What Is a Commentary in IB English?
In IB English, a commentary refers to your response in Paper 1, where you analyze an unseen text provided in the exam. Rather than writing a traditional literary essay, you produce a focused analytical commentary explaining how the text creates meaning through language, structure, and style.
Set by the International Baccalaureate Organization, the IB English commentary assesses your ability to engage closely with a text you have never seen before. The emphasis is not on memorised content or external context, but on textual analysis, precision, and clarity under timed conditions.
A strong commentary explains how stylistic, structural, and linguistic choices work together to achieve a specific purpose, influence an audience, or convey key ideas and themes.
Understanding the IB English Paper 1 Assessment Criteria
Paper 1 commentaries are assessed using four criteria (A–D). While wording varies slightly by course level, the core expectations are consistent.
High-scoring responses demonstrate:
- Clear understanding of the text and its purpose
- Detailed analysis supported by precise textual evidence
- Logical organization and coherent progression of ideas
- Accurate, fluent, and formal academic language
Top-band commentaries consistently use correct literary terminology, integrate quotations smoothly, and link every analytical point back to meaning and effect.
RevisionDojo’s assessment breakdowns help students align each paragraph with what examiners are actively rewarding.
