IB English A Language and Literature (first exams 2021) - HL/SL 

Paper 1 Assessment Criteria 

Criterion A:   Criterion B:   Criterion C:   Criterion D: 
Understanding and interpretation  Analysis and evaluation  Focus and organization  Language 
• How well does the candidate  • To what extent does the candidate  • How well organized, coherent and  • How clear, varied and accurate is 
demonstrate an understanding of the  analyse and evaluate how textual  focused is the presentation of ideas? the language? 
text and draw reasoned conclusions  features and/or authorial choices  • How appropriate is the choice of 
from implications in it?  shape meaning? register and style? (“Register” refers, 
• How well are ideas supported by  in this context, to the candidate’s use 
references to the text?  of elements such as vocabulary, 
tone, sentence structure and 
terminology appropriate to the 
analysis). 

5  The response demonstrates  5  The response demonstrates  5  The presentation of ideas is  5  Language is very clear, 
a thorough and perceptive  an insightful and convincing  effectively organized and  effective, carefully chosen 
understanding of the literal  analysis of textual features  coherent. The analysis is  and precise, with a high 
meaning of the text. There  and/or authorial choices.  well focused.  degree of accuracy in 
is a convincing and  There is a very good  grammar, vocabulary and 
insightful interpretation of  evaluation of how such  sentence construction; 
larger implications and  features and/or choices  register and style are 
subtleties of the text.  shape meaning.  effective and appropriate to 
the task. 
References to the text are   
well-chosen and effectively 
support the candidate’s 
ideas. 

4 The response demonstrates  4 The response demonstrates  4 The presentation of ideas is  4 Language is clear and 
a thorough understanding  an appropriate and at times  well organized and mostly  carefully chosen, with a good 
of the literal meaning of the  insightful analysis of textual  coherent. The analysis is  degree of accuracy in 
text. There is a convincing  features and/or authorial  adequately focused.  grammar, vocabulary and 
interpretation of many  choices. There is a good  sentence construction; 
 
implications of the text.  evaluation of how such  register and style are 
features and/or choices  consistently appropriate to 
References to the text are 
shape meaning.  the task. 
relevant and support the 
candidate’s ideas.   

3 The response demonstrates  3 The response demonstrates  3 The presentation of ideas is  3 Language is clear and 
an understanding of the  a generally appropriate  adequately organized in a  carefully chosen with an 
literal meaning of the text.  analysis of textual features  generally coherent manner.  adequate degree of accuracy 
There is a satisfactory  and/or authorial choices.  There is some focus in the  in grammar, vocabulary and 
interpretation of some  analysis.  sentence construction 
implications of the text.   despite some lapses; register 
 
and style are mostly 
References to the text are 
appropriate to the task. 
generally relevant and 
mostly support the 
candidate’s ideas.. 

2 The response demonstrates  2 The response demonstrates  2 Some organization is  2 Language is sometimes clear 
some understanding of the  some appropriate analysis  apparent in the presentation  and carefully chosen; 
literal meaning of the text.  of textual features and/or  of ideas. There is little focus  grammar, vocabulary and 
authorial choices, but is  in the analysis.  sentence construction are 
References to the text are 
reliant on description.  fairly accurate, although 
at times appropriate.   
errors and inconsistencies 
  are apparent; the register 
and style are to some extent 
appropriate to the task. 

1 The response demonstrates  1 The response is descriptive  1 Little organization is  1 Language is rarely clear and 
little understanding of the  and/or demonstrates little  apparent in the presentation  appropriate; there are many 
literal meaning of the text.  relevant analysis of textual  of ideas. No discernible  errors in grammar, 
features and/or authorial  focus is apparent in the  vocabulary and sentence 
References to the text are 
choices.  analysis.  construction and little sense 
infrequent or are rarely 
of register and style. 
appropriate. 

0 The work does not reach a  0 The work does not reach a  0 The work does not reach a  0 The work does not reach a 
standard described by the  standard described by the  standard described by the  standard described by the 
descriptors above.  descriptors above.  descriptors above.  descriptors above.