English A: Literature · HL Essay
IB English A: Literature IA Grader
Upload your HL Essay and get criterion-by-criterion feedback against the IB assessment criteria in the official IB Language A: literature HL essay assessment criteria (first assessment 2021). 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 — 20 marks total
Your HL Essay is graded against 4 criteria in the official mark scheme. iBacalao scores each one and tells you exactly where to gain marks.
Understanding and Interpretation
A thorough understanding of the literal meaning of the text, with a convincing and insightful interpretation of its larger implications and subtleties. Ideas supported by well-chosen references to the text.
Analysis and Evaluation
Analysis and evaluation of how textual features and/or authorial choices shape meaning — moving beyond description to evaluate the effect of the writer's choices.
Focus and Organization
An effectively organized and coherent presentation of ideas, with the analysis staying well focused throughout.
Language
Clear, varied and accurate language. Register and style appropriate to an academic essay: suitable vocabulary, tone, sentence structure and literary/linguistic terminology.
Common mistakes to avoid
The most frequent reasons students drop marks on each criterion.
Understanding and Interpretation
- Staying at the literal/surface level without exploring implications
- Claims made without quoting or referencing the text
- References included but never tied to an interpretation
- Misreading the literal meaning of the text
Analysis and Evaluation
- Describing or paraphrasing the text instead of analysing it
- Device-spotting without evaluating the effect on meaning
- Treating features in isolation from purpose and audience
- Drifting away from the guiding question
Focus and Organization
- Line-by-line commentary with no overall structure
- Paragraphs that drift from the focus of the analysis
- No clear introduction or thesis for the analysis
- Ideas presented in an arbitrary order
Language
- Informal register or conversational tone
- Grammar, vocabulary or sentence-construction errors that obscure meaning
- Overlong, tangled sentences instead of clear, varied ones
- Literary terminology used imprecisely or incorrectly
Common questions
How is the IB English A: Literature HL Essay marked?
Your HL Essay is marked against 4 criteria totalling 20 marks using the official IB Language A: literature HL essay assessment criteria (first assessment 2021): Understanding and Interpretation (/5), Analysis and Evaluation (/5), Focus and Organization (/5), Language (/5). 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 A: Literature HL Essay?
The two criteria worth the most marks are where students lose the most. On Understanding and Interpretation: Staying at the literal/surface level without exploring implications; Claims made without quoting or referencing the text. On Analysis and Evaluation: Describing or paraphrasing the text instead of analysing it; Device-spotting without evaluating the effect on meaning. The full list for every criterion is above.
Which criterion is worth the most marks in the IB English A: Literature HL Essay?
The highest-weighted criterion is "Understanding and Interpretation" and is worth 5 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 A: Literature HL Essay?
Word and page limits for the HL Essay are set in the official IB Language A: literature HL essay assessment criteria (first assessment 2021) 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 A: Literature 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.