Syllabus Overview
Higher Level
Assessment | Text | Format | Task | Time | % |
Paper 1 | Two literary | Previously unseen | Two written analyses | 2 h 15 min | 35% |
Paper 2 | Two literary | Studied in class | One written analysis on one of four prompts | 1 h 45 min | 25% |
HL Essay | One literary | Studied in class | One written analysis on a topic of student’s choice (1200-1500 words) | 20% | |
Individual Oral | One original and one translation | Studied in class | One oral analysis on a global issue | 15 min | 20% |
Standard Level
Assessment | Text | Format | Task | Time | % |
Paper 1 | Two literary | Previously unseen | One written analysis on one of two texts | 1 h 15 min | 35% |
Paper 2 | Two literary | Studied in class | One written analysis on one of four prompts | 1 h 45 min | 25% |
Individual Oral | One original and one translation | Studied in class | One oral analysis on a global issue | 15 min | 20% |
Assessment Criteria
Paper 1
Criterion A | Understanding and interpretation | 5 marks |
Criterion B | Analysis and evaluation | 5 marks |
Criterion C | Focus and organization | 5 marks |
Criterion D | Language | 5 marks |
Total | 20 marks |
Paper 2
Criterion A | Knowledge, understanding and interpretation | 10 marks |
Criterion B | Analysis and evaluation | 10 marks |
Criterion C | Focus and organization | 5 marks |
Criterion D | Language | 5 marks |
Total | 30 marks |
HL Essay
Criterion A | Knowledge, understanding and interpretation | 5 marks |
Criterion B | Analysis and evaluation | 5 marks |
Criterion C | Focus and organization | 5 marks |
Criterion D | Language | 5 marks |
Total | 20 marks |
Individual Oral
Criterion A | Knowledge, understanding and interpretation | 10 marks |
Criterion B | Analysis and evaluation | 10 marks |
Criterion C | Focus and organization | 10 marks |
Criterion D | Language | 10 marks |
Total | 40 marks |
Syllabus Notes
Overall
•
A single text may NOT be used more than once across multiple assessments
•
Grading criteria are consistent across all assessments, and identical between HL and SL
◦
In other words, the same skills and standards are expected regardless of the course
◦
HL and SL differ in terms of workload, but NOT in terms of difficulty or depth
Paper 1
•
Each given passage is short, 1-2 pages long
•
The same two passages are used for both HL and SL
•
One or two guiding questions are provided for each passage at both HL and SL
•
For Literature, typically one of the two passages is prose while the other passage is a poem or a playscript.
Paper 2
•
Long literary texts—novels and plays—are typically used
◦
A collection of shorter texts like poems can be used but is often more difficult
•
Texts cannot be brought to the exam, meaning quotes are not required nor is it necessary to memorize quotes beforehand. However, memorizing certain quotes can be helpful in making arguments, so that’s a choice to be made.
•
The same four prompts are used for both HL and SL
HL Essay
•
Typically completed between second half of DP1 year and first half of DP2 year
•
Using one long literary text is recommended
◦
A collection of shorter texts like poems or literary texts can be used but is often more difficult
•
Topic can be chosen from any aspect of the text
•
While the topic should be specific, it cannot be so narrow that writing a sufficient length becomes problematic
◦
Analysis should cover a large portion of the text, and NOT come from a single scene or passage
•
Secondary sources are not required, but the primary source must be formally cited
Individual Oral
•
Typically completed between second half of DP1 year and first half of DP2 year
•
Conducted in a one-on-one setting with the teacher, the assessment comprises 10 minutes of spoken analysis followed by 5 minutes of questions from the teacher
◦
Oral is recorded and may be submitted to IB
•
NOT an impromptu task, but prepared in advance
•
IB prescribes the following prompt:
•
“Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of two of the works that you have studied.”
•
From one literary work and one non-literary text studied in class, an extract of 40 lines or less from each text is chosen
•
Each extract should not only depict the global issue but also carry significance within the whole text and contain stylistic choices for analysis
•
Brought to the Oral are unannotated copies of the extracts and an IB-regulated outline on which a maximum of 10 bullet points is written
•
This outline is submitted to the teacher, and may be submitted to IB
Texts
Literary works
HL | SL | |
Number
of works | Thirteen literary works:
• Five works originally in English from the prescribed reading list
• Four works in translation from the prescribed reading list
• Four works chosen freely | Nine literary works:
• Four works originally in English from the prescribed reading list
• Three works in translation from the prescribed reading list
• Two works chosen freely |
Literary
forms | Four literary forms | Three literary forms |
Period | Three periods | Three periods |
Place | Four countries or regions in at least two continents | Three countries or regions in at least two continents |
•
One author cannot be studied more than once
•
Literary forms: Drama, Poetry, Prose: fiction, Prose: non-fiction
◦
Prose: non-fiction refers to a work of creative non-fiction, which is considered a literary work → can overlap with a non-literary text
•
Period: the century during which the author was active
•
One literary work is defined as:
◦
One long literary text, such as a novel or play
◦
Two or more shorter literary texts, such as novellas
◦
5-10 short stories
◦
10-15 letters
◦
A substantial section or the whole of a long poem at least 600 lines long
◦
15-20 shorter poems
•
When more than one text is studied as part of a single work, the texts must all be written by the same author
•
A work studied in class may NOT be used for the Extended Essay, but a different work written by an author studied in class may be used
•
Prescribed reading list: https://ibpublishing.ibo.org/prl/
