IB English Language & Literature HL
The IB English A: Language and Literature HL course spans two years, honing critical reading and analytical thinking skills. Throughout the program, students are evaluated on their proficiency in articulating well-developed academic responses, both in spoken and written form, to various topics and global issues. The Language component of the course introduces students to diverse non-literary texts, including advertisements, films, documentaries, and other media. Meanwhile, the Literature section delves into exploring themes, character development, and the intentional authorial choices made to convey meaning and engage readers.
Course Structure and Content
Students study six literary texts at the HL level, including prose fiction, prose non-fiction, poetry, and drama. An equal number of “bodies of work” will also be studied in class, and these texts are directly applied to the assessment model. HL students are evaluated through Paper 1, Paper 2, the Individual Oral, and the Higher Level Essay.
For Paper 1, students must answer two questions and write a guided textual analysis of a guiding question. Paper 2 is the same for all courses, and this task requires students to choose one of four questions and write a comparative literary essay using two works seen in class. The Individual Oral is a 10-minute recorded presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the teacher. The goal is to show how the content and form of a work (Literature) and a body of work (Language) support a Global Issue from the course content.
Lastly, students must complete the Higher Level Essay, which is a 1500-word essay centered around a Line of Inquiry developed by the student.
More IB English Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IB English A LAL HL?
This course is an exploration of both literary and non-literary texts. At the HL level, students will study six literary works and a similar number of non-literary bodies of work. The goal is to build close reading, writing, and speaking skills to prepare students for university coursework and beyond.
What are the assessment items in the IB English A LAL HL course?
Students in this course will have four distinct assessments: Paper 1, Paper 2, Individual Oral, and the Higher Level Essay. Paper 1 focuses on textual analysis, while Paper 2 is a comparative literary essay. The Individual Oral requires students to discuss a relevant Global Issue through a literary and non-literary text. The Higher Level Essay is a formal academic essay that follows a Line of Inquiry of the student’s choosing.
How should students prepare for IB English A HL exams?
Students must read all literary texts carefully with their teacher and uncover the key themes and authorial choices that shape meaning for readers. Students must also acquire the visual literacy skills required to unpack visual texts. Revision Village provides a myriad of activities to help students build the skills they need to succeed.
How does Revision Village support IB English A LAL HL students?
RV provides a range of features to help students achieve the results they want on exams. The Questionbank contains numerous case studies to help build Paper 1 and Paper 2 skills. Prediction and Past Papers are a great place to get solutions to exams, and the Literary Bootcamps provide a powerful resource to review commonly taught literary texts. All content comes with explanatory videos to help students master key content.