Why the IO Questions Actually Matter
- Okay, so the 5 minutes of follow-up questions in your IB English IO technically don’t count towards your grade. But here’s the truth: they’re still a big deal.
- Why?
- Because they show the examiner that you didn’t just memorise a nice 10-minute speech.
- You actually understand the text, can think on your feet, and have something meaningful to say about the global issue beyond what you rehearsed.
- And that’s often what separates a high 6 from a solid 7.
What Kinds of Questions Should I Expect?
- They’re usually not trying to trip you up.
- Most questions fall into one of these categories:
- “Can you give another example from the text that shows this global issue?”
- “What’s the author trying to achieve with this technique?”
- “Do both texts take the same stance on this issue?”
- “How does the setting or structure affect the issue?”
- And yes, occasionally they’ll throw a curveball. But if you know your texts, you’ll be fine.
What Does a Strong Response Sound Like?
- Think:
- Specific quote or moment
- Technique
- Insight
- Link back to the global issue
- Short and sharp (1-1.5 mins max)
Example
Sample Question 1
- “Can you give another example where the global issue appears in the text?”
- Bad:
- “Yeah, I think there’s another part where they talk about it... it’s kind of the same thing again.”
- Good (A Doll’s House):
- “Absolutely. The global issue of patriarchal control comes through when Torvald repeatedly calls Nora ‘my little skylark’ and ‘spendthrift’. These patronising metaphors reduce her to a childlike figure, and Nora’s lack of protest early on reinforces how normalised gendered language is. It adds to the extract by showing how power is embedded not just in actions, but in everyday speech.”
Sample Question 2
- “How does the setting affect the portrayal of the global issue?”
- Bad:
- “I guess it adds to the mood... like it fits with what the characters are feeling.”
- Good (The Handmaid’s Tale):
- “The setting of Gilead, especially its use of colour and restricted movement, makes the global issue of gender oppression feel inescapable. Atwood’s use of physical space as a form of control mirrors how the regime strips women of identity. So the setting isn’t just background, it’s a tool of power.”
Sample Question 3
- “Do the two texts take the same stance on the issue?”
- Bad:
- “I think they both kind of show that the issue is bad, but in different ways.”
- Good (Macbeth and Things Fall Apart):
- “Both texts deal with the consequences of power, but they don’t take the same stance. Shakespeare presents ambition as corrupting from within, Macbeth falls because of his own desire. Achebe, though, focuses on colonial power imposed from the outside, which destroys traditional life. So one’s internal and psychological, the other’s historical and political.”
Tip
- After each major scene or chapter, ask: How does this relate to the global issue?
- Build a bank of extra examples that show different angles of the issue
- Practice timed, spoken answers using your outline, not a full script
- Aim for 4–5 questions in 5 minutes, don’t go too long on one answer
