IBEnglish Language & LiteratureDPEnglish A: Language and LiteratureHLRevision Notes1. Course OverviewOverviewAssessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria (DP IB English A: Language and Literature: HL): Revision Note

Nick Redgrove

Written by: Nick Redgrove

Reviewed by: Deb Orrock

Updated on

The IB Diploma Language A: Language and Literature (HL) course includes a range of internal and external assessments. Each component is designed to assess different skills, including close reading, comparison, argument development and oral communication. 

In this section we will explore: 

  • Understanding the assessment criteria

  • Component breakdown 

Understanding the assessment criteria

All assessment components in the IB Diploma Language A: Language and Literature course are assessed using four criteria. 

  • Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation

  • Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

  • Criterion C: Focus and organisation

  • Criterion D: Language

While the wording varies slightly depending on the assessment, these four criteria are used across all components. 

These criteria assess the core skills of the course:

IB English Language and Literature assessment criteria
IB English Language and Literature assessment criteria

Component breakdown

Individual Oral

Format:

  • 10-minute oral presentation and 5-minute discussion

  • One literary extract and one non-literary extract

  • Focused on a global issue

Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation

  • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the extracts and the works from which they are taken

  • Interprets the extracts in relation to a chosen global issue

Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

  • Analyses how authorial choices shape meaning

  • Evaluates how the global issue is presented

Criterion C: Focus and organisation

  • Maintains a clear focus on the global issue

  • Organises the presentation in a coherent way

Criterion D: Language

  • Uses clear, precise and appropriate language

  • Demonstrates effective oral communication skills

Paper 1: Guided Textual Analysis

Format:

  • Analysis of two unseen non-literary texts

Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation

  • Demonstrates understanding of the texts

  • Develops relevant interpretations in response to the guiding question

Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

  • Analyses the use of language, stylistic features and text structure

  • Evaluates how these choices create meaning

Criterion C: Focus and organisation

  • Maintains a clear focus on the task

  • Develops a coherent and logically structured response

Criterion D: Language

  • Uses accurate, clear and effective written expression

  • Demonstrates control of academic register

Paper 2: Comparative Essay

Format:

  • Comparative essay on two literary works

Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation

  • Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of both works

  • Develops relevant interpretations in relation to the question

Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

  • Analyses authorial choices in both works

  • Evaluates similarities and differences

  • Develops comparative analysis 

Criterion C: Focus and organisation

  • Maintains focus on the question

  • Structures the essay effectively for comparison

Criterion D: Language

  • Uses accurate, clear and effective written expression

  • Demonstrates control of academic register

HL Essay

Format:

  • 1,200-1,500 word essay on one literary work, one non-literary text or a body of work

Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation

  • Demonstrates detailed knowledge of the work

  • Develops a clear and focused line of inquiry

Criterion B: Analysis and evaluation

  • Analyses how authorial choices shape meaning

  • Evaluates the effectiveness of these choices

Criterion C: Focus and organisation

  • Develops a coherent argument

  • Maintains focus on the line of inquiry

Criterion D: Language

  • Uses formal academic language

  • Demonstrates accuracy and stylistic control

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Strong responses need to address all four criteria. For example, detailed knowledge (Criterion A) will not earn top marks without careful analysis (Criterion B). Similarly, perceptive ideas and interpretations will lose marks if they are poorly structured (Criterion C) or expressed unclearly (Criterion D).

Summary

Assessment summary: DP IB English A: Language and Literature (HL)
Assessment summary

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Author
Reviewer
Nick Redgrove

Author: Nick Redgrove

Expertise: English Content Creator

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

Deb Orrock

Reviewer: Deb Orrock

Expertise: English Content Creator

Deb is a graduate of Lancaster University and The University of Wolverhampton. After some time travelling and a successful career in the travel industry, she re-trained in education, specialising in literacy. She has over 16 years’ experience of working in education, teaching English Literature, English Language, Functional Skills English, ESOL and on Access to HE courses. She has also held curriculum and quality manager roles, and worked with organisations on embedding literacy and numeracy into vocational curriculums. She most recently managed a post-16 English curriculum as well as writing educational content and resources.