School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST) Language A Support
If your mother tongue is not offered as a Language A subject at your school, you can take it through School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST). We provide expert online lessons and guidance in your language throughout this demanding process.
Quick Answer
School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST) lets a student take their mother tongue, for which no teacher is available at school, as an IB Language A: Literature subject (at SL only). The student studies the subject largely independently, while the school assigns a supervisor. We support the academic side by providing one-to-one online lessons with a teacher who is an expert in your language, plus text selection, oral and written assessment preparation and regular feedback. The official supervisor and registration role belongs to your school.
What Is SSST and Who Is It For?
The International Baccalaureate offers the School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST) option to support students' mother tongues. If the language you speak is not offered as a Language A subject at your school, you can take it as Language A: Literature, at Standard Level (SL) only, through self-taught study.
This option is especially valuable for students at international schools abroad whose mother tongue differs from the languages the school offers. Taking a Language A subject in your mother tongue can help you meet diploma requirements and work towards a bilingual diploma.
The Challenges of This Process
A self-taught subject is, as the name suggests, largely the student's own responsibility. The supervisor assigned by the school is usually not an expert in that language, so guidance based on language and literature expertise — in text selection, literary analysis, comparative study and assessment tasks — is often missing.
This is where we come in: with a teacher experienced in your language and in the IB Language A: Literature syllabus, we provide the expert support that is otherwise missing.
Our Self-Taught Language A Support
An Expert Teacher in Your Language
One-to-one online lessons with a teacher experienced in your language and in the IB Language A: Literature syllabus.
Text Selection and Reading List
Support in building a reading plan aligned with the IB Prescribed Reading List, balancing translated and original works.
Written Assessment Preparation
Structure, analysis and feedback on written tasks including Paper 1, Paper 2 and the SL components.
Individual Oral Preparation
Text pairing, identifying the global issue and rehearsal for the Individual Oral.
Process Guidance
Guidance on how the self-taught process works, the timeline and how to work with your supervisor. (The official supervisor role stays with your school.)
Fully Online
All lessons are held on our own live tutoring platform, from anywhere in the world and at times suited to your time zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what level can self-taught Language A be taken?
School-Supported Self-Taught Language A: Literature can be taken at Standard Level (SL) only. It is not offered as a Higher Level (HL) self-taught subject.
Do you replace the school's supervisor?
No. Assigning the official supervisor and registration are your school's responsibility. We support the academic side: expert lessons in your language, text selection, oral and written assessment preparation and feedback. We work in alignment with your school's process.
My mother tongue is not a common language — can I still get support?
We clarify in the free consultation whether we can find a teacher suited to your language. Depending on the language and availability, we give you the most accurate answer.
Does this subject count towards a bilingual diploma?
Taking a Language A subject in your mother tongue can help you meet the IB's bilingual diploma criteria. For your exact situation, we recommend confirming with your school's IB coordinator.
School-Supported Self-Taught registration, supervisor assignment and official assessment are handled by the IB and your school; we do not take on these roles. No specific grade or outcome is guaranteed.
Get Support in Your Mother Tongue
Get a free consultation to discuss which language you need self-taught Language A support in.