’s hands were, and I couldn’t understand it at first.

Anderson Cooper (04:44):

Their hands were wet from crying.

Prince Harry (04:44):

Their hands were wet from wiping their own tears away.

I do remember one of the strangest parts to it was taking flowers from people, and then placing those flowers with the rest of them, as if I was some sort of middle person for their grief, and that really stood out for me.

Anderson Cooper (05:04):

The funeral, on a cool September morning, was watched by as many as two and a half billion people around the world. Perhaps the most indelible image, Prince Harry and his brother walking behind their mother’s casket on its way to Westminster Abbey.

What do you remember about that walk?

Prince Harry (05:21):

How quiet it was. I remember the occasional wail and screaming of someone. I remember the horse hooves on the road, the bridles of the horses, the gun carriage, the wheels, the occasional gravel stone underneath your shoe, but mainly the silence.

How does repetition in Prince Harry's speech about his brother emphasize the emotional distance between them?

How does the interview use sensory imagery to evoke the emotional weight of Princess Diana’s funeral?

How does the interviewer, Anderson Cooper, use open-ended questions to encourage Prince Harry to reflect on his emotional experiences?

How does Prince Harry use metaphor when discussing his role at the funeral to convey his internal conflict?

How does Prince Harry’s tone shift throughout the interview, and how does this contribute to the overall emotional impact?

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does Prince Harry use language and rhetorical devices to communicate his personal struggles in the interview?

The following text is taken from the Girls Who Code website. Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. Founded in 2012 by Reshma Saujani, the organization provides free programs that teach coding and computer science skills to girls, empowering them to pursue careers in tech.

Identify and give examples of the website’s features.

Describe the target audience for this webpage.

Identify how the website informs visitors about the organization's mission to close the gender gap in technology.

Explore how the visual technique of color and imagery has been used as a persuasive device on the website.

Identify how the website uses logos and ethos, and how these rhetorical appeals encourage viewers to take action.

Consider the website’s first fold. How does the initial statement work alongside the lead image to appeal to the website user?

Using your responses to the questions above, create a bullet point outline to respond to the guiding question: How does the text encourage support for closing the gender gap in technology?

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How to Write IB English Language and Literature Paper 1

By TutorsPlus

In this article, we talk about how to write IB English Paper 1 to impress the examiner and maximise your score.

IB English Paper 1 analysis is the initial stage of your assessment, contributing a significant 35% to your final grade. 

This means that to succeed, you need to prepare for it carefully and strategically. Below, we explain what to expect from this part of the external assessment, provide best practice tips, and suggest an optimal structure to guide your writing.

What is English Language and Literature Paper 1?

IB English Paper 1 involves a targeted analysis of an unseen text. You will be given two excerpts, each ranging from 1 to 2 pages. Standard Level (SL) students choose one to write an essay, while their Higher Level (HL) peers work with both. Regardless of the level, your task is to analyse the writing. To get a high mark, you need to demonstrate a strong understanding of literary devices, language choices, and the author’s purpose.

If you are at SL, you will have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete the analysis of one text. On the other hand, HL students must provide two essays within 2 hours and 15 minutes.

IB English Language and Literature exam covers  diverse text types. They might include magazine articles, blog posts, speeches, interview scripts, radio transcripts, instruction manuals, brochures, web pages, and much more.

Besides, some texts will represent literary excerpts from the following categories:

• non-fiction prose (scientific articles or essays);
• fictional prose (novels, short stories, etc.);
• dramatic plays;

At least one text is likely to include a visual element, such as an image or a cartoon. You will need to analyse the relation between the text and the visual.

IB English and Literature Paper 1 Marking Criteria

Paper 1 contributes 35% to your overall score. A perfect answer will bring you 20 points distributed across four marking criteria . These criteria assess not only how well you understand the text but also how effectively you express your thoughts. As you will recall from other exams the understanding mark scheme is central to maximising your score.

Criterion A: Understanding and Interpretation (5 marks)

Criterion A focuses on your ability to grasp the main ideas and themes of the text. To excel here, it is important to identify key ideas, convey a profound analysis (author’s purpose, intended audience, literary devices, etc.), and support your claims with textual evidence. 

Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation (5 marks)

This criterion tests your ability to evaluate the text’s effectiveness. In particular, how successful you are at analysing the writer’s use of language (vocabulary and structure) and the impact they want to have on a reader.

Criterion C: Focus and Organisation (5 marks)

To earn 5 marks with this criterion, you need to make sure your essay has an appropriate structure, and your writing – an efficient flow. Each paragraph should have a focused point and smoothly connect with other elements of your essay.

Criterion D: Language (5 marks)

This criterion looks closely at your usage of English. It demands clear, concise, and fluent writing. To do so, you need to demonstrate a strong vocabulary with precise word choice and good grammar, as well as maintain an appropriate tone.

A Practical Guide to Writing Essays Paper 1

A quarter of points fall on the criterion Focus and Organisation. It goes without saying that a clear structure is important to help the examiner understand your thoughts. The following tips will give you an idea of how to effectively present your essay.

Writing a Strong Thesis Statement in the Introduction

The introductory paragraph of your Paper 1 essay helps set the stage for the following analyses. One of the most important elements of this section is the thesis statement, i.e. a single sentence that outlines your central argument and demonstrates your understanding of the text’s message. A strong thesis is a must to showcase your analytical skills from the get-go.

How do you make sure that your thesis is strong? First of all, you must clearly articulate your main argument or interpretation of the text. Besides, the thesis has to present a debatable point of view. This allows room for discussion and it invites an examiner to engage with your analysis.

In addition to the thesis, your introduction must contain brief information about the text itself. Many IB teachers unckuding those on the TutorsPlus tutoring teamsuggest using the TAPAC structure to complete this section. It stands for the following:

• Text Type: Start your introduction by identifying the type of text – is it a poem, a news article, or perhaps a dramatic excerpt?
•   Author: Briefly introduce the author, mentioning any relevant biographical details that might shed light on their writing style or perspective.
•   Purpose: Analyse the author’s intent in creating the text. Do they want to inform, persuade, or entertain the reader? What message are they trying to convey?
• Audience: Consider the intended audience for the text as it may inform your analysis.
• Context: Provide any relevant background information about the text’s historical or cultural context that might influence its meaning.

Choosing the Right Essay Structure for IB English Paper 1

Once you’ve provided a compelling thesis statement, it’s time to build the body of your Paper 1 essay.

Many students struggle with body paragraphs, not because they lack ideas, but because they have too many of them. To help you avoid losing your focus, we recommend the PEEL structure. Its goal is to promote clear organisation of your thoughts and guide your analyses.

Let’s imagine that your unseen text is a story about a character lost in a desert. This is how you can analyse it using the PEEL structure.

Each paragraph of your essay must contain arguments about a specific aspect of the text. They are something like mini-thesis statements that elaborate on your overall thesis.

For example, if you wish to describe how the author uses various techniques to convey the protagonist’s mood, you can write the following: “The author utilises vivid imagery to create a sense of isolation, which contributes to the text’s exploration of the protagonist’s emotional state.”

Ideally, you should have three points. If you’re confident in your time management skills, you can introduce four points (especially at HL) but don’t go beyond that. Can you have a good score if you have only two? Well, examiners consider both the depth and breadth of your analyses, that’s why you have better chances with more points than fewer.

E: Evidence

This means that you need to provide evidence from the text that supports your point. This could be a specific quote, a stylistic technique, or a key detail within the text. For instance: “The author uses a metaphor on line 12, comparing the protagonist’s surroundings to a ‘vast, empty desert.'”

After providing evidence, explain how it supports your point. In particular, you can discuss what the author wants to achieve with the selected literary device and how it is supposed to affect a reader. For example, you can pinpoint that the desert metaphor reflects the protagonist’s feelings of loneliness and isolation. Overall, your explanation should allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the author’s craft and the impact of their choices.

Finally, you should connect your point and evidence back to the overall purpose of the text. What is the text’s meaning and significance? How does it help to see the bigger picture? For example, the protagonist’s isolation might contribute to the text’s exploration of the human need for connection.

Remember, the PEEL is guidance, not a rigid formula. You can easily adapt it to your specific points and evidence. However, it is important to maintain a clear connection between your analysis and the overall purpose of the text.

Writing a Literate and Understandable Text

IB English programme is all about using language effectively. While typos or grammatical hiccups might slide in other subjects, English simply has higher standards. But a great Paper 1 essay goes beyond just grammar. It also puts your literary devices to the test to see how convincing and flexible your language is.

As we have already mentioned, Criterion D is responsible for assessing your English. To earn 5 marks, examiners will be looking for:

• Accuracy in Grammar. Your essay doesn’t have to be perfect grammar-wise. However, if it is riddled with errors, they will simply distract from your ideas. That’s why your goal is to maintain a ‘high degree of accuracy in grammar’.
•   Flexibility in Choosing Sentences. Varying sentence structures will keep your writing interesting and show that you’re in control of the language.
•   Wide Vocabulary. Precise and vivid words can maximise your chances of scoring high.
•   Creative Devices . Things such as figurative language (similes, metaphors, etc.) can truly add depth to your analysis. It is actually a good idea to use the same techniques as the author since it shows your understanding of their creative language.

Summing up, if your goal is all 20 marks, ensure that your writing is clear, grammatically sound, and skilful.

Proper Paragraphing

When producing your English essay, keep in mind a three-part structure: Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion. The introduction and Conclusion will have their separate paragraphs, while the Main Body should feature an individual paragraph for each point. These could be a specific theme, literary devices, key features of the unseen text, etc. So, if you present three points, ensure to break them into three paragraphs for a more cohesive look.

Having said that, you can’t just string together isolated paragraphs. Ideally, you should use linking sentences that bridge the gap between your points. Try to avoid such cliché phrases as “Another aspect of the text is…” Instead, use more variation to create a smooth flow of ideas. Remember, a cohesive essay feels greater than the sum of its parts, that’s why natural transitions are a must.

Because of the sheer number of IB English papers examiners need to process each year, they often skim essays. In this case, a well-structured essay with a clear flow of ideas will always hold an edge over an unstructured essay with excellent but disconnected content.

Using Quotations and Examples from the Text

You must build your arguments on a foundation of well-chosen quotes and textual references. The key here is ‘well-chosen’ – you should be looking for quotes that directly support the specific point you’re making in each body paragraph.

The paragraphs can contain more than one quote. Ideally, you can try to select quotations from the beginning, middle, and end of the text and note any developments in their device or style. But don’t overdo with quotations since your Paper 1 essay isn’t about citing the author but about analysing their work. Therefore, it is important to find a balance between using textual evidence and your own analytical voice.

Here are some other suggestions that will make your use of quotes more effective:

• Always properly reference the specific line or page numbers;
• Instead of using long quotations, rely on key phrases or single lines;
•   Focus on specific details within quotes and explain how they contribute to your argument;
• Integrate the quotes seamlessly within your paragraph structure to ensure a smooth flow.

Proper quotation is important not only to support your argument but also to prove your ability to engage with unseen texts.

Writing a Conclusion

The conclusion of your IB English Paper 1 analysis serves a dual purpose: not only does it wrap up your argument but also leaves a lasting impression on the examiner. Sometimes, it is even an opportunity to complete your thesis statement with newfound insight. If you’ve discovered a subtle layer of meaning during your analysis, you should definitely highlight it in the conclusion.

Whether you have additional observations or not, you need to offer a concise recap of the main areas you explored and remind the examiner of the key arguments you’ve presented. It is best to avoid lengthy recaps since your body paragraphs should already provide a detailed analysis.

When writing a conclusion, your goal is to make it as persuasive as the introduction. To do so, you may use the following persuasive appeals:

• Appeal to Logic (Logos). Conclude with a final logical statement that reinforces your overall analysis. It should clearly show your point of view about the text’s meaning and impact.
• Appeal to Emotion (Pathos). If appropriate for the text, consider leaving a thought-provoking question or a sense of emotional resonance.
•   Appeal to Ethics (Ethos). It is a good idea to reference a relevant literary scholar or critical theory. If possible, you can even state the impact of the text on the culture or a famous figure.

A well-crafted conclusion will contribute to marks according to every criterion. That’s why keeping it on par with your overall essay is a must.

Using a Unified Language Style

A successful Paper 1 IB English essay demonstrates a profound understanding of the unseen text, and this extends to your writing style as well. Showing your own clear and analytical voice is important but you should also strive to subtly reflect the tone and style of the excerpt.

Is the text a formal speech by a political leader? Then it would be great to adopt a more formal tone. On the other hand, if you’re working with a humorous blog post, informal language might be more appropriate.

Whatever style you see fit, stick to it throughout your essay. It won’t look cohesive with a formal introduction and informal main body, let alone with a tone shift across paragraphs. Remember, consistent language style is one of the requirements of the Criterion D: Language.

How to Practice and Prepare for IB English Paper 1?

So, now you know how to meet IB English Language and Literature Paper 1 criteria… in theory. However, true mastery comes with consistent practice. Here is what you can do to be ready to write a well-scoring literary analysis.

Practice Regularly with Past Papers and Sample Texts

Past papers are an invaluable revision resource. First of all, they can introduce you to a variety of formats and genres you are likely to encounter in your exam. Along with that, if you get familiar with past paper questions, you can gain a clear understanding of the specific demands of each task. When you know what to anticipate and are able to prepare for it, your chances of success increase dramatically.

Here you can learn more about some sample text types and possible answers.

English is not kind of subject where you need to memorise a lot of terms. What it tests is your ability to apply your analytical skills to diverse texts. Past papers provide the perfect platform for this application. In particular, you get to test your understanding of literary devices, thematic exploration, and textual analysis in a practical setting.

Apart from that, past papers contribute to building your confidence. With each practice session, you’ll gain experience in constructing compelling thesis statements, adapting your writing style to different text types, and persuasively arguing your interpretations. By the time you approach exam day, you should get comfortable with analysing any text type that may come your way. 

After completing every training essay, take the time to critically review your writing. Are there areas where you stumbled? Did you get to provide a strong thesis statement and effectively analyse a literary device? Try to give honest answers since they will allow you to find areas for improvement.

If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, then get in touch with us. Our tutors are expereinced IB teachers and examiners and can give you this kind of feedback quickly.

Seek Feedback from Teachers

You cannot objectively assess your own work? Then your teacher should be able to help. Of course, you cannot expect them to mark every essay you write, but they might agree to review a few and offer valuable feedback

Their guidance can also extend beyond this. Many teachers incorporate in-class writing exercises. If you analyse the feedback they give carefully, you will be able to identify your weaknesses and actively work on rectifying those mistakes. Learning from past errors is key to avoiding them on exam day.

You don’t want to bother your teacher? Then how about cooperating with your classmates? You can form a study group to practise with past papers, exchange your answers, and get an honest opinion of each other’s work. This can also help you experience the creative thinking and arguing of others.

There is one more great way to understand how you’re faring – an IB English tutor . Thanks to their tailored feedback on your writing, they may identify recurring patterns in your mistakes, and offer strategies for improvement.

Use the IB Mark Scheme as a Guide

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a cheat sheet telling you exactly what examiners are looking for in your IB English Paper 1 response? That’s basically what mark schemes are. These detailed guides break down the exact things examiners consider when grading your analysis.

This means that you can rely on mark schemes as a sort of briefing for your analysis. Besides, they show what separates a good response from a great one. Knowing your goals and what to do to achieve them can let you tailor your writing accordingly.

Writing a successful IB English Paper 1 response is no walk in the park. But if you know what makes a good literature analysis and you can apply this knowledge in practice, a high score is almost in the bag.

Remember, consistent essay writing with the criteria in mind is key. Use the tips and strategies we’ve outlined to formulate your arguments and structure the analysis effectively.

Sometimes, however, studying on your own might not be enough, especially if you are not sure if you can meet the marking criteria. Here’s where an experienced tutor can make a world of difference.

At TutorsPlus, we understand the unique challenges of the IB English Language and Literature exam. Our team of highly qualified English tutors (who are also certified examiners) can provide the guidance and feedback you need to succeed.

So, if you wish to convert all your hard work into 20 points, don’t hesitate to contact us at 41 022 731 8148 or [email protected] . We are here to help you refine your analytical skills, improve your response structure, and simply give you more confidence.

Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education.  She is also a parent of two lively children.

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The Best IB English Study Guide and Notes for SL/HL

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Are you taking IB English and need some help with your studying? No need to reread all the books and poems you covered in class! This study guide is for IB English A students (students in IB English A: literature SL/HL, IB English A: language and literature SL/HL, or IB English literature and performance SL ) who are looking for additional guidance on writing their commentaries or essays.

I've compiled this IB English study guide using the best free materials available for this class. Use it to supplement your classwork and help you prepare for exams throughout the school year.

What's Tested on the IB English Exams?

The IB English courses are unique from other IB classes in that they don't have a very rigid curriculum with exact topics to cover. Instead, your class (or most likely your teacher) is given the freedom to choose what works (from a list of prescribed authors and a list of prescribed literature in translation from IBO) to teach. The exams reflect that freedom.

On the exam for all English A courses, you're asked to write essays that incorporate examples from novels, poems, plays, and other texts you've read. You're also asked to interpret a text that you've read for the first time the day of the exam.

The exact number of questions you'll have to answer varies by the course , but the types of questions asked on each all fall into the two categories listed above.

What's Offered in This Guide?

In this guide, I have compiled materials to help teach you how to interpret poetry and how to structure your essay/commentary. I've also provided notes on several books typically taught in IB English SL/HL.

This should be most of the material you need to study for your IB exam and to study for your in-class exams.

How to Interpret Poetry Guides

Many people struggle the most with the poetry material, and if you're one of those people, we have some resources specifically for making poetry questions easier.

Here is a full explanation of how to interpret poetry for the IB exam with term definitions, descriptions of types of poems, and examples. We also have tons of poetry resources on our blog that range from explaining specific terms all the way to complete, expert analyses of poems you should know.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Imagery defined
• Everything you need to know about Point of View 
• The 20 poetic devices you should know 
• Understanding allusion 
• A crash course on Romantic poetry 
• Understanding personification 
• Famous sonnets, explained
• An expert guide to understanding rhyme and meter, including iambic pentameter
• The eight types of sonnets 
• Expert analysis of "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas

This is another great resource with poetry terms defined on "flashcards" , and you can test yourself on the site by clicking "play."

How to Write Your Essay Guide

If you're not sure how to write your essay, here's a guide to what your essay should look like for the IB English SL/HL papers. This guide gives advice on how you should structure your essay and what you should include in it. It also contains a few sample questions so you can get a better idea of the types of prompts you can expect to see.

IB English Book Notes

Based on the list of prescribed authors and literature from IBO, I picked some of the most popular books to teach and provided links to notes on those works. What's important to remember from these books is key moments, themes, motifs, and symbols, so you can discuss them on your in-class tests and the IB papers.

• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• A Farewell to Arms
• Animal Farm
• All the Pretty Horses
• A Streetcar Named Desire
• Anna Karenina
• As I Lay Dying
• Brave New World
• Crime and Punishment
• Death of a Salesman
• A Doll's House
• Don Quixote
• Dr. Zhivago
• Frankenstein
• Great Expectations
• Heart of Darkness
• Lord of the Flies
• Love in the Time of Cholera
• Love Medicine
• One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
• Romeo & Juliet
• Sense and Sensibility
• The Awakening
• The Bluest Eye
• The Great Gatsby
• The Picture of Dorian Gray
• The Stranger
• The Sun Also Rises
• Waiting for Godot

The Best Study Practices for IB English

Hopefully, this guide will be an asset to you throughout the school year for in-class quizzes as well as at the end of the year for the IB exam. Taking practice tests is also important, and you should also look at our other article for access to FREE IB English past papers to help you familiarize yourself with the types of questions asked by the IBO (and I'm sure your teacher will ask similar questions on your quizzes).

Make sure you're reading all of the novels and poetry assigned to you in class, and take detailed notes on them. This will help you remember key themes and plot points so you don't find yourself needing to reread a pile of books right before the exam.

Finally, keep up with the material you learn in class, and don't fall behind. Reading several novels the week before the IB exam won't be much help. You need to have time and let the material sink in over the course of the class, so you're able to remember it easily on the day of the IB exam.

What's Next?

Want some more study materials for IB English? Our guide to IB English past papers has links to every free and official past IB English paper available!

Are you hoping to squeeze in some extra IB classes ? Learn about the IB courses offered online by reading our guide.

Not sure where you want to go to college? Check out our guide to finding your target school. Also, figure out your target SAT score or target ACT score .

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As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography.

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