An in‑depth IB English analysis of Chronicle of a Blood Merchant by Yu Hua, ideal for the IB English Individual Oral (IO) and Paper 2 comparative essay. This resource explores themes of sacrifice, resilience, political oppression, and human dignity in Mao‑era China, with detailed discussion of symbolism, stylistic devices, and authorial message—taught at Lead Academics in Hong Kong by Robyn Lee Goyette, IB English tutor.

Master persuasive writing with our “88 Paper 1 Devices” guide, designed to help students excel in English Language exams. This clear, easy-to-follow resource breaks down essential sentence-level, word-level, and sound-level techniques—including rhetorical questions, emotive language, connotations, alliteration, sibilance, and more. Perfect for Paper 1 exam preparation, revision, and classroom support, this guide explains how each device shapes tone, mood, and reader response. Boost your analytical skills, strengthen essay writing, and improve exam performance with this comprehensive overview of key language devices.

This IB English A Language and Literature Paper 1 analysis explores the opinion article “The Practical Magic of Painting” by Joe Bennet, examining structure, language devices, and visual elements, including Vermeer’s The Milkmaid. A clear, student-friendly breakdown designed to help IB learners master textual analysis, taught at Lead Academics in Hong Kong CWB by Robyn Goyette.

This blog presents an analytical essay by Lead Academics Hong Kong, for an IBDP English A Paper 1 past examination, examining a persuasive non‑literary text adapted from the Bee Cause appeal by Friends of the Earth (2016).

Hey everyone, today I’m going to show you how to write a Level 7 IB English Paper 1 paragraph, using The Hierarchy of Humor by Grant Snider as an example, which you can find on his website, Incidental Comics. The essay for this paper is at the end of this blog. 

One of the biggest challenges in IB English Paper 1 is not knowing how to structure your response once you understand the text. Many of you can identify techniques but struggle to organize your analysis in a way that is clear, convincing, and aligned with the assessment criteria.

A strong Paper 1 essay follows a deliberate structure: it begins with a focused introduction that establishes text type, audience, purpose, and thesis; then it develops body paragraphs built around specific authorial choices, and ends with an evaluative conclusion that weighs effectiveness.

The sample response below, based on Pico Iyer’s opinion travel piece “To Big Sur, with Love: a monastery stay on the northern California coast,” demonstrates how to move logically from purpose to technique to effect, while consistently linking analysis back to the target audience.

Written by Robyn Lee Goyette, founder of Lead Academics HK

Many students know what a poem is about but struggle to explain how the poem works—especially when it comes to structure. In exams, markers are not looking for a list of techniques; they are looking for an explanation of how structural choices shape meaning and purpose.

This blog will show you how to write about structure clearly, confidently, and analytically, using as a model Bob Orr’s poem “The Tyre Shop”, an IBDP English A Literature past paper from May 2016. The full essay is provided at the end of this blog.

Let’s be honest: most IB essays don’t lose marks because students lack ideas, they lose marks under Criterion C: Focus and Organisation because those ideas aren’t clearly connected. One paragraph ends, another begins, and the examiner is left thinking, Wait… how did we get here? 

Strong organisation in IB writing isn’t just about having paragraphs; it’s about using clear transitions so ideas develop logically from one to the next.

The good news? There’s a quick and easy transition trick that consistently lifts Criterion C marks, and this Paper 1 essay (provided at the end of this blog) on Bill Bryson’s travel article “Notes from a Small Island: Extract” is a perfect example of how seamless movement between ideas creates a controlled, coherent response.

If you’ve ever frozen up in IB English because you don’t have the right words, this is the fix for you. These ten sentence models help you write faster, sound more confident, and actually say what the examiner wants to see.

What does a Level 7 IB English Paper 1 actually look like? This blog breaks down a full‑marks (20/20) guided textual analysis of Joe Bennett’s “The practical magic of painting,” showing how examiners reward clear interpretation, precise quotation, and analysis that explains how language shapes meaning, not just technique‑spotting. By making the thinking behind a top‑scoring response visible, it helps IB English A SL and HL students understand what separates strong analysis from description, and how to aim for top marks.

If you’re preparing for your IB English Individual Oral (IO), you’ll need to link your analysis to a global issue, and do it without sounding repetitive. Here’s a simple, ready-to-use list of Global Issue starter phrases. Use one each time you move from discussing the text to explaining its broader relevance. (You’ll need to do these throughout your IO).

Strong IB English Literature Paper 1 introductions don’t summarise the text—they frame an argument. The difference between a mid‑range response and a top‑band one is visible within the first three sentences: analytical verbs replace description, techniques are named for their function, and the introduction establishes a clear interpretive direction. An effective intro shows the examiner that you understand not just what the text presents, but how it constructs meaning and why that construction matters.

Losing marks on IB Paper 1 introductions? Learn why examiners reject summaries, what analysis actually looks like, and how to fix your opening fast. You don’t lose marks in Paper 1 because you “don’t get the text.” You lose them because your writing reports instead of interrogates. When an introduction begins with “This text is about…” or lists techniques without purpose, it signals to the examiner that you’re observing from the surface, not analysing from within. High‑scoring responses make a different move: they interpret how visual and verbal choices construct meaning, position the audience, and expose the ideology beneath the message. Paper 1 rewards scrutiny, not summary—and your introduction is where that distinction becomes immediately visible.

Advertising is built on the art of persuasion, and one of the most effective ways brands achieve this is through carefully crafted advertising appeals. These techniques tap into our emotions, values, curiosities, and even our senses to shape how we interpret a message—and ultimately, how we respond to it. Whether an ad aims to warm our hearts, spark our imagination, or stir our appetite, each appeal is designed to make a product or idea feel more meaningful and memorable. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of some of the most common appeals used in modern advertising, paired with visual examples that bring these strategies to life.

I analyse Taylor Swift’s new song “The Fate of Ophelia” which tells the story of someone feeling lost and overwhelmed, stuck in sadness and isolation, until someone comes along and completely turns things around. Using Ophelia from Hamlet as a metaphor, the song is about being saved from a cycle of heartbreak and finding hope and strength through a powerful connection (ahem, with Travis Kelce). 

The Language of Graphics in The Gate Theatre’s Manifesto (IB May 2025 past paper 1)

When we think of manifestos, we often focus on their words—the bold declarations, urgent calls to action, and visionary ideals. But what if the visuals are speaking just as loudly? In this post, I dive into the graphic language of a contemporary theatre manifesto, from The Gate, unpacking how its color palette, texture, and pattern work in concert with its text to communicate its core values: inclusivity, empathy, transformation, and collective imagination.

Writers show relationships in drama by using different techniques to reveal how characters connect, feel, fight, or grow. These techniques help the audience understand the emotions, conflicts, and changes in the characters’ relationships. Below are some of the key ways writers explore relationships in plays, with clear explanations and examples. As you read through these points, remember that there’s an exemplar IB Literature essay in response to the May 2024 exam waiting for you at the end to help tie everything together and showcase how these ideas can be applied effectively.

The New York Times Magazine article “Food; India's Soul Food,” an excerpt from Julie Sahni’s book India’s Soul Food, is a compelling piece of culinary journalism and cultural storytelling. Through vivid personal narrative, historical insight, and practical guidance, Sahni not only introduces readers to the art of tandoori cooking but also positions it as a symbol of Indian identity and tradition. The text functions as more than just a food article, it bridges cultures, educates readers, and invites them into the heart of Indian cuisine. This essay will analyze three key features of the text type, establishing relatability through comparison, educating through myth-busting and historical context, and democratizing cooking with accessible instruction, using rhetorical and stylistic devices such as metaphor, juxtaposition, sensory imagery, and descriptive language.

🔥 Ace Your IB English Paper 1 Analysis! 🔥

In this video, I break down how to analyze tone in Samuel Pepys' diary entry about the Great Fire of London, featured in the IB English November 2014 past paper. Learn how to craft insightful body paragraphs that will impress your examiner and boost your Paper 1 score! I’ll cover:
✅ How to identify the tone in a passage.
✅ Techniques to analyze tone effectively.
✅ Structuring body paragraphs for maximum impact.

Whether you're preparing for your IB English exams or simply want to explore one of history's most famous events through literature, this video is for you!