IB English A vs English B

Subject Group

Group 1 (Studies in Language and Literature). 

Group 2 (Language Acquisition)

Target Students

Students taking this course are either native or near-native speakers and are highly proficient in English. They are able to understand complex texts and write detailed essays.

Students taking this course are non-native speakers who have studied English as a foreign or second language and are developing proficiency. They are still developing their vocabulary and can read/produce texts of basic or intermediate quality.

Main Focus

The main focus is on critical literary analysis, cultural context, and interpretation of complex texts. It also emphasizes how language shapes meaning and identity.

The main focus is on developing communication skills, vocabulary, and fluency for real-life contexts. It also focuses on understanding and expressing ideas clearly in English

Learning Objectives

Students are encouraged to explore various aspects of language and literature and analyze how authors use stylistic and cultural elements to create meaning.

Students learn skills in communicating effectively in English and understanding texts and media relevant to global and social contexts. Students also develop their speaking skills in simple interactions.

CEFR Level

Students are approximately in the C1–C2 level on the CEFR scale, which mean they are advanced/proficient users.

Students are approximately in the B1–B2 level on the CEFR scale, which mean they are intermediate/upper intermediate users. Students who achieve a grade of 7 in English B HL can be considered to be in the C1 level.

Course Variants

There are two options – English A: Literature and English A: Language and Literature. Both options are available at SL and HL.

There is only one option available at both SL and HL.

Text Types

Text types studied involve literary texts (novels, plays, poems), non-literary texts (ads, speeches, journalism, graphic novels – only for English A Language & Literature), and cultural media.

Text types studied involve everyday and thematic texts (articles, letters, interviews, blogs, short stories, etc.) related to social and cultural issues.

Writing Tasks

Written tasks require high-level critical thinking in the form of analytical essays, commentaries, comparative essays, and creative responses. Writing is formal and academic.

Written tasks involve text production based on practical and informal contexts such as writing emails, articles, reviews, or letters.

External Assessments

Paper 1 focuses on a guided textual analysis of one or two unseen texts (depending on SL/HL) to explore how meaning is created through language and form.

Paper 2 focuses on a comparative essay, where students compare two works studied in class, in response to a thematic question. Students can answer one question out of a choice of four.

Paper 1 focuses on productive skills, where students focus on one writing task from a choice of three (e.g., email, article, or essay).

Paper 2 focuses on receptive skills and tests reading and listening comprehension through a variety of text types (articles, interviews, advertisements).

Individual Oral (IO)

The internal assessment consists of an IO, which is a 10-minute oral analysis followed by a discussion. Students either connect two literary texts (English A Literature) or one literary and one non-literary text (English A Language and Literature) through a global issue (e.g., identity, inequality, power).

The internal assessment consists of an IO, which is a 12 to 15-minute discussion. At SL, students have to discuss a visual stimulus (e.g., photo, poster) related to course themes, while at HL, students have to a discuss a literary extract in relation to a global issue.