May 2025 Paper 2: Sample Response 2 (Question 1)
This week, we are publishing our second exemplar from the May 2025 Paper 2 examination. You will find that it is a pretty standard response.
So why publish an essay that is average? For some of our students, getting to this level of writing is a huge success. For example, you will find that the student frames the essay around the writer and their choices even if the execution of that discussion is not precise. Too many students fall into the plot summary or description trap and while this essay has those elements at times, overall, it does try to focus on the author and their choices in relation to the question.
There's also another key reason to publish this essay. Comparing and contrasting it to the first model example (an excellent response all around) will allow students to understand the demands of the essay in terms of interpretation, analysis, and comparing and/or contrasting.
We've also added, as a part of this new exemplar, a more in-depth comparative worksheet asking students to decide which essay has a better introduction and which essay has a better conclusion. There are four questions for students to answer about the introduction and three questions about the conclusion. The aim of this worksheet it to get students thinking about how to best start and end their essays. In other words, what moves does a writer need to make in an introduction and a conclusion?
Finally, please remember that May 2025 Paper 2 has officially been marked using assessment criteria totaling 30 overall points. For May 2026 exams and beyond, the IB has slightly altered the criteria and the total number of points allocated. As such, you will find two sets of marks for this exemplar. The first set is on the original 30 point scale. The second set of marks is (potentially) what it would have received had it been marked on the 25 point scale.
As always, use what works for you, in your context, with your particular students and modify anything you need to change.
Best,
Tim and David