English B · Paper 1 writing task
IB English B IA Grader
Upload your Paper 1 writing task and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the official IB Language B paper 1 (productive skills—writing) assessment criteria (first assessment 2020). Whether you are at Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL), iBacalao shows where your draft meets the mark scheme and what to improve before formative submission. Free to start in the Mac app; sign-in is required to keep reviews and usage limits tied to your account.
IB assessment criteria — 30 marks total
Your Paper 1 writing task is graded against 3 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Language
Command of written language: vocabulary appropriate to the task and varied (including idiomatic expressions), a variety of basic and more complex grammatical structures used effectively, and accuracy that supports communication.
Message
Fulfilment of the task: ideas relevant to the task, fully developed with details and relevant examples, and presented clearly in a logical, coherent structure that delivers the message.
Conceptual Understanding
Choice of text type appropriate to the task; register and tone appropriate to the context, purpose and audience; and the conventions of the chosen text type fully incorporated.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Language
- Repetitive, basic vocabulary throughout
- Only simple sentence structures attempted
- Errors in basic structures (agreement, tenses) that interfere with communication
- Idioms dropped in unnaturally instead of used purposefully
Message
- Ideas listed but never developed with details or examples
- Parts of the task prompt left unaddressed
- No logical paragraph structure, so the message gets lost
- Irrelevant content used to pad out the word count
Conceptual Understanding
- Wrong text type for the task (e.g. an essay where a letter was required)
- Register or tone mismatched to the audience (too formal or too casual)
- Missing text-type conventions (greeting, sign-off, headline, date…)
- Ignoring the stated context, purpose or audience
Common questions
How is the IB English B Paper 1 writing task marked?
Your Paper 1 writing task is marked against 3 criteria totalling 30 marks using the official IB Language B paper 1 (productive skills—writing) assessment criteria (first assessment 2020): Language (/12), Message (/12), Conceptual Understanding (/6). Each criterion has its own mark bands, and your teacher's marks are moderated by the IBO.
What are the most common mistakes in the IB English B Paper 1 writing task?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Language: Repetitive, basic vocabulary throughout; Only simple sentence structures attempted. On Message: Ideas listed but never developed with details or examples; Parts of the task prompt left unaddressed. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB English B Paper 1 writing task?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Language" and is worth 12 marks. The top mark band for this criterion is the most detailed, so missing any element it mentions is the fastest way to lose marks.
What is the word limit for the English B Paper 1 writing task?
Word and page limits for the Paper 1 writing task are set in the official IB Language B paper 1 (productive skills—writing) assessment criteria (first assessment 2020) rather than being the same across subjects, so check your subject guide for the exact figure. Going over the limit risks examiners stopping at the limit and not marking what follows.
Can I use AI to help with my English B IA?
The IBO allows AI for research support and feedback, but the submitted work must be entirely your own. iBacalao gives criterion-by-criterion feedback on your draft — the same kind of comment your teacher would give — without generating any text for your IA.