IB English IO Global Issues (2025 Guide)
Everything you need to know to choose and refine a strong global issue - and build your IB English IO around it the right way.
What Is a Global Issue in the IB English IO?
A global issue is the core idea your entire IO is built around. It’s a real-world issue that appears in both of your texts - and everything you say in your oral should connect back to it.
You choose one based on the themes in your texts, then refine it into a clear, focused issue that’s globally relevant and grounded in everyday life.
According to the IB, a global issue must be:
Significant on a global scale
Transnational - it appears across countries or cultures
Relevant to real people in everyday life
So instead of a vague theme like “freedom,” a strong global issue might be “how authoritarian regimes suppress free speech.” That’s focused, cross-border, and socially real - exactly what the IO is meant to explore.
Your global issue is the anchor of your IO. It gives you structure, depth, and a consistent thread to follow. If it’s too broad or unclear, your analysis will wander.
To help spark ideas, the IB offers five broad “fields of inquiry”:
Culture, identity and community
Beliefs, values and education
Politics, power and justice
Art, creativity and imagination
Science, technology and the environment
You don’t need to choose from these - they’re just there to help. What matters is that your global issue works for both texts and fits IB’s definition.
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.
Is There a Difference in Global Issues Between Language & Literature and Literature courses?
The idea of a global issue works the same way in both IB English courses. Whether you're in Language & Literature or Literature, you're still expected to choose a focused, globally relevant issue and connect it clearly to both of your texts.
The only difference is the type of texts you’re analyzing:
Lang & Lit students use one literary text and one non-literary body of work (e.g. a memoir + a speech or novel + news coverage).
Literature students use two literary works - one originally in English, and one originally written in another language (in translation).
No matter the course, your global issue should be clearly present in both texts, as a central idea in each.
Everything in this guide applies to both Lang & Lit and Literature students. The marking criteria are identical, and the expectations around your global issue are the same.
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 Your Global Issue Affects Your IO Marks
Your global issue isn’t just the topic of your IO - it’s what examiners use to judge how well you understand, analyze, and organize your response.
In Criterion A, it shows whether you truly grasp the meaning of your texts
In Criterion B, it anchors your analysis of techniques and choices
In Criterion C, it’s the thread that gives your IO structure and direction
If your issue is too vague, examiners can’t follow your thinking. If it’s focused and well-integrated, your marks in all three areas go up.
How to Choose a Strong Global Issue for Your IO
Choosing the right global issue is one of the most important decisions you'll make for your IO.
Here’s how to find one that actually works.
1. Start from Your Texts
The best global issues come from the texts themselves. Look at them side by side and ask:
What ideas or concerns do they have in common?
You’re looking for overlap - not just in topic, but in how each text explores that topic. If the issue feels unevenly present, it might not be the right fit. A strong global issue should be clearly reflected in both texts, even if it’s approached differently.
2. Use the IB’s Criteria as a Checklist
A valid global issue must meet all four of these conditions:
Global significance - matters beyond one country or culture
Transnational relevance - spans multiple societies or contexts
Everyday impact - affects people’s lives in the real world
Clearly present in both texts - not just hinted at or loosely implied
If your issue misses any of these, it’ll be harder to build a focused, comparative analysis - and examiners will notice.
3. Avoid Issues That Are Too Broad or Too Narrow
| Too Broad | Too Narrow |
|---|---|
| Racism | The representation of skin color symbolism in one stanza of a single protest poem |
| Technology | The use of Instagram filters to influence teen self-esteem in one influencer campaign |
| War | A soldier’s personal guilt over one civilian casualty in a single short story |
Better phrasing might be:
“How institutional bias shapes perceptions of justice”
“The impact of surveillance on personal identity”
The sweet spot is focused, but flexible enough to compare meaningfully across texts.
4. Aim for an Embedded Argument or Tension
Strong global issues suggest a question, cause-effect relationship, or point of tension that’s worth unpacking.
Try phrasing like:
“How X affects Y”
“The role of X in shaping Y”
“The consequences of X in different social contexts”
That framing sets you up to explore meaning, not just describe content.
5. Test Your Global Issue Out Loud
Say your global issue out loud, like you’re introducing it in your IO. Does it sound focused, specific, and easy to follow? Or are you stumbling over the phrasing?
If it feels convoluted, it probably is. The clearest global issues are the easiest to explain - and the most persuasive to examiners.
Examiner Insights – What Makes a Global Issue Weak vs Strong
Examiners see global issues fall short in a few common ways. Some are too vague - broad ideas like “freedom” or “technology” that don’t give the student a clear focus. Others are overly narrow or only fit one text, which makes comparison feel forced. And sometimes, the issue is phrased so vaguely or awkwardly that even the examiner isn’t sure what the student is trying to explore.
Stronger global issues avoid those problems. They’re phrased clearly, often in one or two short clauses. They suggest a relationship or tension that can be unpacked, and they show up consistently across the IO - not just in the introduction.
One examiner put it this way:
“If I can’t summarize the student’s global issue in one sentence, that’s usually a problem.”
And while your tone should stay formal, the best IOs don’t sound convoluted or overworked. Examiners respond to presentations that feel purposeful and engaged - like you’ve chosen a global issue you actually want to explore.
FAQs - IB English IO Global Issues
How do I choose the right global issue for my IO?
Start with your texts. Look for overlapping ideas or concerns, then narrow one of those into a focused issue that’s globally significant, cross-cultural, and relevant to everyday life. The best global issues grow out of the texts - not the other way around.
What are strong examples of global issues for IB English?
There’s no official list, but strong ones often explore things like the impact of surveillance on identity, how systemic bias shapes justice, or the role of media in distorting truth. What matters isn’t the topic itself - it’s how clearly it fits both texts and how well you analyze it.
Can I use the same global issue for both of my texts?
Yes - and you’re expected to. The global issue is what connects your two texts. If it’s only clearly present in one, you’ll struggle with analysis, structure, and comparison.
Do I need to come up with a completely original global issue?
No. You won’t lose marks for using a common issue - like inequality or censorship - as long as you phrase it clearly and explore it in a thoughtful, specific way. What examiners care about is how well the issue fits your texts and how you handle it.
Can my global issue be phrased as a question in the IO?
You can open your oral by asking a question, but your global issue itself should be a clear, arguable statement. It’s not a research question - it’s the lens through which you interpret both texts. Aim for clarity, not cleverness.
How should I introduce my global issue during the oral?
State it early - usually within your first few sentences. Be direct and confident: “The global issue I’ll explore is…” Then make sure everything that follows connects back to it. That’s how you stay focused and earn higher marks in every criterion.
Does my global issue need to fall under one of IB’s five suggested themes?
No - the five themes (like politics, creativity, or identity) are just there to help you brainstorm. Your global issue doesn’t need to fit neatly into any category. What matters is that it meets IB’s actual definition and works across both texts.
Is it okay to explore more than one global issue in the IO?
No. The task is to explore one global issue across both texts. Trying to cover more than one will spread your analysis too thin - and can result in a loss of marks, especially in Criterion A.
How specific should my global issue be - and how do I avoid going too broad or narrow?
Too broad, and your ideas will feel vague or superficial. Too narrow, and you’ll struggle to compare texts meaningfully. A strong global issue is focused, arguable, and clearly visible in both works - not just one scene or side point.
Need Help Choosing or Developing Your IO Global Issue?
If you’re not totally confident about your global issue - or your teacher hasn’t given you much direction - you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common things students ask for help with.
At Think Smart, we help students choose global issues that are actually clear, focused, and easy to work with. That means narrowing your idea, making sure it fits both texts, and checking that it’s phrased in a way that works across the whole IO. We’ll also help you shape your extracts, map out your structure, and get in some targeted practice before the real thing.
Our tutors include experienced IB graduates, teachers, and examiners - so we know what strong global issues actually look like, and how to help you build one that fits your voice and your texts.
