IB English Language & Literature: Complete System

by Min Ji Kim

25 hours on-demand

SL + HL

2025 syllabus

A complete IB English Language & Literature course covering Paper 1, Paper 2, the Individual Oral, and the HL Essay — with 25 hours of expert instruction, 181 pages of notes, and 195 question sets built to the 2025 syllabus.

This course doesn't just teach the content — it teaches you how to think like an IB examiner. Every section opens with the exact marking criteria, then walks through annotated exemplars showing what gets top marks and why. Whether you're preparing for Paper 1 unseen texts or refining your IO delivery, each lesson is focused on maximising your grade.

What you'll learn

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How to analyse any unseen text for Paper 1 — 20 text types from news articles to photographs, with guided annotation strategies

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Paper 2 essay mastery — how to choose the best prompt, select two works, and structure a comparative argument that earns full marks

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Individual Oral from start to finish — global issue framing, extract selection, IO outline, and mock question preparation

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HL Essay structure and academic writing — topic selection, research framing, and revision strategies for the extended written task

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Authorial choices and literary devices — exactly which techniques to identify, how to comment on them, and the language examiners want to see

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Two full exemplars per component (Technique & Theme essays, IO scripts) showing the difference between a 5 and a 7

Course curriculum

Built to the 2025 IB English Language & Literature syllabus — 4 components covering the complete SL and HL assessment, with 20 text-type walkthroughs in Paper 1 alone.

Paper 1

Reading and Analysis

~10h

1.1 Curricula
1.2 Writing
1.3 Essay Organization
1.4 Guiding Questions
1.5 Authorial Choices
1.6 Annotation
1.7 Sample Outline and Writing
1.8 News Article
1.9 Magazine Article
1.10 Speech
1.11 Infographic
1.12 Opinion Column
1.13 Cartoon
1.14 Magazine Cover
1.15 Advertisement
1.16 Travel Writing
1.17 Letter
1.18 Texts for Children
1.19 Charity Appeal
1.20 Photograph

Paper 2

Written Production

~6h

2.1 What is the Paper 2?
2.2 Authorial Choices
2.3 Types of Prompts
2.4 Choosing 2 Works of Study and Best Prompt
2.5 Structuring the Essay
2.6 Exemplar A: Technique Question
2.7 Exemplar B: Theme Question

Individual Oral

~7h

3.1 What is IO?
3.2 Assessment Criteria
3.3 How do I phrase my Global Issue?
3.4 How do I pick the extract?
3.5 How do I pick the Body of Work?
3.6 How should I structure my IO?
3.7 How to Prepare the IO Outline
3.8 How to prepare for the IO Questions
3.9 IO Exemplar

HL Essay

HL Essay (HL only)

~2h

4.1 HL Essay overview and requirements
4.2 Selecting a literary work and focus
4.3 Drafting, feedback, and submission

About the instructor

Cindy

IB English Language & Literature Specialist

Specialist in IB English Language & Literature and Theory of Knowledge. Cindy graduated from GSIS with a Bilingual IB Diploma and holds a Master's in Psychology from the University of Chicago. Her analytical yet approachable teaching style makes literary analysis feel clear and achievable for every student.

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Frequently asked questions

Is this course suitable for both SL and HL students?

Yes. Papers 1, 2 and the IO apply to both SL and HL. The HL Essay module is clearly marked as HL-only. SL students simply skip that final section — everything else is directly applicable.

I'm starting DP1. Is it too early to use this course?

It's a great time to start. The Paper 1 text-type walkthroughs help you build annotation habits from day one. Many DP1 students use the IO module early to understand what their teacher will eventually ask them to produce.

How long do I have access?

12 months of full access from the enrolment date. All 195 question sets, notes (181 pages), and exemplar materials are downloadable PDFs and yours to keep.

What if my child needs feedback on their actual IO or essay?

Min Ji also offers 1:1 coaching for IO preparation and essay editing at IBtheTOP. Contact us to book a session or ask about our IO editing packages.