For M28 students, who started DP1 in August 2026 and take examinations in May 2028, dropping IB English Language and Literature HL to SL reduces the course breadth and assessment load. You study fewer literary works, analyse one passage rather than two in Paper 1, and no longer complete the HL essay. Paper 2 and the Individual Oral remain.
Your school must approve the change. You must also confirm that your revised subjects meet IB Diploma rules and the entry requirements for any university courses you are considering.
What changes from English Lang and Lit HL to SL?
SL and HL share the same conceptual foundations and areas of exploration: readers, writers and texts, time and space, and intertextuality: connecting texts. The principal differences concern breadth, teaching time and assessment.
| Course feature | SL | HL |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended teaching time | 150 hours | 240 hours |
| Minimum literary works | 4 | 6 |
| Paper 1 | One unseen non-literary passage, chosen from two | Two unseen non-literary passages |
| Paper 1 duration | 1 hour 15 minutes | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Paper 2 | Comparative literary essay | Comparative literary essay |
| Paper 2 duration | 1 hour 45 minutes | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Individual Oral | Required | Required |
| HL essay | Not required | 1,200-1,500 words |
The official Language A: Language and Literature subject brief shows the curriculum and assessment model for both levels.
How the assessments change
Paper 1 becomes shorter
At SL, Paper 1 provides two unseen non-literary passages from different text types. You choose one and write a guided analysis in 1 hour 15 minutes. At HL, you analyse both passages in 2 hours 15 minutes.
SL therefore removes one complete analysis, but it is not a comprehension exercise. You must still explain how language, structure, visuals and other authorial choices shape meaning for a particular audience and purpose.
Paper 2 remains and carries greater weight
Paper 2 has the same format at both levels. You select one of four questions and write a comparative essay about two literary works in 1 hour 45 minutes.
It contributes 35% at SL, compared with 25% at HL, so detailed knowledge of your works and integrated comparison become especially important. RevisionDojo's IB English Paper 2 structure guide explains how to compare works throughout an argument rather than discussing them separately.
The Individual Oral remains
The Individual Oral, or IO, is required at both levels. You analyse how a global issue is presented through one literary work and one non-literary body of work studied in class.
The oral consists of a prepared 10-minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of teacher questions. It is worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL, meaning it becomes more influential after the move. The RevisionDojo Individual Oral guide and English A IO exemplars clarify the expected relationship between close analysis and the global issue.
The HL essay is removed
HL students write a 1,200-1,500-word essay about one literary work or non-literary body of work. This externally assessed component is worth 20% of the HL grade and does not exist at SL.
If you have started planning the essay, its research may still support classwork, Paper 2 or the IO. It cannot be submitted as a separate SL assessment.
Workload and lesson changes
The recommended teaching-time difference is 90 hours across the programme. SL also requires at least four literary works rather than six, while removing the second Paper 1 analysis and HL essay reduces formal assessment pressure.
Your weekly timetable depends on your school. SL and HL students may share lessons, attend separate classes or receive different numbers of periods. Ask whether changing level means changing teachers, rooms or texts, and confirm which works remain available for Paper 2 and the IO.
Check the IB Diploma rules
A level change must leave you with a valid Diploma Programme combination. The standard diploma includes six subjects, Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service.
Before dropping English to SL, confirm that:
- You retain at least three HL subjects. Four may be permitted, but three is the usual model.
- Your subjects satisfy the requirements associated with Groups 1-5.
- Your sixth subject is an arts subject or another eligible subject.
- Any interdisciplinary arrangement is counted correctly. Environmental Systems and Societies can satisfy the requirements associated with Groups 3 and 4.
- You remain registered for the full Diploma rather than individual DP courses.
If English is one of only three HLs, another subject must normally move to HL. That change may introduce more content, practical work, teaching time or demanding examinations elsewhere.
The IB establishes the programme framework, but your school approves level changes. Deadlines, class capacity, scheduling and administrative fees are determined locally, so obtain written confirmation from your DP coordinator.
University implications of English SL
Universities do not apply one worldwide rule. Requirements vary by institution, country, degree and entry year, and complete requirements for students entering after May 2028 may not yet be available.
| Intended degree | What to check |
|---|---|
| English or comparative literature | English A HL may be required, recommended or preferred. |
| Law, history or politics | English HL can demonstrate essay-writing ability, although many courses do not require it. |
| Medicine or life sciences | Chemistry, Biology or another science at HL is often more important. Current UCL medicine requirements, for example, specify Biology and Chemistry at HL. |
| Engineering, computing or mathematics | Mathematics and relevant sciences are usually the critical HL choices. |
| Business or economics | Mathematics requirements may matter more, particularly for quantitative courses. |
Do not confuse an academic subject requirement with an English-language proficiency requirement. A university might accept English A SL as proof of proficiency while separately requiring particular HL subjects. Another may request IELTS, TOEFL or another qualification depending on your educational background.
Check official admissions pages for several plausible degrees. Record the required subjects, HL grades, overall points and language conditions. Treat current requirements as guidance if the university has not published conditions for your entry year.
How to decide and what to do next
Dropping can be sensible when English HL displaces a subject required for your intended degree or creates an unbalanced workload. It is less suitable if you plan to study English or if the decision follows only one disappointing assignment.
Compare teacher feedback, timed writing, reading pace and performance across several tasks. Also investigate the workload of any replacement HL. RevisionDojo's Paper 1 and Paper 2 preparation comparison can help identify whether your difficulty concerns unseen analysis, literary comparison or time management.
After approval, confirm your timetable, assessment weightings and eligible texts. Build your SL plan around Paper 1 at 35%, Paper 2 at 35% and the Individual Oral at 30%.
Conclusion
Moving from English Language and Literature HL to SL reduces teaching time, required works and assessment volume, but substantial analytical work remains. Base the decision on your complete diploma combination and university plans, then obtain formal school approval. RevisionDojo's English hub, Questionbank and Study Notes can support practice matched to the SL assessment model.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB Language A: Language and Literature course page
- Official IB Language A subject brief
- Official IB Diploma Programme curriculum
- Official IB Environmental Systems and Societies page
- Oxford international qualification requirements
- UCL Medicine requirements for 2027 entry
- RevisionDojo IB English Language and Literature hub
- RevisionDojo Individual Oral guide
- RevisionDojo English A IO exemplars
- RevisionDojo IB English Paper 2 guide
- RevisionDojo Paper 1 and Paper 2 comparison