Has the IB Language B exam format changed?
The core IB Language B exam format has not changed for current students. The assessment model first examined in 2020 remains in place: Paper 1 assesses writing, Paper 2 assesses listening and reading, and the internal assessment is an individual oral. External assessment contributes 75% of the final result, while the oral contributes 25%.
What is changing is the method of delivery. The IB began offering digital examinations to a small group of selected schools in May 2026, with digital options for selected subjects becoming available more widely from November 2026. During this transition, some students may complete eligible examinations digitally while others continue using paper, but the IB states that digital examinations will closely resemble their paper counterparts and retain comparable aims and objectives.
Students should therefore distinguish between an assessment-format change and a delivery change. The skills, components and weightings described below remain the basis of IB Language B preparation.
Current IB Language B assessment structure
The official IB subject brief gives the following assessment model for both Standard Level and Higher Level:
| Component | Skill assessed | Format | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Productive skills | One written task chosen from three options | 25% |
| Paper 2: listening | Receptive skills | Comprehension of three audio texts | 25% |
| Paper 2: reading | Receptive skills | Comprehension of three written texts | 25% |
| Individual oral | Productive and interactive skills | Presentation, follow-up discussion and general conversation | 25% |
Paper 1 and Paper 2 together form the external assessment, worth 75%. Paper 2 is worth 50% in total, divided evenly between listening and reading, even though these sections may be scheduled separately.
The assessment outline is structurally identical at SL and HL. However, that does not mean the levels have the same difficulty. HL requires greater linguistic complexity, more developed responses and, in the oral, engagement with literature studied during the course.
Paper 1: productive skills
Paper 1 is the writing examination and contributes 25% of the final grade. Students choose one task from three and produce an appropriate text in the target language. The task requires more than accurate grammar: students must respond to the stated context, audience and purpose while using the conventions of a suitable text type.
According to the official specimen materials, the standard expectations are:
| Level | Time | Expected length | Maximum mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| SL | 1 hour 15 minutes | 250 to 400 words | 30 marks |
| HL | 1 hour 30 minutes | 450 to 600 words | 30 marks |
A strong response makes deliberate decisions about register and structure. For example, advice to a close friend should not sound like a formal proposal to a school administration. Examiners also consider how clearly ideas are developed and how effectively the selected text type fulfils the task.
A common mistake is treating Paper 1 as a general essay. Students may write accurate language but lose marks because they ignore the intended audience or omit recognizable text-type features. Use the RevisionDojo IB Language B paper-format guide alongside official specimen tasks to practise identifying purpose, audience and context before writing.
Paper 2: receptive skills
Paper 2 assesses the ability to understand spoken and written language. It is worth 50% overall, making receptive skills the largest part of the final result.
Listening comprehension
The listening section contains three audio texts and is worth 25 marks, corresponding to 25% of the final grade. Official specimen instructions state that each audio text is played twice, with reading time provided before each text. Questions can assess main ideas, factual details, relationships between ideas, purpose, attitude and implied meaning.
The official examination schedule allocates 45 minutes at SL and 1 hour at HL. Listening should therefore be practised as a timed skill rather than through unlimited replaying. Before each recording, predict likely vocabulary from the questions; on the first play, follow the overall message; on the second, confirm details and contrasts.
The RevisionDojo guide to IB language listening exams explains useful listening routines, while the English B listening Questionbank provides targeted practice for that course.
Reading comprehension
The reading section uses three written texts and is worth 40 marks, corresponding to another 25% of the final grade. Both SL and HL receive 1 hour, although HL texts and questions demand more advanced comprehension.
Students may need to locate explicit information, interpret vocabulary in context, identify references, follow an argument or infer a writer’s attitude. Answers must be supported by the text rather than by outside knowledge. If a response seems plausible but cannot be justified from the passage, it is unlikely to receive the mark.
For preparation, combine untimed analysis with progressively stricter timed work. The RevisionDojo comparison of Paper 1 and Paper 2 strategy helps separate productive writing practice from receptive comprehension practice.
The individual oral has not been replaced
The individual oral remains an internally assessed component worth 25%. It is conducted by the teacher and moderated by the IB. It assesses spoken production and interaction rather than a memorized speech alone.
At SL, the stimulus is a visual image connected to one or more of the five prescribed themes. The student presents ideas about the image, responds to follow-up questions and participates in a broader conversation based on at least one additional theme.
At HL, the stimulus is an extract from one of the two literary works studied in the target language. The presentation and discussion begin with that extract, after which the conversation broadens through one or more prescribed themes. This literary requirement is an important distinction between SL and HL, but it is not a recent change.
What has changed: the move toward digital examinations
The IB is making a gradual, multi-year transition from paper examinations to digital examinations. A limited number of selected schools participated in the first live digital session in May 2026. The IB states that all schools can participate in digital examinations for selected subjects from November 2026, although availability depends on the subject, language, level, time zone and sufficient registrations.
The initial digital examinations are conversions of paper-based assessments. The official aim is to keep their objectives comparable rather than introduce a new Language B syllabus or redistribute marks. Consequently, students should not assume that the introduction of an on-screen examination changes Paper 1 into a different skill or removes either part of Paper 2.
Digital participation is initially optional. Your coordinator or Language B teacher is the reliable source for whether your school, examination session, language and level will use paper or digital delivery. If your examination will be digital, practise with the official digital specimen supplied through your school rather than assuming that ordinary word-processing software reproduces the examination environment.
Why students may think the format has changed
Confusion usually comes from one of four sources:
- Pre-2020 resources: Older Language B materials may describe a different assessment structure and should not be used as the main guide to current papers.
- Pandemic-era adaptations: Temporary changes made for particular examination sessions were not necessarily permanent syllabus revisions.
- Paper 2 scheduling: Listening and reading belong to Paper 2 but can appear as separate sessions on an examination timetable.
- Digital examinations: A change from handwriting to on-screen delivery can look substantial without changing the skills or component weightings.
The safest check is the publication date and stated first-assessment year. The current official subject brief says first assessment 2020, and the official specimen papers demonstrate the format students should recognize.
How to prepare for the current format
Build revision around the four assessed skills rather than revising vocabulary in isolation:
- Write one timed Paper 1 response each week. Identify audience, purpose and text type before planning the content.
- Practise listening with limited replays. Record whether errors come from vocabulary, distraction, speed or incorrect inference.
- Complete timed reading sets. Require yourself to locate textual evidence for every answer.
- Rehearse oral interaction. Practise extending answers, justifying opinions and responding naturally to follow-up questions.
- Review mistakes by category. Separate problems involving language accuracy, task interpretation, register, detail and inference.
The RevisionDojo English B resource hub can support this process through Questionbank practice, Study Notes and exam-building tools. Jojo AI can help diagnose patterns in written work or generate follow-up oral questions, but feedback should be used to revise and rewrite rather than accepted passively.
Common preparation mistakes
Do not revise from a source merely because it labels itself “IB Language B.” Check that Paper 1 is described as productive writing and that Paper 2 includes both listening and reading. A source that reverses the paper numbers or omits listening may reflect an older syllabus or another language course.
Students also sometimes devote most of their time to Paper 1 because writing feels easier to control. This neglects Paper 2, which is worth half of the subject grade. A balanced weekly plan should give listening and reading at least as much combined attention as writing.
Finally, do not prepare one memorized response for every theme. The course’s prescribed themes provide subject matter, but assessment rewards meaningful communication in response to the exact task or stimulus.
Conclusion
The current IB Language B exam format remains Paper 1 writing at 25%, Paper 2 listening and reading at 50%, and the individual oral at 25%. SL and HL share this assessment structure, although HL requires more complex language and includes literature in the oral.
The significant recent development is digital delivery, not a replacement assessment model. Confirm your examination medium with your school, use current official specimens, and prepare each skill under realistic conditions. RevisionDojo’s Questionbank, Study Notes, Flashcards, Mock Exams and Jojo AI can help organize that practice and identify the areas that need the most attention.
Sources and referenced URLs
Official IB sources
- IB Language B curriculum overview
- Official Language B subject brief, first assessment 2020
- Official English B SL and HL specimen papers
- IB Diploma Programme sample examination papers
- IB digital examinations for the DP and CP
- Official May 2026 examination schedule