This unit is ≈5% of the English A L&L, across 5 lessons. Full syllabus
English A L&L · Lesson 4 of 5 · Paper 1
SL Paper 1: choosing one of two passages and writing in 75 minutes (SL)
3 quick checks <1% of the test9 min read · about 1 h with practicePreview
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At Standard Level (SL), Paper 1 gives you two unseen non-literary passages and 1 hour 15 minutes to write one guided textual analysis worth 20 marks (35% of your final course grade). Because you only analyse one passage, making a strategic choice in the first few minutes and sticking to a strict clock is the fastest way to secure top marks across Criteria A, B, C and D.
By the end you’ll be able to
Choose quickly and deliberately between two passages of different text types, by which one offers you the richest analysis rather than the more familiar topic.
Plan the 1 hour 15 minutes, for example about 15 minutes reading and planning, 50 to 55 writing and 5 checking.
Produce one complete, sustained analysis that meets all four criteria within the time.
What the exam asks
In the SL Paper 1 exam room, you receive an exam booklet containing Text A and Text B.
Both passages are previously unseen and non-literary (such as an infographic, opinion column, charity appeal, comic strip, webpage or speech).
Preview
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The two passages are always of different text types.
Each passage comes with one guiding question focused on a formal or technical aspect (for example, “How does the interplay of text and image persuade the reader to take action?”), and usually with a short source note, or provenance note (the author or creator, source and date).
You have 5 minutes of reading time before the 75-minute writing clock begins, as in every IB exam paper: you may read, but you may not write, make notes or highlight.
You must select either Text A or Text B and write a complete, continuous analysis marked out of 20 (5 marks each for Criteria A, B, C and D).
Core ideas
1. Choosing the right passage: richness over topic
When reading the two passages, your instinct will be to pick the subject matter you like best (for instance, choosing an article about sport or video games over a brochure about municipal recycling). Resist this trap. Paper 1 does not give marks for your personal opinions on the topic; Criterion B marks how convincingly you analyse and evaluate authorial choices (how words, visuals, structure and tone create meaning).
Use this three-step test during your 5-minute reading time to pick your winner:
Check the guiding question first: Does the guiding question point to a technical feature you can easily see working across the whole passage?
Test the layers of purpose (Criterion A): Does the text have both a clear literal purpose and a deeper implied tension or subtle persuasion? A rich text often tries to solve a problem for a sceptical audience.
Count your analytical hooks (Criterion B): Can you immediately spot 6 to 8 distinct choices across different categories (such as a shift in tone, a specific visual layout, connotative diction and structural sequencing)?
Selection Factor
Weak Reason to Choose
Top-Band Reason to Choose
Subject matter
“I love fashion, so I’ll pick the clothing advert.”
“I don’t know much about beekeeping, but this beekeeping leaflet uses clear visual metaphors and urgent imperative verbs.”
Text length
“Text A is a cartoon with only 20 words, so it’s faster to read.”
“Text A’s cartoon has rich visual framing, gaze, shading and verbal irony that will fill three full body paragraphs.”
Guiding question
“The question asks about ‘persuasion’, which is a simple word.”
“The question asks how ‘structural contrasts’ build the argument, giving me a ready-made three-paragraph plan.”