Changes to the Language A courses
Monday 29 July 2024
Changes to the Language A courses announced by the IB
There are two main changes to be aware of, both taking effect for for first teaching in September 2024, and first assessment in May 2026:
1. Changes to the Paper 2 assessment criteria
Criterion A: Knowledge, understanding and interpretation: this criterion is now out of 5 marks (prevoiusly it was worth 10 marks)
Criterion B: Analysis and Evaluation is still out of 10 marks but is now split into two different sub-categories, each worth 5 marks:
- Criterion B1: Analysis and evaluation of textual features and/or broader authorial choices (5 marks)
- Criterion B2: Comparative analysis (5 marks)
Criterion C and D are unchanged. These changes apply to both the Literature and the Language and LIterature courses.
2. Redcuction in the number of required texts for HL and SL Literature courses
The number of texts now required are shown in the table below:
SL | HL | |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of texts | At least seven | At least ten |
| Minimum number from PRL | five | seven |
| Minimum number in original language | three | four |
| Minimum number in translation | two | three |
| Other requirements | three literary forms three periods three countries or regions, in at least two continents. | four literary forms three periods three countries or regions, in at least two continents |
There has been little explanation behind these changes although the IB have stated that further resources "reflecting these changes" will appear on the PRC in the coming months. Some initial thoughts: the reduction in the number of texts should give teachers and students some breathing space and allow for greater depth of exploration with the texts studied, while the change to crierion B on Paper 2 offers greater clarity in terms of where comparative skills are assessed. We would be interested to hear any thoughts you may have regarding these changes too so as ever please feel free to post in the comments.