Group 1 offers the subjects Language A English (Language and Literature) and Language A (self-taught, school supported Literature). Click on the + icons to view more information.
Language A English
Language and Literature
The Language and Literature course focuses on the idea that texts are constructed by authors who employ various techniques to create meaning, while also being rooted in their cultural context and the time and place in which they were created. Students analyze a wide variety of texts, fiction and non-fiction, written and visual, as well as constructing original texts that communicate their understanding of concepts explored in the course.
Assessment
An outline of the assessment for Language and Literature is as follows:
Assessment | Description | Value |
SL and HL Paper 1 | SL Textural Analysis. The paper consists of 2 unseen texts. Students write an analysis of 1 of these texts. HL Only Comparative Textural Analysis. The paper consists of 2 pairs of unseen texts. Students write a comparative analysis of 1 pair of texts. | SL and HL 25% |
SL and HL Paper 2 | Essay. In response to 1 of 6 questions students write an essay based on both the literary texts studied in part 3. The questions are the same at HL but the assessment criteria are different. | SL and HL 25% |
SL and HL Written Task | SL Students produce at least 3 written tasks based on material studied in the course. Students submit 1 written task for external assessment. (20 marks) This task must be 800–1,000 words in length plus a rationale of 200–300 words. HL Students produce at least 4 written tasks based on material studied in the course. Students submit 2 of these tasks for external assessment. 1 of the tasks submitted must be a critical response to 1 of the prescribed questions for the HL additional study. Each task must be 800–1,000 words in length; task 1 should be accompanied by a rationale of 200–300 words, while task 2 should be accompanied by a short outline. | SL and HL 20% |
SL and HL Internal Assessment | Individual Oral Commentary. Students comment on an extract from a literary text studied in part 4 of the course. Students are given 2 guiding questions. (15%) Further Oral Activity. Students complete at least 2 further oral activities, 1 based on part 1 and 1 based on part 2 of the course. The mark of 1 further oral activity is submitted for final assessment. (15%) | SL and HL 30% |

Language A
School-Supported Self-taught Literature
IB policy promotes respect for the literary heritage of the student’s home language and provides an opportunity for students to continue to develop oral and written skills in their mother tongue while studying in a different language of instruction.
At ISL, a student may be allowed to study his or her mother tongue as a school-supported self-taught language A literature student (SL only). As with the taught courses, the course encourages independent, original and critical thinking. Candidates create their own course, choosing works from prescribed lists.
Whenever possible, self-taught students are given assistance with specific aspects of their studies. This may be done either in a special class for the self-taught students or in a class of students preparing a taught language A, depending on the numbers of students involved. ISL policy is that self-taught language students must engage a private tutor who can assist with literary study in the mother tongue.
Previous self-taught languages at ISL have included Chinese, Dutch and French. Please contact the IBDP Coordinator to find out what other languages are available.
Assessment
An outline of the assessment for Language and Literature is as follows:
Assessment | Description | Value |
SL Written Assignment (External Assessment) | Literary essay on one Part 1 work (1,200-1,500 words) and Reflective Statement (300 to 400 words). | 25% |
SL Individual Oral Commentary (External Assessment) | Formal oral commentary based on a Part 2 work. | 15% |
SL Individual Oral Presentation (Internal Assessment) | Individual or group oral presentation based on Part 4 works. | 15% |
SL Examination Paper 1 (1.5 hours) (External Assessment) | Guided literary analysis based on one of two unseen passages. | 20% |
SL Examination Paper 2 (1.5 hours) (External Assessment) | Literary essay in response to a question based on 2 Part 3 works. | 25% |