How to Revise for IB English Language and Literature

When it comes to revision, it pays to have a plan. This is especially true of IB Language and Literature, a course that covers a huge range of different topics. 

This is a course that challenges you to engage with both literary and non-literary texts across diverse media, including novels, poetry, advertisements, speeches and even photographs and films. 

The exams are equally diverse in nature: you’ll have to be able to confidently tackle unseen analyses, comparative essays and even an individual oral presentation. 

So, how best to revise IB English Language and Literature?

In my 15 years of teaching English, I’ve seen that a structured and targeted revision plan transforms students’ performance. 

Whether you’re studying at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL), this guide outlines 10 key strategies to help you manage your workload and excel in every assessment area.

1. Understand how you are examined

I often remind my students that having a clear understanding of the exam structure is essential for efficient revision. When you know precisely what will be tested, you can focus your efforts on the relevant topics and avoid spending time on areas that won’t appear on the exam.

In IB Language and Literature, the structure differs between SL and HL:

2. Get to know the mark scheme

Just as it’s essential to understand the exam papers, familiarising yourself with the IB mark schemes is equally important. This knowledge enables you to fine-tune your revision and start recognising areas where you can independently enhance your work. 

My very best students knew their mark schemes so well they could mark their own work as well as I could!  

Key criteria include:

• Understanding and interpretation: demonstrate clear comprehension by drawing well-supported conclusions

• Analysis and evaluation: critically assess how language, form, and authorial choices construct meaning

• Focus and organisation: present your ideas in a coherent, well-structured manner

• Language: use clear, precise and context-appropriate language in your written and oral responses

As an HL student, you’ll be assessed on other things too, so it’s important to review past examiner reports and official IB guidelines to understand what distinguishes a top-scoring response.

3. Create a revision timetable

If I could only give one tip, it would be this: plan your entire revision schedule in advance. My top students consistently create detailed timetables that ensure they cover every part of the course efficiently and effectively. 

When you're setting up your schedule, consider the following:

• Prioritise weak areas: as much as it can be tempting to go back to those topics or texts that you’re confident on, try to focus your revision on texts or skills you find challenging and schedule extra practice

• Break up your study: break revision into focused sessions — alternate between set texts, unseen practice and essay writing practice

• Set clear goals: establish daily or weekly targets to track your progress

• Include regular breaks: short, frequent breaks help maintain concentration and prevent burnout

A consistent schedule will keep you organised and ensure you cover every aspect of the course, without a mad rush — and the potential of burning out — as your exams approach.

4. Only use revision techniques that are backed by science

Everyone learns differently — and there is definitely no “right way” of revising that will suit everyone. However, there are a few revision techniques that are really inefficient. Some, like highlighting or re-reading texts, are almost a complete waste of time. Instead, it’s good to know which revision strategies are backed by science. 

Here are some evidence-based techniques that I always recommend my students try:

Using a mix of these techniques will not only make your revision sessions more engaging and effective, it will better help you retain knowledge in your long-term memory.

5. Give yourself lots of time to prepare your oral

The individual oral is a really crucial component of your internal assessment. Even though it’s only 15 minutes long, it’s worth a huge chunk of your overall IB grade (30% for SL; 20% for HL). That’s a lot of marks per minute! 

But try to look at it another way: if you nail the preparation for your oral exam, that’s a huge number of marks you can bag in just a quarter of an hour. To excel:

• Link to a global issue: ensure that the chosen global issue is evident in both texts, and prepare clear, evidence-based examples. Picking the right texts can really make a difference to your final mark, so take your time on this.

• Redraft your presentation: try to give yourself plenty of time to draft, and then revise, your oral. Coming back to a draft a few days later allows you to see it with fresh eyes, and refine it to make the argument even stronger

• Practice aloud: rehearse your presentation multiple times — in front of peers or a teacher — to refine your delivery. You could even record yourself on your phone, and then refine your presentation while playing it back.

• Time your presentation: ensure your 10-minute prepared response fits comfortably within the allotted time, with a follow-up discussion of 5 minutes. Don’t try to rush your presentation too much to fit in more content.

Regular practice and constructive feedback will boost your confidence and help you deliver a compelling oral.

6. Don’t neglect unseen text revision

Unseen text analysis is often the most challenging aspect of the exam. You can’t know what will come up on your exam papers, but you can most definitely be prepared for anything. 

It’s not true that “you can’t really revise” unseen text questions; the very best revision involves analysing as many unseen passages as you can, and to practise, practise, practise!

Strengthen your skills with these approaches:

• Active reading: practice annotating unseen non-literary texts to quickly identify key features such as tone, style, and structure

• Focus on guiding questions: use the guiding questions provided in Paper 1 as a framework for your analysis

• Timed practice: simulate exam conditions to build your ability to craft a focused analysis within the time limit

• Reflect on feedback: seek targeted feedback from your teachers to improve your technique

Consistent practice will help reduce exam anxiety and enhance your performance on unseen texts.

7. Get to know your texts thoroughly

The IB English Language and Literature course requires you to cover a huge number of texts, so a systematic approach to managing your reading list is vital. Remember that according to the official course details:

• SL students: study 4 literary works and an equivalent number of non-literary texts from various media

• HL students: study 6 literary works along with a comparable range of non-literary texts

Additionally, the course is built around three key areas of exploration:

• Readers, Writers, and Texts: focus on the relationships between texts, authors, and audiences, and explore the nature of meaning and communication

• Time and Space: consider the historical, cultural, and social contexts of texts and how they reflect and influence society

• Intertextuality: Connecting Texts: examine how texts relate to each other across literary and non-literary traditions

Use these frameworks to ensure your revision covers key themes, stylistic features, and historical contexts. It can also be a great idea to revise texts that you may compare together, rather than separately. Here are some great science-backed strategies to do that:

Organising your revision around these methods will deepen your understanding and help you draw connections across texts.

8. Practise IB exam-style questions

Once you’ve come to understand your set texts better, and feel more confident tackling unseen texts, it’s time to focus your revision on the actual exam papers. The best way to do this is to simulate real exam conditions wherever possible. 

This might sound scary, but trust me: my best students were always the ones who prepared themselves by doing timed essays. It builds confidence and means that the real exam is so much more manageable. Here are some things to try:

• Analyse past questions: break down past paper questions to understand what each command term requires

• Timed essays: write full responses under exam conditions to build speed and stamina

• Compare with exemplars: review high-scoring sample answers (ask your teacher for these) to identify strengths and areas for improvement

• Seek feedback: use feedback from teachers and peers to fine-tune your structure, argument, and language

If your school or teacher offers to host timed exam practice, be bold and sign up!

9. Seek support

Effective revision is rarely a solo endeavour. There are so many benefits of working in groups when you revise. Science has shown that revision study groups are hugely beneficial. 

It’s even more important to reach out to others if you are struggling. There are so many people that can, and will, help. So don’t hesitate to:

• Consult your teachers: teachers are always there to help, and should always make time to go over misunderstandings, or to mark practice essays

• Join study groups: collaborate with peers to discuss interpretations and analyse texts

• Utilise online resources: explore additional materials that align with the IB Language and Literature course, like those from Save My Exams

• Lean on your support network: family and friends can help quiz you on key concepts and offer moral support

Collaboration can even introduce new insights and make your revision process more fun. Working with others also has the benefit of keeping all of you motivated!

10. Stay healthy

A balanced mindset is key to success. Students who are stressed and burnt-out don’t achieve their true potential, so make sure you look after yourself this revision period:

• Take regular breaks: short, frequent breaks enhance concentration and prevent burnout

• Prioritise sleep: adequate rest is critical for memory and overall performance

• Incorporate physical activity: exercise helps reduce stress and boost focus

• Eat well: a balanced diet supports both your physical and mental well-being

A great tip that I learnt from a few of my students was to incorporate exercise into your revision timetable. This could be a 30-minute run, or could be as simple as a 20-minute walk between revision sessions.

For more information on staying stress-free during your revision, check out our Free Exam Anxiety Relief Kit.

Improve your grades with Save My Exams

At Save My Exams, we help thousands of IB students prepare for their exams every year. 

Explore our extensive range of revision resources — crafted by subject experts and examiners — to boost your confidence and achieve success:

IB Revision Resources

References

IB Language A: Language and Literature subject brief

“Practice makes perfect: why mock exams are great for students’ brains”, Bradley Busch, The Guardian

“Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques”, 2013, Dunlovsky et al, Association of Psychological Science

“Exam Revision: Getting the best out of study groups/discussions”, Victor Agboga, LSE