The IB English Individual Oral (IO) is an important assessment in the IB English curriculum, accounting for 30% at SL and 20% in HL of your final English A grade. To help you, our team wrote this guide to help you regardless of where you are in the process!
Understanding the Assessment Criteria
The first step to any assessment is understanding the assessment criteria, for the English individual oral in particular, one must understand what the examiners are looking out for. Below are the criteria used in the IB English IO, use it to find a clear direction in your preparation, and keep it in mind when writing your IO up.
Crafting a Compelling Global Issue
Crafting a strong global issue statement forms the backbone of your presentation. Your global issue should be concise, focused, and reflect the main theme or argument you aim to explore. For instance, a thesis statement could be something along the lines of: "The consequences of government-sanctioned violence on individual morality." Keep in mind, that these global issues should be present both locally and globally, while also being particularly relevant in the present day.
Here are some topics we think might be helpful:
The Palestine-Israel conflict
The Russia-Ukraine conflict
The passing of loved ones
Religious conflicts
Differences in political values and their effect
While it isn't mandatory as of 2021, we still do recommend our students to centre their global issues around one of the following 5 themes:
Culture, identity and community
Beliefs, values and education
Politics, power and justice
Art, creativity and the imagination
Science, technology and the environment
Selecting the Right Text
While this arguably should go before writing your global issue, we’ve found that it's better to take a look at a lot of texts, decide your global issue, and then choose which text fits your global issue best. Opt for texts that resonate with you and align with your global issue, selecting texts with rich literary techniques and themes will provide you with ample material for analysis, remember, you’re going to be looking at these for a while!
Balancing Close and Wide Analysis
To demonstrate your analytical prowess, strive for a balance between close and wide analysis techniques, close analysis involves examining specific passages or literary devices in detail, allowing you to delve into the intricacies of the text. For instance, analyzing the use of imagery in a poem to convey a certain mood or emotion. Wide analysis, on the other hand, explores broader themes, and historical context, focusing on connections to other texts in the body of work (BOW - refers to the collection or book that the extract was taken from). This could involve discussing the socio-political climate during the time the text was written. By incorporating both approaches, you demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the text and its wider implications.
Structuring your Presentation
Your English IO should remain balanced between both texts of choice, we recommend the following structure: 1 minute - Introduction, 4 minutes - Text 1, 4 minutes - Text 2, 1 minute - Conclusion, after which your teacher will question you for approximately 5 minutes. Under each of your text segments, you should "zoom in" and "zoom out" in a structured manner, using either 2 minutes for each segment going from one to the other or do it in 4 separate 1-minute points, with 2 points allocated for each perspective.
Practice and Rehearse
Practice makes perfect, and this holds for your IO presentation. Dedicate ample time to practice and rehearse your presentation, we recommend something along tinge lines of 30-45 minutes a day for 2 weeks leading up to the IO. Remember, familiarizing yourself with the content, working on your delivery, and paying attention to your body language and timing are necessary if you are aiming for a high score. Consider recording yourself while practising in front of a friend or family member who can provide constructive feedback, also helping you experience what it will be like when you give your final presentation. Look back on the recordings and work on anything you may notice.
Engaging with the Examiner
The interactive questioning phase is an opportunity to showcase your critical thinking skills and engage in meaningful discussions. Actively listen to the examiner's questions, take a moment to reflect, and respond thoughtfully. Support your responses with evidence and examples from your texts, and be open to different interpretations and perspectives. Additionally, remember to connect with the examiner through eye contact, confident body language, and clear and articulate delivery.
Seeking Feedback and Continuous Improvement
Feedback is invaluable in refining your presentation. Seek feedback from your teacher, peers, or mentors who can provide fresh insights and suggestions for improvement. Embrace constructive criticism and make the necessary revisions to enhance the quality of your presentation. Additionally, work on incorporating feedback into your practice sessions to continuously improve your skills.
Dealing with Nerves
Presenting in front of an examiner can be nerve-wracking, especially for students who may not have much experience with public speaking. To manage nerves, try deep breathing exercises or visualization techniques before your presentation, and remind yourself of your preparation and expertise in the subject matter. Also, remember that nerves can sometimes be a sign of excitement, so channel that energy positively into your presentation.
How Can We Help?
By implementing these strategies, you can approach your IB English Individual Oral with confidence and increase your chances of success. The IB English IO will, of course, seem daunting to most, so if you need additional help, consider us at AceMinds Education, starting with a free aptitude test and 1-hour session, we’ll provide you with any help you may need with our one-on-one tutoring and
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