IB English IO Complete Guide (2025)
What the Individual Oral is, how it works, and how to approach it with confidence without getting overwhelmed.
What Is the IB English Individual Oral?
The IB English Individual Oral (IO) is an internal assessment where you speak for 10 minutes, followed by a 5-minute teacher-led discussion. During the presentation, you analyze two texts through the lens of one global issue, explaining how each text explores that issue using language, form, and authorial choices.
The IO is a major part of your final grade. It’s worth 30% at SL and 20% at HL, and it assesses more than content knowledge. Examiners are listening for clear understanding, focused analysis, logical structure, and confident academic language.
The format is the same across courses. Language & Literature students analyze one literary text and one non-literary body of work. Literature students analyze two literary works, one originally written in English and one in translation.
This guide is for students in both courses and at both levels. It explains what the IO is, how it works, and how to approach it without overcomplicating the task.
Want to feel confident about your IB English IO? Join a one-on-one trial with an IB examiner who’ll help you polish your global issue, organise your ideas, and maximise marks in every criterion.
How the IB English IO Works (Big Picture)
At a higher level, the IB English IO works like this:
You analyze two texts through one shared global issue.
The goal isn’t to give two separate commentaries, but to show how both texts explore the same real-world issue in different ways.
What you actually do in the IO:
Work with two texts (literary + non-literary in Lang & Lit, or two literary texts in Literature)
Choose one global issue that is clearly present in both
Analyze a short extract from each text, then connect it to the work as a whole
Move between detail and big picture (often called Zoom In and Zoom Out)
What examiners are broadly listening for:
Clear understanding of the texts and the global issue
Analysis of authorial choices (not summary)
A focused, easy-to-follow line of thinking
How the IO differs from written exams:
It’s spoken, not written
You can’t plan as you go
Clarity, structure, and control matter more than polished phrasing
This guide focuses on the big picture first. If you’re unsure how to define or refine your global issue, that’s the natural next step.
Read our full guide to IB English IO Global Issues
Already started your IB English IO? Submit your draft for review and get targeted feedback from an IB examiner to help you refine your global issue and strengthen every criterion.
How the IB English IO Is Marked (Overview)
The IB English IO is marked out of 40 points, using four criteria, each worth 10 marks. Every part of your oral contributes to your score, so balance and focus matter just as much as strong ideas.
At a high level, examiners assess:
Criterion A – Knowledge, Understanding & Interpretation
How well you understand your texts and the global issue, and how clearly you interpret their meaning.Criterion B – Analysis & Evaluation
How effectively you analyze authorial choices and explain how those choices shape meaning around the global issue.Criterion C – Focus & Organization
How clearly structured and coherent your oral is, including balance between texts and consistent focus on the issue.Criterion D – Language
How clearly, accurately, and appropriately you express your ideas in spoken academic English.
The criteria are applied the same way for SL and HL, and for both Language & Literature and Literature courses. The task and expectations do not change, only the overall weighting in the final grade.
Because the criteria are interconnected, a weakness in one area often affects others. For example, poor organization can make strong analysis harder to follow. Understanding how the criteria work together is key to scoring well.
For a detailed breakdown of what examiners expect in each band, see our full IB English IO Criteria guide.
How Students Typically Structure the IO
Most successful IB English IOs follow a clear, predictable structure that makes the examiner’s job easy. This doesn’t mean the presentation is rigid or formulaic, but it is organized in a way examiners are trained to listen for.
At a big-picture level, a typical IO looks like this:
Introduction
You clearly state your global issue and introduce both texts.Text 1 analysis
You analyze a short extract, then connect it to the work as a whole.Text 2 analysis
You repeat the same process with your second text.Conclusion
You bring both texts together and reaffirm the global issue.
This structure works because it keeps your ideas focused, balanced, and easy to follow. It also helps you manage time. When structure slips, timing usually slips with it, which can lead to rushed analysis or a weak conclusion.
Comparison typically appears briefly and strategically, often in the conclusion or at key transition points. It’s not required throughout, but it should feel purposeful rather than forced.
There are other valid ways to organize the IO, but this is the most common and the most reliable.
For a full breakdown of timing, outline rules, and alternative structures, see our IB English IO Structure & Timing guide.
What Examiners Respond to in Strong IB English IOs
Examiners consistently respond to clarity and control, not ambition or complexity. Strong IB English IOs don’t all sound the same, but they share a few key qualities that make them easy to follow and rewarding to listen to.
Clear focus
The central idea is easy to identify and stays consistent throughout the oral. The presentation doesn’t drift or compete with itself.Confident understanding of the texts
The student shows a clear understanding of the extract, how it fits into the wider work, and why the author’s choices matter.Analysis over summary
Instead of retelling what happens, strong IOs explain how meaning is created and why it matters.Logical organization
The examiner always knows which text is being discussed and where the analysis is going. Ideas build naturally and connect clearly.Controlled, natural delivery
The IO sounds practiced but not memorized, with a steady pace and clear expression that guides the listener.
Bottom Line: examiners reward IOs that feel purposeful from start to finish. Control and clarity do more for your marks than trying to do too much at once.
Need Help With Your IB English IO?
If you’re not fully confident about your IO yet, that’s completely normal. This assessment is rarely explained clearly, and small issues with focus, structure, or delivery can cost marks.
At Think Smart, we work with students specifically on the IO assessment. We help you refine your global issue, check whether your structure makes sense, and practice the oral itself so you know exactly where you stand.
Our tutors include IB graduates, teachers, and examiners, so the feedback is clear, accurate, and aligned with how the IO is actually marked.
IB English IO – FAQs
What is the IB English IO?
The IB English Individual Oral is a 10-minute spoken analysis of two texts, followed by a 5-minute Q&A, focused on one shared global issue.
Is the IO the same for Language & Literature and Literature?
Yes. The format, timing, and marking criteria are the same. The only difference is the type of texts you analyze.
Do I have to compare my texts in the IO?
Direct comparison is not required throughout. It’s often included briefly, especially in the conclusion or transitions, but it should feel purposeful.
How strict is the timing for the IB English IO?
Very strict. You are expected to stay close to 10 minutes. Going significantly over or under can affect clarity and organization marks.
Can I use a common global issue?
Yes. You won’t lose marks for a common issue as long as it’s clearly defined, focused, and well connected to both texts.
What happens if I go over time in the IO?
If you go over time, you risk rushing your conclusion or losing focus, which can lower marks, particularly for organization and clarity.
