At a glance
- Ages
- About 11 to 16
- Criteria
- A Analysing, B Organising, C Producing text, D Using language
- Final grade
- 1 to 7
- eAssessment
- Optional 2-hour on-screen exam in year 5
- Leads to
- IB Diploma English A (Lang Lit or Literature)
The four criteria
| Criterion | What it assesses | Max |
|---|---|---|
| A: Analysing | How well the student analyses content, context, language, structure and technique, with evidence | 8 |
| B: Organising | How clearly ideas are structured, and how well references and format are used | 8 |
| C: Producing text | Creativity, insight and the choices a writer or speaker makes for an audience and purpose | 8 |
| D: Using language | Range and accuracy of vocabulary, grammar, register and, in speaking, delivery | 8 |
Teachers add the four scores (out of 32) and convert: 1 to 5 is a 1, 6 to 9 a 2, 10 to 14 a 3, 15 to 18 a 4, 19 to 23 a 5, 24 to 27 a 6, and 28 to 32 a 7.
What students do in the course
Units combine a set text or texts with a conceptual focus, such as perspective, character or style, and a global context. Typical assessed tasks include a literary essay, a comparative analysis, a creative piece with a commentary, a speech or presentation, and an analysis of a media text. Across five years, the expectations rise from describing to analysing and evaluating.
The course is the direct preparation for Diploma English A, where students analyse unseen texts under time pressure and write comparative essays. Students who learn in the MYP to support each point with a short quotation and an explanation of its effect start the Diploma well ahead.
Where students lose marks
- Retelling the plot instead of analysing technique (criterion A).
- Quotations without explanation. Every quotation should be followed by what it shows and how.
- Weak structure in essays: no clear thesis, paragraphs that do not link (criterion B).
- Creative work with no sense of audience or purpose (criterion C).
- Errors in grammar, punctuation and register, especially in timed writing (criterion D).
How one-to-one lessons help
A tutor who teaches MYP Language and Literature works from your child's current text and task. Lessons build reading habits (annotating for technique and effect), essay planning on the shared whiteboard, and short pieces of writing that the tutor marks against the criteria and returns with specific next steps.
Speaking tasks benefit particularly from one-to-one practice: the student rehearses a presentation, gets feedback on structure and delivery, and tries again. For year 5 students, tutors also practise unseen-text analysis and timed writing for the on-screen exam if the school enters students for it.
Reading still matters most
Students who read widely for pleasure gain vocabulary and a feel for style that no lesson can replace. A tutor can suggest age-appropriate books that build towards the Diploma reading list.
Common questions
Is MYP Language and Literature the same as English?
It is the MYP course for the student's best language. In most English-medium international schools in the Gulf, that is English. Arabic Language and Literature is also offered in many schools.
How is my child's grade calculated?
The teacher scores each of the four criteria from 0 to 8, adds them to a total out of 32 and converts it to a grade from 1 to 7 using the IB's boundaries.
Is there an MYP English exam?
Only if the school enters students for the optional year 5 on-screen eAssessment, which lasts 2 hours. Otherwise grades come from coursework assessed by teachers.
My child loves reading but writes poorly. Can tutoring help?
Yes. Strong readers often need structure: a thesis, organised paragraphs and accurate language. Regular, marked practice is the quickest fix.
What do MYP English lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is free.
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.