When you realize you’ve spent 3 minutes just describing the picture instead of analyzing it.
Why it matters:
The Individual Oral (IA) is worth 25% of your final grade at both SL and HL.
Small mistakes can cost big marks because the assessment is short and every second counts.
Examiners aren’t just checking if you can speak, they’re checking if you can think, connect to themes, and communicate naturally.
Avoiding these pitfalls means you don’t lose marks for simple errors that are totally preventable.
1. Just describing the stimulus instead of analyzing it
Why it’s a problem: Examiners want to see interpretation and connection to themes, not just “what you see.”
How to avoid it: Always move from description to meaning.
Example
Instead of “The poster shows people with signs,” say: “The poster suggests activism is a way young people express frustration about climate change, linking to the theme of Sharing the Planet.”
2. Ignoring prescribed themes
Why it’s a problem: The IA is built around the five themes (identities, experiences, human ingenuity, social organization, sharing the planet). If you don’t link to them, you lose marks in the Message criteria.
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What is the IA worth in terms of final grade?
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Note
The Individual Oral (IO) is a crucial component of the IB English B assessment, accounting for 25% of your final grade. This oral examination tests not just your language skills, but also your ability to think critically, connect ideas, and communicate effectively.
The IO is worth 25% of your final grade at both SL and HL
It assesses your ability to analyze, connect to themes, and communicate naturally
Small mistakes can have a big impact due to the short duration of the assessment
AnalogyThink of the IO like a high-stakes elevator pitch - you have a limited time to impress, so every word counts.
DefinitionIndividual Oral (IO)A spoken assessment in IB English B where students analyze a stimulus and connect it to prescribed themes.
