IB English Literature SL
IB English A: Literature SL is a two-year course that fosters student appreciation of prose fiction, prose non-fiction, drama, and poetry. Students consider time and space, intertextuality, and the interaction between readers, writers, and texts. This rigorous course challenges students to develop strong academic reading, writing, and speaking 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.
Course Structure and Content
IB English A: Literature SL students study at least seven literary works during the two-year course. The focus is a deep appreciation of literature and the ability to think critically while analyzing and interpreting the authorial choices of each work and how they shape meaning concerning themes and global issues. HL students are evaluated through Paper 1, Paper 2, the Individual Oral.
For Paper 1, students will choose one of two texts and write a guided textual analysis to 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 from class. The Individual Oral is a 10-minute recording followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the teacher. The IO must include one text in English and one translated from any other language into English.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is IB English A LIT SL?
This course is an exploration of literary texts. At the SL level, students will study at least seven literary works with a minimum of two in translation. 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 LIT SL course?
Students in this course will have three distinct assessments: Paper 1, Paper 2, and the Individual Ora. Paper 1 focuses on guided textual analysis, while Paper 2 is a comparative literary essay. The Individual Oral requires students to discuss a relevant Global Issue through two literary texts (one in translation).
How should students prepare for IB English A LIT SL exams?
Students must read all literary texts carefully with their teacher and uncover the key themes and authorial choices that shape meaning for readers. 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 LIT SL 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.