A Comprehensive Guide | IBDP English Literature vs. Language & Literature

Are you struggling to understand the difference between Literature and Language & Literature in the IB? Do you want to know which course would be better for you or your child? Look no further, as we’ve got you covered! In this post, we’ll explain everything you need to know about these two English A courses offered by the IB.

Literature vs. Language & Literature: The Basics

IB Literature and Language & Literature are two different English A courses offered by the IB, with slightly different focuses. Here are the basics of each course:

Literature (Lit):

In Lit, students spend their two years in the IB studying 9 (SL) or 13 (HL) works chosen by the teacher. Your grade in Lit is determined by an exam consisting of two papers, an oral presentation relating to excerpts from the works you’ve studied, and (as an HL student) a 1200–1500-word essay on one of the works studied.

Language & Literature (Lang & Lit):

Lang & Lit students study 4 (SL) or 6 (HL) works, but they need not be novels – they can be long poems, short stories, novellas, etc. Your grade in Lang & Lit is determined by an exam consisting of two papers, a 15-minute oral presentation relating to the works you’ve studied, and (as an HL student) a 1200–1500-word essay on a non-literary text, literary text, or collection of non-literary texts by one author.

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1. IB Literature in Detail

The focus of IB Literature is literary texts, learning about approaches to textual criticism, the nature of literature, and the relationship between literature and the wider world. The works you are required to study come from a set of 3 different types of works: works in translation, works originally in the language studied, and free choice texts (from the prescribed reading list or elsewhere). The texts are typically decided by the Literature teacher, but they may ask for input from students so as to choose texts that are of interest to them.

Your exam in IB Literature consists of 2 papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2). Paper 1 requires you to write an analysis of passages from different literary forms while Paper 2 is a comparative essay in which you choose one question out of 4 and answer it using two of the works you studied as your foundation. In addition, you have the Individual Oral (IO), in which you give a 10-minute (plus 5 minutes for questions) response, with reference to your works studied, to the following prompt: “Examine the ways in which the global issue of your choice is presented through the content and form of two of the works that you have studied”. As an HL student, you also write a 1200–1500-word essay on one work studied throughout the course.

2. IB Language & Literature in Detail

In IB Language & Literature, students look at the world of literature, but they also study a wide range of non-literary texts from a variety of media. By examining how English is used across different literary forms, students investigate language and how it affects our everyday life, identity, and culture. The syllabus outlines 3 main components that must be covered, each of equal importance:

  • Readers, writers, and texts

  • Time and space

  • Intertextuality: connecting texts

Students are assessed through two papers, a textual analysis and a comparative essay, and a 15-minute oral presentation. HL students must also submit a 1200–1500-word essay on a non-literary text, literary text, or collection of non-literary texts by one author. The courses have a similar structure but different focuses, so speaking with a tutor may help in deciding which one to take.

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