The External Assessment of IB English Literature and Language and Literature courses consists of two papers. Although both deal with literary analysis, Paper 1 requires you to analyse a previously unseen text, while IB English Paper 2 is a comparative essay of two literary works of your selection.
We have already shared revision tips and answer strategies for Paper 1. In this post, we’ll discuss how to prepare for Paper 2 IB English and answer the questions to maximise your score.
What is IB English Paper 2?
In this exam, your task is to compare and contrast two works you’ve studied during your two-year IB English programme. You will be given a prompt with four questions, but you need to answer only one of them. To address the question and produce a 1000–1300-word essay, you will have 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Paper 2 is the same for IB English Literature and Language and Literature, for SL and HL levels alike. The only difference is in grade weightage: it contributes 35% to the final score at SL and 25% at HL.
You will not have access to the chosen literary works during your exam. Potentially, you can use anything you’ve studied before for your comparative analysis. However, we recommend preselecting at least three works to prepare for Paper 2 so that you can re-read them carefully, gain a deeper understanding of their key features, and write down some quotes.
Keep in mind that you cannot use any work that you’ve already worked with during other assignments in your IB English course.
Marking Criteria
A successful IB English Paper 2 essay can bring you 30 points. To earn them, you need to show that you understand the texts, can find similarities and differences in their themes, characters, devices, etc., as well as be able to present your thoughts clearly and effectively. Marking criteria describe each of these requirements.
Overall, examiners use four criteria to assess your work:
- Criterion A: Knowledge and Understanding – 10 points;
- Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation – 10 points;
- Criterion C: Focus and Organisation – 5 points;
- Criterion D (Language).
Criterion A: (Knowledge and Understanding)
To gain all 10 points according to Criterion A, you must show a good understanding of the texts. In particular, make sure your discussion aligns with the specific question you’ve chosen. Since it is a comparative analysis, the examiners want to clearly see similarities and differences between the works. But remember, it’s not enough to describe the authors’ literary choices. Instead, you should explain why they make those choices and how they contribute to the overall meaning.
Criterion B (Analysis and Evaluation)
Criterion worthy of 10 points B focuses on language choices, intent, and comparing the two texts.
Here, you should look closely at the words and phrases authors use and analyse their impact on meaning. When comparing the works, explore patterns and differences. Don’t shy away from discussing obscure techniques like perspective, paradox, irony, and ambiguity. Always link your analysis back to the original question, emphasise the “why” behind each choice, and give solid evidence to your points.
Criterion C (Focus and Organisation)
A profound analysis is not enough to score well on your Paper 2. You need to give this analysis a clear and logical structure. This is what Criterion C assesses.
Start your essay with an introduction that sets the stage and provides context. Then, discuss points of contrast between the works followed by points of similarity. Finally, your essay must have a concise yet convincing conclusion. The right structure will bring you up to 5 points.
Criterion D (Language)
As an IB English student, you need to use the language effectively. Criterion D assesses how well you manage to do it.
For starters, your essay should maintain an academic register. This means rather a formal tone as well as a fitting vocabulary and sentence structures. Whenever possible, try to use subject-specific terminology.
When presenting arguments, your goal is to be persuasive. Engage the examiner by making your points clearly and convincingly. To do so, you can ask a relevant rhetorical question or make a thought-provoking statement
How to Answer the Question in IB English Paper 2?
As we have already pointed out, there is a single question to answer in Paper 2. You have complete freedom to choose which one out of four and which literary works to base your analysis on. At the same time, your answer must follow a certain logical progression and tick certain boxes. Below, we’ll explain how to write a high-scoring Paper 2 essay.
Analyse the Text
Since IB English Paper 2 is a comparative analysis, you need to, well, compare and contrast the selected texts. Sounds pretty straightforward, but how do you do this exactly?
First of all, you shouldn’t analyse them in isolation. Instead, juxtapose them to identify the things they have in common and the things that are different. The best way to do it is to explore thematic connections. For instance, it might be possible to highlight such shared themes as political struggles, power dynamics, human perseverance, societal constraints, etc. Even seemingly different works can reveal unexpected similarities if you examine them closely enough.
As you conduct your analysis, you should pay attention to the author’s narrative voice, tense, and style. Is it first-person, where the narrator is a character in the story? Or is it third-person, where the narrator observes from outside? Maybe the author employs the unconventional second-person? Are there any nuances in the setting, characters, and other narrative techniques worth mentioning?
When you know WHICH main points you want to discuss, you should consider HOW to get them across. We suggest to use the PEEL structure, which stands for the following:
- Point: Briefly introduce the specific element you’re analysing;
- Evidence: Provide textual evidence from both works to support your point (ideally, you should remember a few quotes from both texts).
- Explain: Using the evidence, explain the authors’ choices and how these choices contribute to the meaning of the work.
- Link: Connect your analysis back to the larger comparative question and show how it strengthens your overall argument.
Write a Clear Outline of Your Response
Although time is precious in Paper 2, dedicating 10-15 minutes to writing a clear outline is an investment that pays off. Acting as a guide, it will help cover all critical points and prevent losing track during the next 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s best to keep it concise, i.e. in the form of bullet points and keywords.
A well-organised outline strengthens your essay’s logical flow, thus increasing your chances of scoring 5/5 on Criterion C: Organisation. Besides, outlining by sections will let you analyse multiple literary techniques within a single point. This way, you can hope for a high score on the Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation.
We’ve already mentioned the PEEL structure for organising your Paper 2 essay. However, it is not the only possible option. Another beneficial type of point organisation is Ideas and Sections. This means you can divide your essay into sections, each focusing on a specific idea or technique. This structure allows for a logical development of your argument and helps analyse multiple techniques related to a central point.
Along with PEEL and Ideas and Sections, there are other organisational methods like Big 5, SPECSLIMS, and Techniques. Having said that, these may not always maximise your score on Criterion B or C.
Choose a Strong Thesis Statement that Answers the Question Posed
The thesis statement is the first and one of the most important parts of your Paper 2 essay. Examiners rely on it to get an idea of the arguments you’ll be developing further. On top of this, it shows your understanding of the question and your ability to provide a cohesive response.
To write a solid thesis, start by underlining the keywords in the essay prompt. These words highlight the core aspects the question wants you to explore.
Then, think of the relevant themes and topics you’ve identified within the two literary works.
Next, try to formulate your argument. Subjective and opinionated, it should allow the examiner to see your perspective. Don’t worry about fancy language. Write it naturally, as you would in a conversation.
Finally, now that you have come up with your core argument, it’s time to translate it into a thesis statement. Make sure to include some details relevant to the themes of your chosen texts but keep it short and to the point.
“William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale explore war and its impact.” This is a weak thesis because it is too broad and lacks detail. It doesn’t specify how the novels explore war or what kind of impact it has.
“While William Golding’s Lord of the Flies portrays war as a catalyst for the savagery inherent in human nature, while Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale depicts war as a tool for societal control, ultimately leading to the suppression of individuality.” This is an example of a strong thesis – it specifies the themes of war and its impact. At the same time, it outlines a comparative point (savagery vs. control).
Write an Effective Introduction
Your thesis is the most critical but not the only part of your introduction paragraph. In fact, a thesis alone won’t be able to bring you points on Criterion B and C. That’s why the overall quality of your introduction matters as well.
The introduction serves two key functions. First of all, it provides the key details of the literary works you’ll be analysing. Second, the introduction offers a sneak peek of your main points and thus showcases your understanding of the prompt.
We recommend starting your essay with a captivating “hook”. This could be a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact, or an anecdote related to the essay prompt.
You should mention the titles and authors, as well as any essential historical or cultural context important for your analysis. For example, instead of a cliched opening “This essay will compare and contrast…”, try something like “Can a utopian vision mask a dystopian reality? This essay explores this question through a comparative analysis of…”
Next, provide background information on the selected works. In particular, you need to specify such details as their titles and authors, as well as any essential historical or cultural context important for your analysis.
Now that you’ve set the stage for your arguments, you can introduce the thesis.
Do not Take it out of the Context of Your Discussion
A common mistake in essay writing, including your IB English Paper 2, is straying from the main point. It is impossible to get the highest mark if your arguments, examples, and pieces of evidence do not directly relate to your thesis.
As you put pen to paper, ask yourself – does this or that idea support your statement? If not entirely, it is best to just ignore it.
It is also beneficial to maintain a logical progression of your ideas. This means that your essay should smoothly transition from one point to the next, with each paragraph building upon the previous one.
Refer to the Text
As the IB English guide specifies, you will not have access to the source materials as you write Paper 2. Therefore, it is not at all necessary to include exact quotes from the texts – examiners do not expect you to know them by heart. Still, you cannot ignore quotations whatsoever since they will solidify your analysis and argumentation.
So, to make sure your arguments are based on evidence, write down a few impactful quotes during pre-exam readings. It is better to focus on short ones because you can easily memorise them. When selecting these quotes, pay attention to language choices (wordplay, tone, etc.), literary devices (metaphors, similes, symbolism, etc.), as well as phrases or sentences that capture the core themes.
Besides that, try to note some specific details such as the author’s portrayal of characters, striking metaphors, or evocative comparisons.
Overall, quotes and details prove you’ve read the texts closely, understood their nuances, and can interpret their significance. With their help, you can maximise your chances of getting 5 marks in both Criterion A and B.
Don’t Forget a Powerful Conclusion
A compelling conclusion puts an exclamation mark on your Paper 2 comparative essay. It ties together your analysis and reiterates your key points. Providing a conclusion is important to earn all five points according to Criterion C, which takes into account an effective structure.
Start your conclusion by referring to your thesis statement. However, don’t just repeat it word for word, but use different phrasing instead. Then, add a summary of your main arguments. This is supposed to remind the examiner of the key points you’ve talked about. At this point, you shouldn’t introduce any new information – the body of your essay must already contain everything you wanted to say.
To make your conclusion truly impactful, you can mention how the themes you’ve analysed resonate with the wider world. For instance, you can specify their impact on popular culture, other literary works, famous figures, or you personally.
It is a good idea to finish your conclusion with a “clincher” sentence. This can be, for example, a thought-provoking question or observation that encourages a reader to consider the implications of your analysis.
Watch for Stylistic and Grammatical Mistakes
Just like Paper 1, Paper 2 IB English considers clear and effective communication (Criterion D: Language). While it is ok to make small grammatical errors, examiners expect a high level of accuracy overall. That’s why before submitting your essay, spend some time to proofread for typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes.
The style, flow, and cohesiveness of your comparative analysis matter as well. Your goal is an essay that is easy to read and understand.
How can you achieve this exactly? First of all, we recommend a formal tone throughout your essay. It is better to steer clear of slang, informal language, and contractions.
Second, try to vary your sentence structure to keep your writing engaging. It is always beneficial to use a mix of sentence lengths, moods, clauses, etc. to avoid monotony. To sound more professional, stick to complex sentence structure but once in a while, interrupt them with short simple sentences – this will make it more interesting to read.
Finally, ensure smooth transitions between your ideas. Transition words and phrases can help create a logical flow of thoughts throughout your IB English Paper 2 essay.
How to Practice and Prepare for Paper 2?
Knowing how to write your IB English Paper 2 essay and actually writing it are two different things. How do you make sure that your points are convincing and your language is effective if you’ve never answered questions in Paper 2?
Luckily, you can get an idea of possible questions thanks to past papers. Answer them, write your essays, and assess your work regularly to prepare for Paper 2. Read further for more tips.
Familiarise Yourself with the Major Genres of Literature
You cannot compare and contrast the selected literary works if you don’t know which genres they represent. That’s why your number one task as you prepare for Paper 2 is to be able to tell them apart.
Your IB English lessons likely introduced you to such genres as Fiction, No-Fiction, Drama, Poetry, and others. However, since you can select almost any work you like, you might want to take a deeper dive into genres. For example, it is important to know the difference between Fiction and Fantasy, Bildungsroman and Historical Drama, Thriller and Crime, and so on. It goes without saying, you need to learn their distinctive features.
Sometimes, however, authors intentionally defy categorisation. It is not unlikely to come across genre-blending works. You should be able to identify which genres they encompass. In fact, a combination of genres may become a point of your analyses.
Overall, the better you understand literary genres, the better you can analyse authors’ choices,
Work With Past Papers on a Regular Basis
In your IB English Paper 2 preparation, practising with past papers should take a central part. After all, it makes sense to rely on the experience of students before you to understand what questions you may get on your exam and how to adjust your response accordingly. With consistent practice, the actual Paper 2 exam will seem less daunting.
The more time you dedicate to practising, the better your analytical skills become. Over time, you’ll be able to easily identify pairs of themes, characters, techniques, etc. to compare and contrast the texts.
Apart from this, practising with past papers allows you to evaluate your understanding of the texts without having them in front of you. In particular, these exercises may let you find areas that need revision and improve your knowledge of key details. If you fail to recall some important details, you can always look them up while you still have the opportunity. By bridging these gaps one by one, you’ll approach your exam with solid knowledge of the chosen texts and simply more confidence.
We already suggested selecting a few quotes from each text and memorising them. Of course, not every quote will be appropriate for every prompt. Your training sessions with past papers can help you understand what works best for every question. Besides, if you try to write them from memory, you’ll improve your chances of getting everything right in the real exam.
Learn from Your Mistakes
But don’t just write your essays. It is important to assess them to see where you got everything right, and where you might lack points. It is a good idea to use mark schemes to check your answers against marking criteria. Examiner reports will also come in handy as they specify the strong and weak points of previous Papers 2 answers from students across the board.
Having said that, self-assessment may not be enough since it’s not always objective. You should also seek feedback from your teacher, classmates, or even an English tutor. Don’t be afraid to ask for constructive criticism. Their perspective can highlight areas you might have overlooked.
If their feedback does show some mistakes, view them as learning opportunities. In particular, you need to analyse if there are repeated patterns, why they occur, and which strategies may help you avoid them in the future.
The bottom line is, learning from your mistakes will allow you to refine your writing and analytical skills to produce an IB English Paper 2 essay with the potential for full marks.
Conclusion
Preparation for IB English Paper 2 may seem daunting. After all, you need to re-read at least three literary works, learn some quotes, and write a few essays at home. However, all this hard work will pay off as soon as you receive your prompt question and realise that you’ve got this.
Do you still find it hard to write comparative essays after practising with past papers? Or you are not sure if they meet the marking criteria? Let us help you. At TutorsPlus, we pride ourselves on having a strong team of IB English tutors and examiners. They know it all when it comes to getting 30 points for Paper 2.
Students often struggle to provide a compelling thesis, their essay structure lacks consistency, and due to weak evidence, their arguments seem unconvincing. You can count on us to help you fix these and other common mistakes. Contact us at 41 022 731 8148 or info@tutorsplus.com and dramatically improve your chances of scoring high with our tutoring service.
By Sara Lloyd
Sara has been an education consultant for TutorsPlus for 15 years, and is an expert on international IB education. She is also a parent of two lively children.
