Information about Language B, HL, SL and ab initio. Pre-conference at ECIS, Amsterdam. 21st of November, 2013.

1. IB Language B with success
Victor González
M.A in e-learning and Education

2. Standard Level

3. Paper 1
90 mins
Based on core
4 text with questions

4. How do we apply the
markscheme?
Rigid application
Flexible application

5. Paper 2
90 mins
Based on core
5 topic choices. Students select only
one.
Type of text, i.e diary letter, letter,
opinion article, etc

6. Written Assignment
3/4 hours
Based on core
300-400 words
100 word rationale
Type of text, i.e diary letter, letter,
opinion article, etc
Dictionaries and other material
allowed but not electronic devices
Based on 3 texts sources

7. Individual Oral
15 minutes preparation
8-10 minutes exam
2 Previously unseen pictures with
captions
Externally assessed

8. Interactive Oral
Classroom based activities
Internally assessed

9. Higher Level

10. Paper 1
90 mins
Based on core
5 texts with questions

11. How do we apply the
markscheme?
Rigid application
Flexible application

12. Paper 2
90 mins
Section A
Based on options
5 topic choices. Students select one
250-400 words
Type of text, i.e diary letter, letter,
opinion article, etc
Section B
Based on core
Written response in 150-400 words
Answer with convincing arguments

13. Written Assignment
4/5 hours
Based on one literary work (book
or short story)
500-600 words
150 word rationale
Type of text, i.e diary letter, letter,
opinion article, etc
Dictionaries and other material
allowed but not electronic devices

14. Individual Oral
15 minutes preparation
8-10 minutes exam
2 Previously unseen pictures with
captions
Externally assessed

15. Standard Level
Core
Paper 1
Options
%

25
Paper 2

Written
Assignment
25

20
Individual Oral

Interactive Oral
20

10
Higher Level
Core
Paper 1
%
25


25
Written
Assignment

Individual Oral
Interactive Oral
Literature

Paper 2
Section A
Paper 2
Section B
Options


20
20
10

16. Ab Initio

17. Paper 1
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Weighting: 30%
The text booklet consists of four texts, and the question and answer booklet
contains up to 40 text-handling exercises.
Use of dictionaries and reference material is not permitted in the examination.
The maximum mark for paper 1 is 40.

18. Paper 2
Duration: 1 hour
Weighting: 25%
Section A: Short writing task (7 marks) A minimum of 50 words is
required.
Section B: Extended writing task (18 marks) A minimum of 100 words
is required.
Use of dictionaries and reference material is not permitted in the
examination.

19. Duration: Should not exceed two hours and should be conducted in a single session.
20%
Length 200–300 words
The title of the written assignment and theme from which it comes (individual and
society, leisure and work, urban and rural environment) should be the choice of
the student with guidance from the teacher.
The use of a bilingual or monolingual dictionary and reference material is permitted
in the classroom.
Sources 2–4 sources in the target language. Clean copies.
Section A: A description of the chosen topic
Section B: A comparison of the differences and/or similarities between the chosen topic in the
target culture(s) and the student’s culture(s)
Section C: A reflection related to the chosen topic
Which aspect of your chosen topic surprised you? Why do you think these cultural
similarities/differences exist?
What might a person from the target culture(s) find different about your chosen topic in your
culture(s)?
Students who fail to write the minimum number of words or who exceed the

20. Individual Oral
25%
Part 1: The student’s presentation of the visual stimulus (approximately 1–2
minutes)
At the beginning of the 15-minute preparation period, the student should be shown two
previously unseen visual stimuli. These should be from different topic areas within the three
themes and represent different genres (for example, picture, photograph, cartoon) provided by
the teacher.
They should also be relevant to the culture(s) of the country where the language is spoken.
The student is allowed to take brief working notes into the interview room for reference.
Part 2: The teacher’s questions on the visual stimulus (approximately 2–3
minutes)
Part 3: A general conversation on a broad range of topics (approximately 4–5
minutes)
This should begin with at least two questions on the written assignment and move on to
a discussion on a broad range of topics (at least two topics) from the prescribed list in the
language ab initio syllabus content.
The topics selected for discussion should be different from that of the visual stimulus and the
written assignment.
What is your written assignment about?