When you realize halfway through your speech that the only person laughing at your joke was you.
Why the IA criteria matter
The Individual Oral isn’t just testing whether you memorized some fancy sentences.
It’s testing whether you can use the language in real time to describe, interpret, and discuss ideas. The criteria (30 marks total) are the roadmap:
Criterion A (Language): Proves you’re not stuck in “basic mode”, you can vary grammar and vocab like a real speaker.
Criterion B1 (Message - stimulus/extract): Shows you can move past description and actually connect ideas to culture or literature.
Criterion B2 (Message - conversation): Tests if you can develop and justify opinions under pressure, not just nod and say yes.
Criterion C (Interactive skills): Demonstrates that you can hold a natural conversation, listen actively, and keep things flowing.
In short: these criteria matter because they separate a student who “knows the language” from one who can use it confidently, critically, and spontaneously, exactly what IB is looking for.
Criterion A: Language (12 marks, both SL and HL)
What it means: Can you actually speak the language fluently, clearly, and flexibly?
Vocabulary: Is it appropriate, varied, and sometimes even idiomatic?
Grammar: Are you using a mix of simple and complex structures (not just “I went… I saw…”)?
Accuracy: Do mistakes block communication, or are they small slip-ups?
Pronunciation/intonation: Can the examiner understand you easily, and do you sound natural?
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What does Criterion A assess in the IA?
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Note
The Individual Oral (IO) is a key component of the IB English B assessment, designed to evaluate your ability to communicate effectively in English. It tests not just your language skills, but also your ability to think critically and express ideas clearly.
The IO is worth 30 marks in total
It consists of four main criteria: Language, Message (Stimulus/Extract), Message (Conversation), and Interactive Skills
DefinitionIndividual Oral (IO)A spoken assessment in IB English B that evaluates students' language proficiency, analytical skills, and ability to engage in conversation.
AnalogyThink of the IO as a verbal obstacle course - you need to demonstrate agility in language, strength in analysis, and endurance in conversation.