How to Prepare for IB Individual Orals When You Can’t Predict the Questions
Midway through your IBDP journey, your teacher will likely call you in for one of the most anxiety-inducing IB assessments: the individual oral exam, often referred to as the IO.
IB individual orals are one-on-one speaking assessments for Group 1 and Group 2 subjects, and they function much like Internal Assessments in other courses. Each subject has slightly different requirements:
- Group 1 IOs focus more heavily on literary analysis and typically include a shorter discussion or Q&A section.
- Group 2 IOs rely on visual stimuli (with the exception of Language B HL) and usually involve longer discussion sections.
While IOs carry less weight than external exams, they remain a major source of stress for many students.
Why Are Oral Exams So Stressful?
Most people like being correct—and oral exams make that incredibly difficult.
In written exams, mistakes can be crossed out, revised, or corrected. Even if examiners see errors, they know those aren’t what you want to be graded on. Oral exams don’t offer that safety net. Once something is said, it’s recorded, assessed by your teacher, and later moderated. There’s no erasing spoken mistakes.
This makes oral exams feel unforgiving, especially under IB’s strict grading criteria. The margin for error feels smaller than ever.
On top of that, switching from casual speech to formal, academic language can be difficult. Individual orals require proper register—no slang, no code-switching, and no informal phrasing. For students who regularly mix languages in daily conversation, this can feel especially unnatural.
The Turning Point: Realising Preparation Isn’t Just Memorisation
At first, my preparation focused only on content. I practised speaking about my chosen texts for English A and memorised possible extracts for my Language B oral.
But during the Q&A section of a mock oral, I realised something important: I wasn’t ready for the unexpected.
The questions pushed me beyond rehearsed responses. I needed to think, structure answers, and speak clearly—on the spot. That’s when I discovered the method that helped me most: impromptu speaking.
Why Impromptu Speaking Works
Impromptu speaking means responding without preparation. While that sounds intimidating, it mirrors exactly what happens in the discussion portion of the IO.
Practising impromptu speaking trains you to:
- Organise thoughts quickly
- Adapt to unfamiliar questions
- Maintain fluency under pressure
- Recover calmly from mistakes
Surprisingly, many students don’t practise this skill directly. Most prepare only what they can predict and hope their existing skills carry them through the rest.
But IO success depends on how well you handle what you can’t predict.
Practical Ways to Practise Impromptu Speaking
1. Question-and-Answer Practice
This is the most direct method.
Generate possible discussion questions related to your IO themes or works and practise answering them without notes. Time yourself for 1–2 minutes per response. This prepares you specifically for the discussion portion of the exam.
If you want something more unpredictable, use general debate or discussion prompts and speak about them briefly. This is especially helpful for Language B SL or ab initio students, where topics can be broad.
2. Make It Fun (and Slightly Ridiculous)
One of the most effective techniques I used involved turning nerves into humour.
Before my Language B HL oral, I explained dance moves to my friends—in formal language. It was awkward, ridiculous, and unexpectedly effective. The absurdity helped me relax, while the formality trained my brain to stay in the correct register.
You don’t have to teach dance. Other ideas include:
- Explaining a game, recipe, or routine formally
- Translating song lyrics on the spot
- Describing everyday actions in academic language
When you’re relaxed, fluency improves.
3. Turn Formal Speech into a Habit
In the days leading up to the oral, my friends and I spoke only formal language to each other whenever possible—during class discussions, group work, and even breaks.
It was awkward at first, but repetition worked. What initially felt unnatural slowly became automatic. When something becomes habitual, it becomes easier—and confidence follows.
Final Thoughts: Preparing for the Unknown
You may not know which visual stimulus, discussion question, or follow-up prompt your teacher will use—but you can prepare the skills needed to handle all of them.
Strong IO performance comes from:
- Comfort with spontaneous speaking
- Control of formal register
- Confidence in adapting your ideas in real time
By practising impromptu speaking through questions, playful activities, and daily habits, you transform anxiety into assurance.
Use the resources your teacher provides, revisit subject guides, and practise consistently—but most importantly, trust yourself. You’re more capable than you think.
Good luck—you’ve got this.
