IB English: Paper One: Top Ten Tips for Success

You asked we answered! Here are 10 tips that will help you score more points on Paper One!
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[@dariusdesvignes5965]

10 - Read and Annotate Carefully 9 - Focus on the Question Throughout 8- Make and Outline/Plan 7- Articulate the Main Message of the Text 6- Discuss Authors Choices 5- Link to Main Idea Frequently 4- Explore Implication and Subtleties 3- Use Key Words in Topic Sentence 2- Don't be Afraid to Use Voice 1- Breathe and Relax

[@alfred4831]

arigato

[@rowankearney]

absolute legends! I'm going through this 1 hour before my exam :) thanks so much for the support

[@lorenaa_h]

i have my mock paper one in an hour and i wasn’t feeling great about it (haven’t been able to practice properly) until i watched this. thank you for your work guys, you’re invaluable for ib students all over the world :)

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks for the comment. Hope the mock went well!

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks and good luck!

[@ee7692]

these guys are literally the epitome of English teachers lmao - good luck M22 in a few hours!

[@catchtheaman]

how'd you go

[@manav_chak7410]

who else watching night before exam

[@davidg3298]

yup

[@ryokawamura6403]

I’m watching it an hour before the exam

[@ForceEditsSW]

Here we meet again

[@israbajmaku8045]

@@ForceEditsSWsame bro same

[@manav_chak7410]

@@ForceEditsSW good luck bro 😂😂

[@teatsofgargamel]

hiya :) post results m23 kid here. i got 7s on both english papers and it's all thanks to you two. so, thank you. ❤️

[@ibenglishguys]

Congratulations on your excellent results! We’re very happy to hear that our content was helpful. These are the type of comments that motivate us to continue!

[@dron2336]

Paper 1 tomorrow :)

[@Alaa-it7ju]

SAME

[@NielsDekker2024]

In a few Hours!

[@b3sso862]

Same

[@thalenagundersen1206]

10 - Read and annotate 9 - Focus on the question (Recognise and integrate keywords into topic and paragraph sentences) 8 - Make a simple outline (Outline your points, and how it's going to support your guiding question and the message of the text) 7 - Clearly state the main claim 6 - Discuss author's choices 5 - Link to the main idea frequently 4 - Discuss the implications of subtleties of the text 3 - Use key words in all topic sentences 2 - Don't be afraid to use voice (but stay academic) 1 - Breathe and relax!

[@davidma12f70]

thank you so much, i have my mock paper tomorrow and my teacher has given 0 information on what to expect in paper 1. You guys are legends

[@josephbayot6464]

Thanks so much for posting these videos, Andrew and Dave! Happy so share them with the DP1 and DP2 classes that I teach. We all find them incredibly useful.

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks, Joseph. We hope that we can continue this crazy project in the future. It has been fun to reach people in so many different places.

[@amisannie]

i wonder whether i will manage to breathe and relax during the exam tomorrow... thank you guys for everything, these videos have helped me a lot with preparing not only for paper 1, but all the other assessments too.

[@theencryptedpartition4633]

just buy oxygen masks bro

[@amisannie]

@@theencryptedpartition4633 can't bring anything but a water bottle into the exam lol

[@luna.sso.]

same here, but I'm sure we will manage to create a nice essay. good luck!

[@amisannie]

@@luna.sso. Thank you, good luck to you too!! :)

[@PankhudiMohan-i8p]

thank you so much for this! this one is great for brushing up concepts last minute!

[@A10Studios.]

Hey, just finished my exam this afternoon today, I'm glad I saw this video the night before the exam, because this helped me so much. Y'all are the goats fr 🐐🐐

[@zahraaaridhi4449]

Hello. First of all let me say thank you so much for this YT channel. If by any chance, you can make a video about analysing large articles (where there is a lot of text) /webpages that would be extremely helpful. I am a N21 student , so my exam is pretty soon. If you have any quick tips that would also be lovely. How to structure a response would be very helpful as well.

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks for the question and for watching our videos. We currently don't have any vids for longer texts, but they are on the way. Our students are taking exams in May, so we don't have all our content on the channel yet. Apologies to N21 students :( However, in terms of structure, please take time to make a simple outline before writing. Aim to go beyond the 5 paragraph essay if you want to score in upper bands. My students typically write: 1. Simple intro (quick hook, introduce text, transition to an insightful thesis). 2. Multiple body paragraphs of analysis (3, 4, or 5 depending on your speed and time) that focus on the guiding question. 3. Insightful conclusion that shows why the text is important or matters

[@miaevans7763]

I love your videos so much! Thank you for all the useful tips. I have my may exams in 4 weeks!

[@ibenglishguys]

Good luck, Mia! Glad you are finding them helpful!

[@reb300echevarria4]

Hey guys, love your content. If possible, could we have a paper 2 breakthrough to prepare for may2023? best regards!

[@ibenglishguys]

Definitely plan on some Paper 2 videos coming your way.

[@tuyehdarvaseh5979]

I have it tomorrow, wish me luck boys

[@leahmtindya3932]

The video is awesome. I would like to ask if you can record a video on how to write a portfolio

[@ibenglishguys]

Great idea. We’ll do that for sure.

[@ChloeMukibi]

yeeeeees actually please do!

[@ChloeMukibi]

Thank you, it would be so useful!@@ibenglishguys

[@narangfamily7668]

Thank you so much! THis was super helpful.

[@fabiannaklemczak7778]

Also, this was super helpful and on a very unrelated note the repeated use of “Giles” to address Mr Giles kept making me think of Giles Corey. Anybody else reminded of Giles Corey? (The man accused of being a witch at the Salem Witch Trials and was pressed to death and cursed his executioners? Kept saying “more weight!”) No? Just me? That makes sense.

[@music39-Z]

here for M24

[@bethanyshaffer8744]

Thanks so much for this! All of your videos are very helpful. I do have a question regarding the guiding question. You state that the student should answer this question, however the IB lit guide states, "Although it is not compulsory to answer this question, students should be aware that it is expected that the analysis will be focused on a particular aspect of the text." As examiners, do you recommend answering the guiding question anyway?

[@ibenglishguys]

It’s tricky that the IB says this and yes, you can determine your own POINT OF ENTRY instead of the GQ but be careful here. You must CLEARLY indicate that you have another FOCUS in mind. As an examiner, I am always looking for how the student answered the GQ.

[@bethanyshaffer6441]

@@ibenglishguys thank you!

[@IceP67]

make a video about alll the possible aspect we could analyze pleaseee

[@mohannedabdulaziz1862]

Hello IB English Guys. I would like to know if a video can be made of more mediocre papers to compare between the good papers. I also would like to know things such as how to write a good hook. Structure, etc. That would be amazing.

[@ibenglishguys]

That is a good idea. We’ll do that soonish. We took an average paper and turned it into a 7 so that may be coming down the pipeline. Writing good hooks is another great idea. A bad hook is kind of a killer.

[@berenbuyukcayir785]

Hello. First of all, thank you for the great video! I was wondering if you could analyze a paper 1 sample that got a 7 in one of your later videos. It's really hard to find high-scoring samples online, so I would really appreciate it :)

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks for the great feedback :) We plan to release a series of videos in the near future that will give you exactly what you're looking for in terms of Paper One scoring...stay tuned!

[@annacamilleahrendt8301]

Hi there! I am so grateful for you guys! Is there anyway you could elaborate in a comment response or video about implications. I know you said it is the understood information and "so what" in the writing, but I am still a little foggy on that? Thanks guys!

[@ibenglishguys]

We actually do have a video about implications on our “Skills Series” playlist. Hope that helps. So important to discuss the implications of a text. Shows rich thinking. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZrbda2Qmc6DsKMsi=GzpMlDWlg-QbPNO6

[@emilymariscalw]

these are great, thank you!

[@mvrvaishnavi2890]

Hi, thank you so much for the video. Could you explain the 9th point; Don't be afraid to use voice. How could I write it like that?

[@ibenglishguys]

Thank you for the engagement and comment. Please refer to the link below for a video on adding voice to academic writing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3qwc3ltgtZ6itE

[@mvrvaishnavi2890]

Thank you so much!!

[@GodRishUniverse]

Hello, Andrew and Dave. Thank you for these videos! What does "voice" here means? Your own thoughts? Also Could you please do a video on the vocabulary that is expected from SL students in their answer? My teacher just tells me that the choice of words that I use is incorrect. However, I am not able to comprehend why they are not the valid choice.

[@ibenglishguys]

We need to maintain an academic register or voice but also reach our reader. The voice we use in our writing is how we connect with the reader. We can ask questions, show sharp thinking, add short sentences and add some flair to our writing but also maintain formality. It is a trained skill. For now, try to use formal language and avoid casual words like “stuff” or “things” or other informal words. Keep reading samples (on our website www.ibenglishguys.com or elsewhere). Good luck

[@hears_nag]

saving my langlit grade, no cap

[@meee_569]

Great video! When you mention that we should include "voice" in our essays, what exactly are you referring to?

[@brianchanen1562]

Just try to be yourself. Say what you really think and feel and your ideas come through better than when you try to sound “smart” or “fancy.” I’m not the IB English guy, so take this advice with a grain of salt:)

[@ibenglishguys]

@@brianchanen1562 Thanks for answering, Brian. You're THE IB English guy ;)

[@aliciaseng7031]

However I was told by my teacher to not to voice my opinions as I am supposed to be analysing the text. Which one is correct…?

[@barnwalmayank483]

@@aliciaseng7031 You are correct actually; you should stick to what the writer is implying but your own opinions can be merged with the analysis. For example: "The writer through this suggests that gender inequality hampers the overall progress of human civilization and its mitigation acts in the best interests of society". Although this is your individual opinion, this could align with the principal message of the text. Like they said, remember to be 'academic'.

[@aliciaseng7031]

@@barnwalmayank483 yes thanks so much. I had a sudden realisation that it has been my issue with being too straight forward in terms of opinions.

[@Mas-ws9vv]

My heroes for mocks

[@tristan_krn]

watching this right before my exam lol

[@elsjemitchell6438]

Hi, could you maybe answer this question I have? I'm attempting a practice paper 1 (English Lit HL) based on the opening extract from Absent Friends, by Alan Ayckbourn. The guiding question is "How is the relationship between the two characters established in this extract?" I've noticed that the stage directions at the beginning of the extract create a strong contrast between the two characters, Diana and Evelyn. I'd like to have this as part of my analysis, especially as it's 1/4 of the extract, so leaving it out seems like a bad idea. Would it still be in line with the guiding question if I pointed this contrast out as part of establishing the relationship between the two characters? Thanks!

[@ibenglishguys]

Absolutely! This seems very relevant and the stage directions tell us so much about the characters. Great insight.

[@kaithlyn136]

Watching this the day before exams

[@mimilat8762]

same 😭

[@danxyz_]

i have mine in 4 hours 💀💀 (finals)

[@madjhidaHowell]

How much percentage did you pass with

[@basseldahleh9372]

Hey there, thanks for the video! Quick question--oftentimes, I pick up on a subtelty or implication that is related to/supports the purpose of the text only after I have begun writing my response. For this reason, I never manage to include all my points in my thesis statement and so I resort to keeping it very general. Is it worth spending longer just looking for details in the text, or should I just go with a broad thesis and intro?

[@ibenglishguys]

I always say this is a reading test first so be sure to read carefully and consider a clear argument that answers the guiding question and gets at the heart of the text. Ask yourself what the text is arguing about the given topic. Then look at the technical features that the GQ is asking you to focus on. Combine these into your thesis. Make a rudimentary outline with topics for paragraphs. Considering details of the text as you write is critical. Hope this helps. Best way to get better at this is practice on sample texts. Good luck!

[@vaibhavpuram7871]

Hey guys I was just confused about tip 3. You guys suggested that people should avoid the 5 paragraph essay model. Do students lose marks because of a 5 paragraph essay structure? Also, how many paragraphs would you say makes an "ideal" paper 1 response?

[@ibenglishguys]

Many many Paper 1 responses end up having 3 body paragraphs and are five paragraph essays because of the time constraints. We are just saying that you can expand to more body paragraphs than 3 if you have time. Stretch and avoid just limiting to 3. There’s no perfect number. Depends on the quality of the analysis in the paragraph more than the number of paragraphs.

[@saisharanraja778]

vaibuuu

[@fabiannaklemczak7778]

Who else is watching day OF exam?

[@crybaby9912]

Me! Watching this for like the third time lmao, the stress is real 😔😔

[@dananhngo3569]

Hello, Andrew and Dave, and thank you so much for your video. As an IB student trying to improve my English skills in the summer, your tips have been invaluable, and I hope I'll be ready to beat Paper 1 in my M23 exams. I only have one quick question: what is the 10-minute paragraph format (if I heard it right :D), and how does it improve my essay?

[@ibenglishguys]

Hi there! We like to have students practice writing 10 minute paragraphs (for Paper 1, for Paper 2) and get in the habit of clear topic sentences (with GQ and rich idea), strong textual references pinned to techniques and rich analysis. If students practice a clear and efficient 10-minute paragraph, they can string those together on an exam. This is what we mean by this. Try it out. Do some reading and annotating on a Paper 1 text or on a Paper 2 question. Write a rudimentary outline. Then write ONE of the body paragraphs with a timer. See what you can do in 10 minutes. We’ll do a future video on this as it is really the bread and butter in our teaching.

[@dananhngo3569]

@@ibenglishguys Thank you so much for your advice! I'll be sure to test this method out!😄

[@tarquin3962]

Hi, with point #4, the bit about asking yourself "so what?" and then writing in response to that, is that the analysis/explanation component of the paragraphs?

[@ibenglishguys]

Yes, I think asking “so what” is a way to improve your analysis. Think of it as a way to discuss importance. “This is important because….” Is a good sentence stem to use.

[@iluvpjmin4771]

do we HAVE to answer the guided question or can we make up our own?

[@ibenglishguys]

We recommend you answer the question. Going rogue is often fraught with disaster. The GQ will invite you to consider a major technical or formal element. Keep this as a focal point of your paper and mention it in every paragraph. Of course, talk about other aspects/features of the text but let the GQ GUIDE you.

[@seanodwyer5553]

reword the gudied question into a thesis e.g "How does the writer create a sense of anticipation" into "The writer used literary techniques such as Imagery and Punctation to create a sense of anticipation" of course it depends entirely what you're extracts are and what the guided question is

[@jazzy__p]

Do we include a global issue in the essay for paper 1??

[@ibenglishguys]

No. The Paper 1 focuses on the Guiding Question

[@profekeith221]

Is there a word count guideline for English A: Language & Literature Paper 1 SL? I've looked on the InThinking site and in the various IB literature, but I can't seem to get a straight answer. Also is the 5 minutes of reading in addition to the 75 minutes of writing time?

[@ibenglishguys]

There is no word count so students should aim for writing as much as they can in the allotted time. Some “experts” say that strong responses come in around 1000 words approximately. We have found that to be true as well. Hope that helps.

[@profekeith221]

@@ibenglishguys Thank you for the answer, but I do think it would be better if IB would change this and give a word count guideline (800-1200 words as a possibility). Somewhere around the age of 11 or 12, many young people begin the process of growing beyond the concrete thinking of youth towards the abstract thought of adulthood, but it doesn't happen all at once. Giving students between the ages of 16 and 18 a numeric guideline would be respectful of the reality that adolescence is a time of transition. Kudos to you guys for giving us teachers doing the job better information than IB provides.

[@noorchaudhary4892]

LOVE THIS ONE, MR GILES UR SO CUTE

[@lapvona]

my exam is in 3 hours and i take HL A level language and lit class in portuguese and that isn’t my native language and i’m freaking out so hopefully this will help 😭

[@ibenglishguys]

It will!

[@user-kw9ql7st2n]

what do you mean with voice?

[@nagiu6u]

to add a bit of personality into your writing

[@supermanleon]

Hi! Could you please explain how to write a thesis? I’ve never managed to figure out how

[@ibenglishguys]

Hi there. For Paper One, make sure you link the "keywords" from the guiding question to a main idea. So, for this guiding question: How does the author use figurative language to articulate a message about gender? (keywords are "figurative language" and "gender.") You might write: Throughout the poem, Duffy uses figurative language to communicate the central idea that despite recent progress toward gender equality, men continue to exploit women in order to compensate for their own insecurities. Hope this sample makes sense :)

[@supermanleon]

@@ibenglishguys thank you so much for your help! I did Duffy for my IO so the example makes a lot of sense So when writing a paper 1 thesis, I should just use the techniques mentioned in the guiding question, and then say that those techniques show the main idea of what I’m trying to argue in the essay

[@davidgiles5399]

@@supermanleon Hi there. YES. Try to think of the central message or idea of the text you are responding to. Think about what the author is arguing. Then use the wording of the GQ (the formal element they are asking you to focus on). “Through the use of visual elements and layout, the UNHCR advertisement conveys the message that refugees face dire choices and should be treated with empathy.” Note that I have GQ element AND my argument for the text. This is key. Hope this helps.

[@aliciaseng7031]

Hello. Thanks for the video. It will help me so much. I am a M22 student and i have trouble with big beefy articles. What are some good tips? My English Teacher gives us a format to write in. Is there anything else i should add to it? CAPF1STS (Context, Audience, Purpose, Message, Formal text features, Stylistic text features, Tone and Significance) Thanks!!

[@ibenglishguys]

Thanks for the question. Yes, longer and more complex texts can be more difficult. We recommend three levels of annotation. First reading: jot down your first impressions Second reading: in the left margin, summarize main ideas of text Third reading: annotate right margin for features. We have a series of acronyms and documents that provide other ways of finding important aspects of various text types. Be sure to check out the website, as resources are more efficiently organized there. ibenglishguys.com/paper-one/ Ultimately, don't forget to focus on the guiding question for Paper 1. You do not need to comprehensively cover CAPF1STS. Instead of writing a full commentary, focus on the keywords of the GQ. Remember...this is a guided analysis rather than sharing everything we see and think. Good luck!

[@aliciaseng7031]

@@ibenglishguys thank you so much. I have my mock paper one today at 8:30 am GMT. I hope it goes well.

[@ibenglishguys]

Good luck! Just remember to stay focused on that guiding question, support your ideas with references and features, and don't forget to breathe from time to time :) You can do it!

[@aliciaseng7031]

@@ibenglishguys I just got my mock results back with doing everything that you mentioned. I got a 2.

[@ibenglishguys]

@@aliciaseng7031 I'm really sorry to hear you did not perform as expected. I hope you saw the other videos besides the 10 Top Ten Tips, especially the many sample 7 papers we have on the channel. As you reflect on your process, ask yourself the following: 1. Did you spend 10-15 minutes reading, annotating, crafting a thesis, and making a quick outline? 2. Did the response include a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of the text? 3. Did the response include ample textual references? 4. Did the response consider nuances and implications of the text? 5. Did the response identify specific authorial choices and analyze how they shape meaning? 6. Is there evaluative language in the response that judges the effectiveness of these choices. 7. Did you include the keywords of the guiding question in your thesis? 8. Do topic sentences include the language of the guiding question and a rich idea? 9. Does the response show carefully chosen and accurate vocabulary? 10. Does the response maintain a formal and academic register? Please reflect on these questions. Highlight your response in blue, yellow, green, and orange like we do. What do you notice? If you having problems at the paragraph level, check out this video to review basic structure: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6XPY4WBgLiMd6M Let us know what you need. There is still plenty of time to improve before the exams. Work through the Countdown to Paper One videos on our website and see what gaps in your learning you can fill in. Reach out anytime for more help. Good luck. Try not to get frustrated and stay the course.

[@kerimalsandi2685]

Hello there! Thank you so much for making this video; it's incredibly useful. But I still have one lingering doubt about the difference between the main argument/claim, thesis, and purpose, which confuses me and causes me to make mistakes on tests. My teacher frequently uses these three terms interchangeably, making it difficult to distinguish between them and determine what to do with them.

[@ibenglishguys]

I understand the confusion. They are quite similar. For me, I think about the claim or argument relating directly to the text. Every text is making an argument. This is what we need to look for when reading a text. This claim can then be incorporated into our thesis statement which is the argument for OUR paper. I like to use the text’s argument and integrate this into my thesis with the guiding question. If a film review “claims” that the film is mediocre and lacks complexity and depth then I will use this in MY thesis. “The author uses a sarcastic and harsh tone to claim that the film is mediocre and lacks depth and cannot compare to the high standards of “Star Wars” and “Lord of the Rings”.

[@nayelnayel865]

does anyone have a list or key words for non literary and literary features author use i can use for analysis or look for in text when analyzing.

[@ibenglishguys]

Our Paper 1/Paper 2 study guide has these glossaries in them. It’s for sale on our website for $30. 250 pages of prep for the exam. It represents hundreds of hours of work so that is why we have a small price tag on it. Seems to be helping a lot of students.

[@eest_erx]

dang thanks

[@giahaber-cw4iq]

rock on shmookums!- Kyle and Gia

[@tobiasandresen1473]

Cute duo

[@prompiriyatantanjongrengpi5291]

real

[@olgarodriguezromerodethois7418]

A poem shouldn´t be part of paper 1...

[@ibenglishguys]

We make videos for both Lang and Lit and Lit. The poem is a viable text for IB Lit. Lang Lit has a non-literary text for Paper 1. Lit has one of the four literary forms: Poetry, Prose fiction, Prose non-fiction and Drama. Sorry for the confusion.