Official exam-style questions across all units
This practice test covers all major units of IB English Language & Literature, following the official IB assessment style and difficulty level.
Review concept notes first, or jump straight into the exam. Answers are revealed instantly — final answer key is at the end.
IB English examines prose fiction, poetry, drama, and non-literary texts. Key genre conventions shape how meaning is constructed. Recognise narrative perspective (1st, 2nd, 3rd person), dramatic structure (Freytag's pyramid), and poetic form (sonnet, ode, free verse).
A poem with 14 lines in iambic pentameter with a volta at line 9 is most likely a(n):
Master the following for analysis: metaphor, simile, imagery, symbolism, irony, alliteration, assonance, anaphora, enjambment, caesura, juxtaposition, foreshadowing, allegory.
"The world is too much with us; late and soon, / Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers"
The deliberate pause after "us" in line 1 is an example of:
Paper 1 presents an unseen text (prose or poem). You must write a guided analysis responding to a guiding question. Key skills: close reading, identifying purpose, analysing language choices, linking form to meaning.
HL students also write an independent literary essay. Marks are awarded for: Understanding & Interpretation (30%) · Analysis (30%) · Focus & Organisation (30%) · Language (10%)
Compare two works studied in class in response to a thematic question. Must demonstrate knowledge of literary conventions, authorial choices, cultural/historical context, and construct a sustained literary argument.
A good comparative essay does NOT merely alternate between texts. It integrates comparison within each paragraph, using connectives like "whereas," "similarly," "in contrast."
Distinguish between author, narrator, implied author, and characters. Unreliable narrator: a narrator whose credibility is compromised. Free indirect discourse: 3rd person narration that slips into character's thoughts without quotation marks.
IB English values contextual reading: historical, biographical, political, and cultural context shapes textual meaning. However, avoid "intentional fallacy" — you cannot claim certain knowledge of the author's intent. Use hedging: "the author may suggest…", "one reading is…"
For Language & Literature courses: analyse advertisements, speeches, social media, journalism. Use the SLIMS framework: Sender, Language, Intention, Message, Style. Also apply: register, tone, bias, persuasive techniques, audience positioning.
The IO is a 15-minute oral assessment where students discuss a literary and a non-literary text around a global issue. The HL Essay is a 1,200–1,500 word formal literary essay. Both require clear thesis, textual evidence, and analysis of authorial choices.
Global Issue → How it manifests in Text 1 (literary) → How it manifests in Text 2 (non-literary) → Authorial choices and their effect on audience.
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Answer Key & Detailed Explanations · All 20 Questions