IB DP English B at GESS (HL only)

English B at GESS is designed for students who have had some previous experience with the English language and are continuing to develop their academic, social, and intercultural communication skills in English. This course supports students who followed the Language Acquisition course in the MYP. It helps students to become confident global communicators, prepared for life in an international environment and higher education. 

Prerequisites: Minimum MYP Language B phase 4/5 with a score of level 4 or above (or a recognised equivalent).

💠 Why Study English B at GESS?

👉 Language for Global Communication – English is the language of instruction at GESS and the global language of higher education, media, and international collaboration. This course helps students strengthen their fluency and accuracy in English for both academic and real-world settings.

👉 Cultural Awareness & Global Citizenship – Students explore a wide range of topics related to identity, culture, social issues, and global challenges. Through the study of authentic texts and media, they develop international-mindedness and intercultural understanding.

👉 Confidence in Speaking & Writing – The course offers frequent opportunities to speak, write, and present ideas in English, building students’ confidence and clarity in expressing themselves across different contexts.

👉 Preparation for the Future – Whether students plan to study in an English-speaking university or pursue an international career, English B equips them with the language skills and critical thinking abilities they’ll need to succeed.

💠 Course Themes

The English B course is structured around five engaging themes that allow students to develop language skills in meaningful and relevant contexts:

1️⃣ Identities – Exploring personal beliefs, lifestyles, and language's role in shaping identity
2️⃣ Experiences – Reflecting on past events, travel, leisure, and cultural traditions
3️⃣ Human Ingenuity – Discussing creativity, technology, and media in the modern world
4️⃣ Social Organisation – Examining community, education, politics, and social relationships
5️⃣ Sharing the Planet – Debating global challenges such as climate change, equality, and peace

💠 Assessment Overview

🔸 Internal Assessment – Individual Oral (IO)
A recorded 15-minute spoken assessment where students analyse an extract from a studied literary work. They present the text and answer questions. In the final 5 minutes, they respond to teacher questions related to the five course themes.

🔸 External Examinations

• Paper 1 – Productive Skills
  A writing task in response to a stimulus related to the course themes. Students write a text type such as an email, blog post, article, etc. 

• Paper 2 – Receptive Skills
  Comprehension of a range of written and audio texts. Students answer questions that test their ability to understand detail, tone, purpose, and implied meaning.

• Literature
  HL students study two literary works in English showing their ability to analyse and respond critically in English during the IO.