IB IO English Help: practical advice from an IB examiner

IB English Individual Oral can be tough. It is just very different from everything else you’ve experienced exam-wise. Although getting a 7 is not easy, you can improve your chances of a top score if you follow our tips to give you plenty of IB English IO help.

Together with Tao, our brilliant IB English tutor and experienced IB teacher and examiner, we are going to share some ideas on how to ace your English IO.

What is the IB English Individual Oral?

An Individual Oral is a 15-minute-long internal assessment in IB English and Literature. But because it is relatively short doesn’t mean it is easy. In fact, it can be frightening  for students because it involves an oral presentation based on two texts and afterwards an interaction with your teacher.

So, if text analysis, presenting your ideas orally, or answering tricky questions is something you find difficult, the IB English IO can really feel overwhelming, especially, when it is responsible for 20 or 30% (HL and SL respectively) of your final grade.

And here are some other things you need to know about English Internal Assessment:

• If you’re an English Literature student, you must choose two literary works for your presentation, one of which should be a work-in-translation;
• English Language and Literature students must select one literary and one non-literary work for their IO;
• You need to connect both works with a global issue, which should become a focus of your analysis. You can choose your global issue from the list provided by IBO, or come up with one on your own;
• Both works should be part of the syllabus;
• You cannot use the same works for your IO, Paper 2, or EE;
• For each selected work you need to prepare an extract of up to 40 lines (or 4-5 screenshots if you analyse a video);
• You can make notes to outline your presentation in the form of bullet points (no more than 10) or keywords. However, you can’t read them like a script.

How to Prepare for IB English IO

Next, our very own IB English IO expert Tao shares her wisdom. The following IO tips are based on her vast experience both as a tutor, an IB teacher, and an IB examiner. So, this is how you can prepare for IB English IO in the best way.

Get to Know the Individual Oral Mark Scheme

To make your English IO successful, it is important to consider what you say and how you say it. Four marking criteria assess that, with each contributing 10 marks to your final grade.

Needless to say, to achieve a high score, you need to know the English IO mark scheme like the back of your hand.

The IB Individual Oral Mark Scheme

Knowledge, Understanding, and Interpretation

• You should be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the texts, including their content, themes, and connections to the global issue.
  • 1-2 Marks: Little understanding, with interpretations barely relevant to the global issues;
  • 3-4 Marks: Interpretations are partly relevant to the global issues, with some evidence provided;
  • 5-6 Marks: Adequate knowledge, argumentation, and evidence;
  • 7-8 Marks: Good knowledge of the sources, relevant interpretations and mostly appropriate references to the texts;
  • 9-10 Marks: Thorough knowledge of the texts, convincing evidence, and clear connection between the texts in terms of the global issue.

Analysis and Evaluation

• Your task here is to analyse texts critically. This means you should identify and explain the author’s use of language, literary devices, and visual elements. Moreover, you need to explain how these choices contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the texts.
  • 1-2 Marks: Little analysis and evaluation;
  • 3-4 Marks: A student provided some analyses of literary devices and author choices in the context of the global issue;
  • 5-6 Marks: Adequate analysis of authors’ intent and the choices they made;
  • 7-8 Marks: Good analysis and evaluation of literary devices, their purpose, and their impact on the meaning;
  • 9-10 Marks: Insightful analysis of the extracts and the full bodies of work in relation to the global issue.

Focus and Organisatio

• You need to present a well-structured and coherent presentation. It must begin with a clear opening that connects the texts, the global issue, and authorial choices. It is also important to have smooth transitions between ideas.
  • 1-2 Marks: The presentation lacks coherence and organisation;
  • 3-4 Marks: There is some coherence but a poor logical structure makes it hard to follow;
  • 5-6 Marks: Partial coherence and organisation, with an adequate focus;
  • 7-8 Marks: Good connections between various parts of the presentation;
  • 9-10 Marks: An easy-to-follow presentation that effectively covers all the points made.

Language

• Examiners expect that you communicate your ideas clearly and effectively using appropriate vocabulary and grammar. It is also important to maintain a formal register and express your ideas confidently and engagingly.
  • 1-2 Marks: The use of terminology is rare, inaccurate, or sporadic, while vocabulary and style are inappropriate for academic purposes;
  • 3-4 Marks: Terminology is rare and partly accurate. Vocabulary lacks variety;
  • 5-6 Marks: A generally accurate use of terminology, a varied vocabulary and correct tone;
  • 7-8 Marks: Terminology and vocabulary are mostly accurate and appropriately woven into the presentation;
  • 9-10 Marks: Convincing and effectively chosen terminology combined with appropriate tone, style, and vocabulary.

Still, knowing the criteria and applying them efficiently are two different things. How do you  make sure you got everything right?

“Chances are, your IB English teacher suggests some practice oral marking exercises. You need to carefully listen to their feedback, especially if they believe that you can improve this or that. For your next practice presentation, make sure to consider their suggestions. You can also practice with a friend and try to fairly evaluate each other.” Tao IB English Examiner

Think About Narrowing the Focus of Your IO

How you are going to bring the two texts together will have a decisive importance. Most often, a comparative analysis is the most effective. At the same, it is not mandatory. There are other ways to make meaningful connections between the chosen works. The more original your approach, the more engaging your IO will be.

For example, you might want to explore shared themes or motifs across the texts. It is also a good idea to analyse their cultural, historical, or social backgrounds. Alternatively, it is possible to compare and contrast authors’ writing styles and techniques.

So don’t be afraid to make original links between things. This is what the examiners are looking for.

“Once you’ve chosen your approach, develop a clear and concise thesis statement. It should outline your argument and the connection between the texts. Let your examiner know right from the get-go what your presentation is about.” Tao IB English Examiner

Start in a Simple Yet Confident Way

To give you confidence from the very beginning, rehearse the opening part of your English IO. Start with greeting the examiner.

Then, clearly state your global issue and thesis. Don’t make it too complicated. Otherwise, it might be hard to follow your thoughts. Plus, the more complicated you make it, the more room there is for mistakes.

Tao suggests something like, “Today, I will be looking at the global issue of individual communities and cultures. Specifically, my thesis concerns the ways in which religious communities make an impact on the sexuality of an individual. Then I shall be exploring the idea through the following texts…”

It is perhaps worth it to learn such an introduction by heart. This will allow you to start confidently, calm your nerves, and set you up for a strong IO.

Use Your Planning Sheet Carefully

A planning sheet is a useful tool to organise your thoughts and ideas for an Individual Oral.

Although there are no rules about the size of your font or how much you want to cram in, I recommend being concise and well-structured. This is what you can do:

• instead of writing full sentences, use bullet points and keywords;
• if possible, include diagrams and mind maps to visually represent your thoughts;
• develop your own shorthand or abbreviations to quickly jot down ideas (such as a + instead of ‘and’).

“It is also a good idea to put down on paper the key terminology, which you want to use in your IO. This can, for example, be a term that you find difficult to remember under pressure.” Tao IB English Examiner

Structure Your IB English Individual Oral Carefully

So, the Individual Oral lasts only 15 minutes. The presentation itself is actually 10 minutes, during which you need to analyse both texts. Right after it, within the next 5 minutes, your examiner will ask questions related to your speech.

Since 10 minutes for a presentation of two texts is quite a limited time, it is important to choose a good structure. We recommend the following:

The Structure of the IB English Individual Oral

• Introduction – In 2-3 sentences introduce your global issue and explain how it is relevant. Provide brief information on the first text (name, author, type, what it is about, etc.) and how it relates to the global issue. Introduce your second text in the same manner.
• Text 1 Analysis – Explain how the overall text talks about the selected global issue. How is this global issue reflected in the excerpt you’ve chosen? Discuss the author’s choices, their purpose, and what impact they have on the meaning of the work and our understanding of the global issue.
• Text 2 Analysis – Use the same structure as for the first works.
• Conclusion – Explain the differences and similarities in both works in relation to the global issue. Provide your point of view on whether the authors were effective in achieving their goals.

But this structure isn’t a hard and fast rule. In fact, you can choose any structure that you see fit. It can even resemble the structure of your Paper 2, where you compare and contrast two works. Just remember, for every point you make, you need to provide evidence and explanation.

Would you like to practice giving your oral presentation or do you require IB English IO help? You can always count on TutorsPlus. Thanks to our expert tutors and examiners, you can gain insights into examiner expectations and therefore improve your performance.

Get Ready for IB English Individual Oral Discussion

When it comes to the discussion part of English IO, the examiner may ask questions such as:

• Dive deeper into some of the points of your presentation;
• Provide more examples from the excerpt of the text overall;
• Clarify the author’s intent and which literary techniques they used to achieve it.

Please note that an examiner may ask questions that are not connected to the chosen global issue. However, they will still be relevant to the topics of your two works.

Although you don’t know the exact questions in advance, you can still prepare for the discussion. It is possible to predict some of the questions – jot down a few of them and come up with convincing answers. Along with it, you can give a presentation to a friend or classmate and ask them to play the role of an examiner and see what they can come up with.

“I’ll tell you a secret – you can steer the discussion in the right direction. After receiving a question, you can say something like ‘I think that is a good point. In fact, if we think about X and Y…’ and then proceed with an answer you have prepared in advance.” Tao IB English Examiner

Still, make sure not to go into too much detail as you answer the examiner’s questions. Usually, discussions cover 4-5 questions. This means answers around 1-1.5 minutes should suffice.

Master Your Delivery

The content of your presentation is the most important. At the same time, how you present your ideas matters as well – the assessment criterion Language gives 10 marks for your ability to convey your ideas clearly and effectively.

You will not get these marks directly for sounding exciting. However, your speaking speed, intonation, pronunciation, and delivery can indeed enhance your presentation. Even if you provide the right points, a monotone or overly formal tone may negatively impact the impression you make.

“What you really should aim for is an engaging conversation. I recommend keeping a conversational tone and trying to show your enthusiasm for the topic. All of this will allow the listener – the IB IO examiner – to follow more easily.” Tao IB English Examiner

Speak Clearly and Slowly

“As an examiner, I can confirm this – if someone speaks very fast, it becomes hard to note the structure. What’s even worse, it becomes more difficult to follow the devices you employ and the order in which you structure your thoughts.” Tao IB English Examiner

So don’t worry, 10 minutes is enough to deliver all your arguments, evidence, and analyses. If you missed something, you might get a chance to get back to it in the following discussion with the examiner. So, make sure not to rush through your presentation.

That being said, too slow isn’t a good call either. What you should strive for is a steady pace that is easy to listen to.

Don’t Panic if You Stumble or Pause

“Students often ask me: ‘What happens if I stumble in my English IO? What should I do if I freeze and just can’t think?’ 

Don’t let panic get the best of you. Remember, you will have your bullet points at hand. If your next argument simply slips your mind, you can always rely on your notes to get you back on track. Secondly, normal speech does have ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’. It is ok to make short pauses to collect your thoughts.” Tao IB English Examiner

However, if you let yourself fall into silence because of panic, your examiner will not be able to help you – it has to be an unbroken recording.

If something like this happens to you, I encourage you to say something like ‘I am sorry, I need a moment to gather my thoughts’ or ‘Please give me a moment to refer to my notes’. Be sure to still keep your academic register. Things like ‘Oh dear, I don’t know what to say’ may, in fact, take more points from you than actual silence. It is because they break your consistency and coherence. Remember to take a deep breath, keep calm, and your train of thought will come back to you.

Record Yourself to Identify Key Improvements for Your English IO

Want to know how effective your presentation really is? Then record yourself as part of your preparation for Individual Oral IB English. This will allow you to look at your presentation from the examiner’s point of view and make its strengths and weaknesses more obvious to you. In particular, it can help you understand if:

• Your language is rich in literature terminology;
• Your timing is spot-on;
• The separate parts of your presentation have good transitions;
• You are able to deliver your arguments smoothly and cohesively.

Try to polish your presentation until you think it is as good as it can be. But don’t just stop there. Get every bit IB English IO help you possibly can. For example, ask a friend or a family member to listen to your speech and express their opinion. Did it all make sense to them? Were they able to follow? Because they don’t know anything about your IO – neither its theme nor your points – they can be a great sounding board. If they fail to understand the connections you are trying to make, you probably need to reconsider your arguments or the way you deliver them. 

Choose Your Text Form or Text Type Carefully

The choice of text form or text type is very important. You should discuss how different forms impact the author’s message, especially when it directly concerns your thesis or field of inquiry. Also, consider how it impacts the reader or viewer.

It’s good to choose texts that are different from each other. If you wish to take a poem in translation for your English IO, it makes sense to pair it with, let’s say, a drama. Comparing two pieces of poetic prose might not be as engaging as comparing different literature genres.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. However, make sure to base your decision on how the works relate to your field of inquiry and the connections you’d like to explore. Be sure to refer to your IB English Literature course book to better understand the nuances of various text types.

“As this year’s examiner in IB English Language and Literature, I had the pleasure to witness some excellent orals. Many students coupled a literary text with a visual non-literary medium. Beyond just using multimodal texts that combine visuals and language, students were also analysing photographs or images.

Such an approach made them bring texts together in original, attention-grabbing ways. They were also able to spark a discussion about the effectiveness of the artists’ chosen forms.” Tao IB English Examiner

IB English IO Help: Conclusion

“All IB examiners are human beings. And we are here to listen constructively. This means that we mark positively, i.e. we award points where we can instead of taking them away. Therefore, if you make use of my tips and make your English Individual Oral engaging, original, and easy to follow, you will be able to get enough marks to succeed.”

If you’re looking for IB English IO help, look no further. TutorsPlus has the solution you need. To hire Tao or other experienced IB English tutors from our team, feel free to contact us at 022 731 8148 and . We’ll help you prepare for IB English IO to the best of your ability and maximise your chances of getting a 7.

Tao is an IB English Examiner and Tutor with TutorsPlus. For help in your IB English individual oral, or to book a lesson with Tao, click HERE

To find out more about the IB English Oral click HERE.

To find out more about the IB click HERE