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IB English A Tutoring & Prep Course

Pre-IB, Mid-IB and IB Revision Programmes

Short answer

The IB English A: Language & Literature course is one-to-one tutoring, taught live online: every lesson is 90 minutes.

A private group is for 3 or more friends who sign up together (the group programme is 30 hours per subject); there are no published start dates, and we agree the start date and lesson times with you.

In one-to-one tutoring, packages are from €85 a lesson.

IB English A tutoring at SL and HL: the three areas of exploration, Paper 1 guided analysis, Paper 2 comparative essay, the Individual Oral and HL Essay.

One-to-one and small groups · Live online · IB syllabus

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From a TestPrep IB English A: Language and Literature HL private lesson — the HL essay: shaping a focused research question and building an evidence-based argument
HL

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About the subject

IB English A: Language & Literature: what it covers and who it suits

IB English A (Language and Literature, or Literature) tutoring at TestPrep Europe covers the three areas of exploration — Readers, writers and texts; Time and space; Intertextuality: connecting texts — across a balanced reading list. Paper 1 (guided literary analysis), Paper 2 (comparative essay) and the Individual Oral are drilled separately, with the HL Essay and Learner Portfolio supported under academic-integrity guidance.

Some of the teachers who teach IB English A: Language & Literature: Adam Wilson, James Reid, Olivia Davies and Rebecca Clarke.

  • Three areas of exploration mapped against the chosen reading list
  • Paper 1 unseen analysis drilled with guiding-question technique
  • Paper 2 comparative essay practised across multiple text pairs
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IB English A: Language and Literature asks students to analyse literary and non-literary texts, identify rhetorical techniques and build arguments around global issues.

  • Depth in literary analysis

    Analysing authors' choices and effects across novels, poetry, drama and non-literary texts.

  • Individual Oral (IO) preparation

    Choosing a global issue, pairing literary and non-literary extracts and developing presentation technique.

  • Paper 1 and Paper 2 strategies

    Unseen text analysis and comparative essay technique.

  • Literary terminology

    Mastering the language of figurative devices, narrative technique and rhetoric.

IB English A: Language and Literature explores the relationship between language and literature while developing critical reading and writing skills. It is a key Group 1 subject for students targeting literature, journalism, law, communication or the social sciences.

Our lessons help students build multi-layered text analysis, structure persuasive arguments and develop their academic English writing. We provide comprehensive support across IO preparation, Paper 1–2 strategy and the HL Essay.

Exam

IB English A: Language & Literature exam format

  • Paper 1

    SL: 75 min / HL: 135 minSL: 35% / HL: 35%

    Guided textual analysis (unseen text)

  • Paper 2

    SL: 105 min / HL: 105 minSL: 35% / HL: 25%

    Comparative essay (studied works)

  • HL Essay

    CourseworkHL: 20%

    1200–1500 word essay (HL only)

One-to-one IB tutoring

IB English A: Language & Literature Private Tutoring

Private IB lessons at HL or SL: the topics you find hardest, your Internal Assessment and Extended Essay, and technique for every paper. Lessons are live and online and fit around your school timetable.

  • A lesson plan built around your HL or SL course
  • Internal Assessment (IA) guidance and feedback
  • Extended Essay (EE) planning and feedback
  • TOK coaching and feedback
  • Past-paper practice marked against IB mark schemes
  • Scheduling that fits your school timetable

How it works

  1. 1

    Tell us your goal

    We start from your school syllabus, your exam date and the result you are aiming for.

  2. 2

    Your own plan

    We map out the lessons you need, unit by unit.

  3. 3

    Live one-to-one lessons

    Meet your tutor online at times that suit your week.

  4. 4

    Regular progress checks

    Homework and a short check after each lesson show how you are getting on.

Start one-to-one IB English A: Language & Literature

Per lesson in a package

From €85

Single lesson €90

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Right for you if you are aiming for a 6 or a 7, need help in one subject, or want support with your IA or EE.

Book one-to-one lessons

Before choosing a package, you can book one paid lesson.

Our IB tutors began teaching in 2018 or earlier.

AI Extended Essay feedback

IB English A: Language & Literature Extended Essay Grader

Get AI feedback on your Extended Essay against the IB criteria for your exam session: the new criteria (30 marks) from May 2027, and the 2018 criteria (34 marks) up to November 2026. You get detailed feedback on every criterion and an estimated A–E grade.

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Your exam session

The IB marks the Extended Essay against new criteria from the May 2027 session. If you sit your exams in November 2026 or earlier, your essay is marked against the 2018 criteria.

Type of review

How is the A–E grade estimated?

The IB sets the Extended Essay's grade boundaries again every session; there is no fixed table. So the estimate follows the grade descriptors the IB asks schools to use for predicted grades. The IB publishes your final grade at the end of the session.

IA support

IB English A: Language & Literature IA support

The Individual Oral (IO) is an oral assessment worth 20% (30% at SL) of the final grade.

Where we support you through the IA

  1. 1Selecting and defining a global issue
  2. 2Pairing literary and non-literary extracts
  3. 3Developing a clear line of inquiry
  4. 4Structure and timing of the 15-minute oral
  5. 5Use of literary terminology and textual evidence

IB English A: Language & Literature Camps

Structured Prep Camps for IB English A: Language & Literature

Three programmes for every stage of IB English A: Language & Literature, each run as a private group of three or more friends, on dates set with the group.

  • PRE-IB CAMP

    IB English A: Language & Literature: Pre-IB

    Build strong IB English A: Language & Literature foundations before starting IB1.

    • Core IB English A: Language & Literature concepts
    • Introduction to IB assessment criteria
    • Academic writing skills
    • Study and note-taking techniques

  • MID-IB CAMP

    IB English A: Language & Literature Mid-Year

    Consolidate your IB English A: Language & Literature knowledge at the end of IB1.

    • IB English A: Language & Literature IA preparation and planning
    • Year-1 topic review
    • Identifying knowledge gaps
    • Adapting to the exam format

  • FINAL CAMP

    IB English A: Language & Literature Final Revision

    An intensive IB English A: Language & Literature revision marathon before the May exams.

    • IB English A: Language & Literature full-syllabus review
    • 10+ years of past papers
    • Mock exams with detailed feedback
    • Strategies to maximise your score

  • 100% First-Lesson Money-Back Guarantee

    Not satisfied? Full refund, no questions asked.

    We do not offer free trial lessons. Payment is required before your first lesson.

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  • Flexible Billing

    Local cards welcome, instalments available.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken. Full terms

Included in lessons

Practice built into your IB English A: Language & Literature lessons

Every topic you cover in IB English A: Language & Literature is reinforced with question sets your tutor puts together for you. This programme has no separately sold question bank or practice test.

Mock exams included in the programme
  • Targeted questions on every topic
  • Practice sets built around your weak areas
  • Exam-style practice with past papers and mark schemes
  • Worked solutions and feedback on every question

Syllabus

IB English A: Language & Literature topics

IB Language A: language and literature (first assessment 2021) studies literary and non-literary texts through three areas of exploration.

Topic names are the IB's own, from the current subject guide.

SLTopics shared by SL and HL

  • Readers, writers and texts
  • Time and space
  • Intertextuality: connecting texts

The three areas of exploration are the same at SL and HL; HL studies more works and also writes the HL essay.

From a TestPrep IB English A: Language and Literature SL private lesson — Paper 1 analysis of advertisements and infographics: rhetorical and visual devices and an annotated tagline
SL

Approach

How we teach IB English A: Language & Literature

Study plan

  1. 1

    Phase 1 — Areas of exploration

    Readers/Writers/Texts; Time/Space; Intertextuality

    • Annotation technique
    • AOE-aligned learner portfolio
  2. 2

    Phase 2 — Paper 1 technique

    Guided literary analysis

    • Unseen prose and poetry
    • Guiding-question response strategies
  3. 3

    Phase 3 — Paper 2 + Oral

    Comparative essay + global issue

    • Cross-text comparison frames
    • IO extract pairing and global-issue rehearsal
  4. 4

    Phase 4 — HL Essay + mock

    HL coursework + papers

    • HL Essay line of inquiry and drafting
    • Paper 1 and Paper 2 timed mocks

How lessons work

  • Areas of exploration as scaffolding

    We use the three AOEs to organise reading and portfolio work, so by Year 2 the student has annotated material ready for Paper 2 and the IO.

  • Comparative thinking from week 1

    Paper 2 is a comparative essay, so we teach comparison as a habit, not a final-month skill.

  • Academic integrity in HL Essay and IO

    All coursework is scaffolded so the analysis remains the student's own work, with appropriate citation and originality safeguards.

Advice

IB English A: Language & Literature: common mistakes and study tips

  • MistakePaper 1 essay that ignores the guiding question.

    FixThe guiding question is a prompt, not a constraint, but ignoring it can cost even strong analyses marks.

  • MistakePaper 2 essay that treats the two texts in sequence.

    FixPaper 2 rewards integrated comparison. A 'first text, then text' structure rarely reaches the top bands.

  • MistakeIndividual Oral without a defensible global issue.

    FixThe global issue must be specific, transnational and traceable in both extracts. Vague issues like 'human nature' under-score.

  • MistakeHL Essay that summarises rather than argues.

    FixThe HL Essay is a sustained literary argument with line of inquiry. Plot summary caps the rubric.

  • MistakeQuotations dropped without analysis.

    FixEvery quotation must be unpacked at the level of word choice, structure or technique. Drop-and-move-on is wasted ink.

Ready to raise your IB English A: Language & Literature grade?

You can start one-to-one IB English A: Language & Literature lessons with a single lesson. Every package and price is on one page.

  • Live one-to-one lessons online
  • No package needed — book a single lesson
  • Lesson times that fit your school week
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You can also write to us through our contact page.

Other subjects

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FAQ

IB English A: Language & Literature Prep — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions students ask most about IB English A: Language & Literature preparation.

Language and Literature suits students interested in non-literary texts (advertising, speeches, journalism); Literature suits students who want sustained close-reading of poetry, prose and drama. We can help you choose in a Free Intro Call.

Possible, but English B is often the better fit. Your school decides which course you take; we can talk it through with you in a Free Intro Call.

Quotations are not the goal — the analysis around them is. A short, well-analysed quote outscores a long, unexamined one.

HL students typically book 60–90 hours across two years; SL students less.

The money-back guarantee covers live lessons. If you are not satisfied after your first private lesson, we refund your payment in full. We do not offer free trial lessons. Payment is required before your first lesson.

You can cancel a lesson package at any time. Lessons already given are charged at the single-lesson price and the rest is refunded. The first-lesson guarantee applies on top.

Lessons cancelled less than 3 hours before the start count as taken and are not refunded. A lesson that has not been paid for 3 hours before it starts is cancelled automatically.

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