At a glance
- Group
- Group 1: Studies in language and literature
- Paper 1
- Unseen literary passages: SL one, HL two
- Paper 2
- Comparative essay, 1 h 45 min
- HL essay
- 1,200 to 1,500 words, 20%
- Works
- Includes works in translation; required number reduced from May 2026
Assessment at SL and HL
| Component | SL | HL | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: guided literary analysis | 1 h 15 min, 35% | 2 h 15 min, 35% | Unseen passages from different literary forms, each with a guiding question; SL answers one, HL answers both |
| Paper 2: comparative essay | 1 h 45 min, 35% | 1 h 45 min, 25% | One question from four, comparing two works studied in class |
| Individual Oral | 15 min, 30% | 15 min, 20% | A global issue explored through extracts from one work originally in English and one work in translation |
| HL essay | Not taken | 1,200 to 1,500 words, 20% | A formal essay on one studied work, assessed by the IB |
The 2024 update (first assessment May 2026) reduced the number of works students must study and revised the Paper 2 criteria so comparison is rewarded directly.
What the course involves
Students read across forms (prose fiction, poetry, drama and literary non-fiction), periods and places, chosen by the teacher from the IB's prescribed reading list rules. A share of the works must be in translation, which is often a student's first encounter with world literature studied seriously. The same three areas of exploration as Lang Lit organise the course: readers, writers and texts; time and space; and intertextuality.
Unlike Lang Lit, every text is literary, so Paper 1 can be a poem, a prose extract or a scene. Students need to be comfortable with all of them, because they choose between two passages in different forms on the day.
Common problems, and what fixes them
- Avoiding poetry in Paper 1. Students who only ever pick prose are stuck if the prose passage is hard. Regular unseen poetry practice gives them a real choice.
- Plot summary in Paper 2. Examiners know the works; they reward argument about how the writers shape meaning. Practise thesis-led comparison from the first term.
- Thin knowledge of the works. Without specific references and short quotations memorised, Paper 2 answers stay general. Build a small, flexible quotation bank per work.
- Weak global issue in the oral. The issue must be genuinely present in both extracts; a vague issue makes the analysis drift.
- An HL essay that retells the text. A narrow, arguable line of inquiry, set early, makes the difference.
How one-to-one Literature lessons work
Lessons with a tutor who teaches IB Literature alternate between the student's set works and unseen passages. For Paper 1, the student annotates a passage on the shared whiteboard, sets out a line of argument against the guiding question, and writes a timed section that the tutor marks against the criteria. For Paper 2, the tutor helps the student build comparisons between their actual works that survive any of the four questions.
For the oral and HL essay, the tutor helps with extract choice, line of inquiry and feedback on plans and practice. The written essay and the oral are the student's own, as IB rules require.
Universities and Literature
Literature HL is a natural choice for English, law, history and other essay-based degrees. Both Literature and Lang Lit meet the Diploma's Group 1 requirement, so the choice is about interest and strengths rather than recognition.
Common questions
Is IB English Literature harder than Lang Lit?
Not formally; the assessment structure and weightings are identical. Literature involves more literary reading, including works in translation, so it suits students who read widely. Lang Lit suits students who enjoy analysing media and non-literary texts.
How many works does my child study?
It depends on level and on the 2024 update, which reduced the required number from May 2026. Your child's school course plan lists the actual works; HL always studies more than SL.
What happens in the Individual Oral?
The student speaks for ten minutes on how a global issue is presented in an extract from a work originally in English and an extract from a work in translation, then answers five minutes of teacher questions.
Can a tutor help with unseen poetry?
Yes. It is one of the most common reasons families look for an IB Literature tutor, and regular short practice with feedback moves it quickly.
How much do IB English Literature lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Each lesson is 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.