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Struggling to understand IB Language B Paper 1? You've come to the right place. In this post we will break-down the paper's structure, duration, weighting, and the questions you may encounter.
IB Language B Paper 1
- At both SL and HL, Paper 1 accounts for 25% of the student's final grade.
- Paper 1 is a 30-mark essay paper.
- SL students have 1 hour 15 minutes while HL students have 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the paper.
- Both SL and HL students must answer one out of the three essay questions.
- Students must choose an appropriate format for the essay from the three provided formats.
- SL students are required to write 250 to 400 words while HL students must write between 450 to 600 words.
It is important to mention that no matter which Language B course you're studying, whether its French, Spanish, or German, Paper 1 will have the exact same structure and the same type of questions. Similarly, the syllabus is the same for all Language B choices.
In this blog will provide an IB English B sample question to allow everybody, no matter their language choice, to understand what they may expect in the exam.
A typical SL Language B Paper 1 question may look the following way:
Complete one task. Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 250 to 400 words.
1) A group of students from your high school recently won a competition called "How to reduce waste in your school". You were asked to share the details of this success with the other students. Write a text to describe the project and explain why the school should adopt the proposed solution.
- Blog
- News report
- Article
2) One of your friends is worried because, in their opinion, you play too much video games and read too few novels. You want to reassure them. Write a text to give them your opinion on video games and explain why these games are as beneficial as novels.
- Article
- Blog
3) In your city, graffiti and murals are multiplying but are often judged negatively. You want to encourage the people in your city to learn to appreciate them. Write a text to explain your positive attitude towards graffiti and to explain what they can bring to the city.
- Article
- News report
- Blog
A typical HL Language B Paper 1 question may look the following way:
Complete one task. Use an appropriate text type from the options below the task you choose. Write 450 to 600 words.
1) You notice that many languages in the world are in danger of disappearing and feel that the international community is not doing enough to save them. You want to raise awareness of this and urge the world to take action. Write a text in which you describe the causes of the languages' disappearance, explain why preserving them is important, and suggest what world leaders should do.
- Letter to the editor
- News report
- Set of guidelines
2) Your city has become a very popular destination for tourists from around the world. You have inquired into the impact of mass tourism on different groups of people in the city. You want to inform the public about your investigation. Write a text in which you describe the situation, highlight opinions from the different groups of people, and draw attention to what needs to be addressed going forward.
- News report
- Set of guidelines
- Speech
3) You have just returned from a volunteering programme overseas and have been invited to share your experience with students who are considering the same programme. Write a text in which you describe what was most challenging in achieving the programme's objectives, explain how you addressed it, and reflect on how it has changed your outlook on life.
- Letter to the editor
- Official report
- Speech
How to succeed in Language B Paper 1?
To excel in IB Language B Paper 1, it is crucial to choose a prompt that aligns with your strengths and vocabulary knowledge. Opt for a topic that you feel most comfortable with, particularly one that allows you to use vocabulary and expressions you know well. It is also absolutely crucial to select the format that is most suitable for the chosen question. Remember that each format – be it a letter, article, speech, or diary entry – has specific conventions that must be followed, such as structure, tone, and stylistic features. Use a tone and vocabulary appropriate for the format and topic, keeping in mind the intended audience and purpose of the text. Also, remember to carefully plan your response before you even start writing so that you are able to produce a well-structured and coherent text.
We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify.
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