IA format and timing Notes

IB English B Individual Oral (IO): Format and Timing

1. The Individual Oral (IO) is your internal assessment and counts for 25% of your final grade at both SL and HL.
2. It is designed to test how well you can communicate, analyze, and engage in real-time discussion in the target language.
3. The IO matters because:
   1. It shows your ability to use the language for authentic communication, not just memorization.
   2. It demonstrates your critical thinking, linking visual or literary material to broader themes.
   3. It gives you a chance to show cultural awareness and make personal connections.

Standard Level (SL)

1. Duration: 12–15 minutes (+ 15 minutes preparation)
2. Weighting: 25%

Preparation (15 minutes)

1. You are shown two visual stimuli, each linked to a different course theme.
2. A visual stimulus may be a photo, poster, illustration, or advertisement.
   1. You select one and prepare your presentation.
3. You can make up to 10 bullet-point notes on a blank sheet (collected after).
   1. You may not use dictionaries, notes, or electronic devices. Preparation is supervised.
   2. Notes are for reference only; they cannot be read aloud as a prepared speech.
   3. The visual stimulus and notes are collected by the teacher after the preparation.

Part 1: Presentation (3–4 minutes)

1. During the presentation, you should:
2. Briefly describe the visual stimulus.
3. Relate it to the relevant theme from the course.
4. Express your own opinions about the ideas suggested.
5. Speak spontaneously - generic pre-learned speeches will score poorly.
6. If you exceed 4 minutes, the teacher will politely stop you and move to Part 2.

Part 2: Follow-up discussion (4–5 minutes)

1. The teacher asks questions to extend your analysis. These will:
   1. Clarify or build on your points.
   2. Ask you to interpret and evaluate the stimulus further.
   3. Encourage comparisons with cultural experiences.
   4. Allow you to demonstrate understanding of target culture(s).

Part 3: General discussion (5–6 minutes)

1. Teacher shifts to at least one additional theme.
2. Expect open-ended questions.
3. Show you can connect, compare, and converse naturally.

Higher Level (HL)

1. Duration: 12–15 minutes (+ 20 minutes preparation)
2. Weighting: 25%

Preparation (20 minutes)

1. Teacher provides two extracts (up to ~300 words each), one from each of the two literary works studied.
2. Extracts are printed on plain paper, labeled with the title and author.
3. You choose one and prepare a presentation.
4. You can make up to 10 bullet-point notes (collected after).
5. No dictionaries, notes, or devices allowed. Preparation is supervised.
6. Good extracts should:
   1. Be easily identifiable from the studied works.
   2. Stimulate discussion and interpretation.
   3. Allow intercultural understanding and personal interpretation.
   4. Encourage authentic conversation with the teacher.
   5. If you exceed 4 minutes, the teacher will politely stop you and move to Part 2.

Part 1: Presentation (3–4 minutes)

1. Summarize the extract.
2. Relate it briefly to the literary work as a whole.
3. Share your opinions on the characters, events, ideas, and themes.
4. Stay focused on the extract itself: generic book reviews or pre-rehearsed speeches will not score well.

Part 2: Follow-up discussion (4–5 minutes)

1. Teacher asks open-ended questions to deepen your interpretation. Expect to:
   1. Clarify and extend your analysis.
   2. Evaluate characters, events, and themes in the extract.
   3. Make cultural and personal comparisons.
   4. Engage in authentic dialogue about the text.

Part 3: General discussion (5–6 minutes)

1. The teacher introduces one or more course themes as a starting point.
2. You build connections beyond the extract.
3. Expect to explain, compare, and evaluate ideas.
4. The focus is on interactive skills, fluency, and cultural awareness.