IB English B SL Tutoring
One-to-one online preparation for the English B Standard Level syllabus
The part that unsettles IB English B SL students most is the Individual Oral, which starts from a photograph: describe it and stop, and the answer never reaches the top band because it never connects to the theme. We rehearse the presentation and the follow-up questions in 90-minute sessions, and cover blogs, letters and reports one at a time.
Quick Answer
For the English B SL Individual Oral we recommend at least three rehearsal sessions: the first on choosing the stimulus, the second on structure, the third on the follow-up questions. A 10-lesson package covers a term of writing-task work. Every lesson is 90 minutes, one to one.
SL
Level
Fully Online
Format
90 min
Lesson length
€85 per 90 min one-to-one lesson
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund.
See packages and lower per-lesson rates
SLIB Specialists
Experienced Team
About IB English B SL Tutoring
Our IB English B SL programme is designed for students learning English as a foreign language. We develop the four core skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking).
The course covers five themes: Identities, Experiences, Human Ingenuity, Social Organization and Sharing the Planet. We work on vocabulary, grammar and text types for each theme.
We prepare students in detail for Paper 1 (writing tasks), Paper 2 (reading comprehension and listening) and the Individual Oral, and teach the techniques that score highly in each component.
Text types get particular attention. We teach format and register for different text types such as blog posts, articles, letters, brochures, interviews and speeches.
For the Individual Oral we work on visual-stimulus analysis, connecting it to a theme and presentation practice. The aim is for the student to communicate confidently at an academic level.
IB assessment experience
Lessons are planned with teachers who have relevant subject experience and a strong command of the IB assessment criteria. Matching is done by subject, level, the student's current standing and teacher availability.
Syllabus Topics
And what does the board look like at HL?
The same topics, taught at HL
HLExam Papers
IB English B SL exam structure and focus areas
| Paper | Duration | Weighting | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 1 hour 15 minutes | 25% | Writing tasks, 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Paper 2 | 45 minutes | 50% | Listening (45 minutes) and Reading (1 hour), 1 hour 45 minutes |
| IO | — | 25% | Individual Oral – visual stimulus presentation |
Source: the assessment components and weightings on this page follow the IB English B SL subject guide published by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Your school's IB coordinator can access the current session documents. ibo.org
About grade boundaries: According to the grade boundary documents the International Baccalaureate Organization publishes for each exam session, the total percentage needed for a 7 varies by subject, level and session in a band of roughly 55–85%. Your school's IB coordinator can access the relevant May/November Grade descriptors and boundaries document. In our one-to-one lessons we review the student's realistic grade range together using past-session boundaries and mock results.
IA / Written-Task Support
Where do one-to-one lessons help with the Internal Assessment and written tasks?
Describing the image is not the presentation
When the opening minutes go on saying what is in the photograph, what is left will not carry a discussion. We fix in advance how many sentences it takes to move from the image to the theme, so the description stays short enough to be a way in.
Seeing which theme the image belongs to
The image you are given is tied to one of the five themes, and a student who reads that wrongly cannot use the vocabulary they prepared. We practise theme recognition on its own: we show you an image and ask which theme it belongs to before anything else.
Using the preparation minutes
The short preparation time before the talk needs a fixed shape, or it disappears into composing sentences. We settle the note form – theme, three main points, closing – and every rehearsal uses it.
The questions after the presentation
Once the talk ends, questions come on the image and the theme. A memorised presentation stalls exactly here, because the questions do not follow the order you prepared. In rehearsal we ask them and deliberately steer towards what you have not prepared.
The cultural context of the image
The image comes from a context where English is spoken, and you are expected to connect the scene to that context. General remarks that would fit anywhere never make the link. We build the habit of spotting which detail gives the context away.
Comparing Preparation Paths
How self-study, group classes and one-to-one support compare for IB English B SL
| Preparation path | Pros | Limitations | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working on your own |
|
| Students who enjoy reading and pick up written conventions quickly. |
| School lessons and group courses |
|
| Students meeting the themes and text types for the first time. |
| One-to-one online lessons with us |
|
| Students who speak comfortably but cannot get from the image to the theme. |
Lesson packages
Not happy after your first lesson? Full refund. Split 10- and 20-lesson packages across any subjects you like, with no expiry date.
Study Plan Framework
A typical five-phase plan for IB English B SL in one-to-one lessons, adapted to the student's exam date.
Establishing the level
week 1
- A short separate measurement for reading and for listening
- One writing task read against the conventions of its text type
- The weighting of the programme follows from those measurements
The five themes and vocabulary
weeks 2-9
- The typical texts and vocabulary field of each theme
- Matching images to themes
- A short listening exercise in every session
Text types
weeks 6-12
- The separate conventions of blogs, letters, reports and leaflets
- Practice at choosing between the three tasks in Paper 1
- How the opening and closing shift with the text type
Rehearsing the Individual Oral
3-4 sessions counted back from the recording date
- Reading the image and moving to the theme
- Building the shape of the ten minutes
- A full rehearsal with questions, under exam conditions
Papers 1 and 2
the 6 weeks before the exam
- Settling a method for taking notes while the recording plays
- Matching questions to paragraphs in the reading section
- Full-length past papers under timed conditions
This framework is a sample plan; it is customised for each student based on exam date, target grade and current level.
How One-to-One Lessons Work
How IB English B SL sessions are structured
We drill the move from image to theme
The most common place to stall is hunting, mid-talk, for the sentence that gets from description to discussion. We tie that move to a handful of set phrases; once the phrase is ready, your attention stays on what you are saying rather than how to say it.
In Paper 1, the choice of task comes first
You pick one of three tasks, and most students pick the most familiar topic and land in a text type they do not know. We invert the criterion: not do you know the subject, but do you know the conventions of that form. We practise that decision in the session.
Listening in every session, in short doses
Saving listening for the exam term does not work; your ear tunes in through short, regular exposure. Whatever else we are covering, every session includes a short recording at exam speed.
A written progress report every two weeks
We share which themes were covered, what stage the oral preparation is at and what comes next, in writing.
IA Grader
Evaluate your Internal Assessment report yourself. IA Grader for all subjects →
Upload Your IA Report
Upload your IA report in PDF or DOCX format and let our AI assess it automatically.
Drag your file here
or click to select (PDF, DOCX – max 10MB)
Don't want to upload a file?
IA Preparation Checklist
Check the key elements of your IA report before moving on to scoring.
0/11 completed
0%Knowledge
Analysis
Organization
Language
Criterion-Based Scoring
Assess yourself on each criterion. Use the slider to set your score.
Knowledge, Understanding and Interpretation
0/8English B textual analysis, literary concepts and terminology.
No understanding of the text.
Analysis and Evaluation
0/8Critical analysis, argument and evaluation.
No analysis.
Focus and Organization
0/4The focus, structure and coherence of the argument.
No focus or structure.
Language
0/4Use of language, academic register and expression.
Inadequate use of language.
Total IA Score
Areas for Improvement
Want feedback on your IA from a teacher?
Work one-to-one with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria and IA rubrics inside out, and strengthen your report with feedback on each criterion.
If you'd like personalised feedback on your IA from a teacher, you can work with one of our tutors. This tool produces an estimated score; it does not replace official IB assessment.
Where Students Struggle
Our experienced IB teachers help you get past each of them.
Our Teaching Approach
IB-Focused Methodology
Work with teachers who know the IB assessment criteria inside out.
Where We Start
The first lesson sets the level, and the topic order follows from it.
The IA and the Exam
From the research question to the report, from past papers to mark schemes.
Past-Paper Focused
Real exam questions and mark scheme analysis.
Share before your first lesson
The information below helps the lesson plan focus on the student's real needs from the very first minutes.
- Target IB grade (e.g. 6 or 7) and exam date
- Current level: latest mock grade, predicted grade or weak topics
- School curriculum: the textbook used, IA / EE topic, deadlines
- Study schedule: lessons per week, available days and time slots
Who Is This Programme For?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my English good enough for English B SL?
Do you prepare students for the listening paper?
Is IB English B tutoring online?
Programme Features
- The Individual Oral built on a visual stimulus
- Moving from describing the photo to the theme
- Rehearsing the follow-up question section
- Text types such as blog, letter and report
- A three-stage rehearsal: image, flow, questions
- Vocabulary organised around the five themes
- 90-minute one-to-one sessions
Contact us for a lesson plan
Tell us your target grade, where you are now and when you sit the exam, and we will work out the weekly schedule with you.
Quick Info
Tutors who teach this course
- İpek G.
IB English B SL Teacher
- James R.
IB English B SL Teacher
Our teachers are currently working in IB schools, so we cannot share their full surnames.
Our tutors provide mentoring, structure suggestions and feedback during the IA / EE process. IB Courses does not write a student's IA or assignment for them.
Related IB Courses & Support
Other IB support often chosen alongside IB English B SL
IB English A SL Tutoring
IB English A SL tutoring covers literary analysis, Papers 1 and 2 and the Individual Oral, aligned to the IB assessment criteria.
Go to the IB English A SL Tutoring pageIB HLEnglish BIB English B HL Tutoring
IB English B HL tutoring develops reading, writing, listening and speaking skills with a study plan aligned to the IB assessment criteria.
Go to the IB English B HL Tutoring pageIB ProgrammeExtended EssayIB Extended Essay Tutoring
Get support throughout the Extended Essay process with the research question, structure, source use, academic writing and rubric-focused feedback.
Go to the IB Extended Essay Tutoring pageIB SLTurkish AIB Turkish A SL Tutoring
IB Turkish A SL tutoring covers Turkish literature, textual analysis, Papers 1 and 2 and the Individual Oral, around a personal plan.
Go to the IB Turkish A SL Tutoring pageLet's work out where to start with IB English B SL
On a free intro call with our experienced IB teachers, we'll decide together how many lessons you need and what to focus on.
The intro call is free and non-binding. We do not guarantee a specific IB grade.