Language-B · IB Diploma Programme
Language B Exam Tips
In IB Language B, candidates often think that fluency is the only thing that stands between them and a Level 7. However, the official examiner reports tell a different story. In Paper 1 (Writing), brilliant prose is regularly capped at a mediocre score simply because of structura…
Papers
2
Total marks
70
Time limit
2h 15min
Grade scale
1234567
Additional note
Calculator policy
A calculator is not normally required for this subject.
2
Papers
6
Strategies
6
Mistakes
- In IB Language B, candidates often think that fluency is the only thing that stands between them and a Level 7. However, the official examiner reports tell a different story. In Paper 1 (Writing), brilliant prose is regularly capped at a mediocre score simply because of structural oversights. Examiners assess three distinct criteria: Criterion A (Language), Criterion B (Message), and Criterion C (Conceptual Understanding). Many students focus heavily on vocabulary (Criterion A) while neglecting formatting rules (Criterion C) and prompt fulfillment (Criterion B). To access the 10-12 band in Criterion B, your ideas must be fully developed and directly address all parts of the prompt. If you ignore even a single sub-prompt, your mark is capped at the 4-6 band. Top scorers treat the prompt as a literal checklist and allocate equal cognitive effort to every single aspect before writing.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.