Who is the IB French Exam for?

Whether or not you’ve had the opportunity to take some IB French practice exams, this section serves as a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for all aspects of the exam, including Paper 1, Paper 2, and the Oral examination.

Firstly, it's important to note that the IB French exam differs for IB French A students and IB French B students. In this breakdown, we will focus on the IB French B HL and SL exams. Separate exams are conducted for IB ab Initio students, which we won't cover here.

With various language courses and levels in the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, it's crucial to understand what is relevant to your specific needs.

If you are determined to excel in the IB French exams, we highly recommend booking a trial tutoring session with one of our experienced IB French tutors. Alternatively, you can explore our guide on how to achieve higher marks in each section of the exam for valuable insights and strategies.

What’s the difference between IB French Standard Level (SL) vs. Higher Level (HL) in Language B?

Unlike the IB French A course, which is tailored for native speakers, the IB SL and HL French B course is designed for students with a few years of experience in learning French.

In the IB French Language B program, the main distinction between Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) lies in the recommended teaching hours:

• 150 hours for SL

• 240 hours for HL

SL and HL also vary in terms of the expected proficiency levels across different language skills. Additionally, HL students face an extra challenge of studying two literary works in French.

The IB French textbooks may appear daunting at first, particularly for HL students, but our IB French tutors are adept at simplifying even the most complex literary works, ensuring students' comprehension and success.

What are the 5 themes for the IB French B Exam?

Both IB French HL and SL exams share the following topics/themes (‘cinq thèmes’):

1. Identities

• Explore language, culture, and identity, including the influence of past experiences and travel perspectives.

1. Experiences

• Analyze scientific advancements, cultural expressions, and the impact of personal and global experiences.

2. Human Ingenuity

• Assess how scientific progress, technological innovations, and cultural expressions shape human ingenuity.

3. Social Organization

• Examine the role of language in society, the impact of rules and regulations, and the organization of schools and communities.

4. Sharing the Planet

• Address environmental issues, consider sustainability in daily life, and evaluate challenges brought by globalization.

The three text types used to explore the 5 themes:

1. Personal: Casual writing like emails, texts, and diary entries.

2. Professional: Formal communication such as business letters and proposals.

3. Mass Media: Speeches for wide audiences, like podcasts and web pages

It can seem tricky to navigate these themes and texts during the IB French exam, but by practicing them with our IB French tutors you can resolve all your IB French language B doubts.

What are the criteria for Marking Your IB Exam?

When marking your IB exam, three key aspects are considered:

1. Language: 

• Show a strong command of the French language, including accurate grammar usage, a wide range of vocabulary, and the use of idioms and expressions.

2. Message:

• Convey a clear and relevant message, presenting well-developed arguments supported by appropriate examples.

3. Conceptual Understanding:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the text type, adapting the tone appropriately to suit the audience, purpose, and context.

Now that we have discussed the criteria for marking the IB French Language B Exam, let's proceed to explore the components of Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the exam.

What is Paper 1 in IB French Language B?

External assessment lasting: 

• 1 hour and 15 minutes for IB French SL

• 1.5 hours for HL

• 25% of overall marks.

• Choose one task out of three, each based on a different theme.

• Tasks may include personal diary entries, essays on environmental issues, or mass media tasks like speeches.

• Write approximately 450-600 words expressing opinions and incorporating relevant facts.

• Adapt writing style to the required tone, considering formalities.

What is Paper 2 in IB French Language B?

External assessment lasting:

• 1 hour and 45 minutes for IB French SL

• 2 hours for IB French HL

• 50% of overall marks.

• Demonstrate receptive skills by comprehending 3 audio passages.

• Showcase reading skills by understanding 3 written passages.

• Multiple-choice questions, antonyms/synonyms, true/false statements, etc.

• Questions are based on course themes and exam texts. 

Still not sure how to prepare? Our IB French tutors can give you lots of tips and tricks for both IB French Paper 1 and Paper 2.

What is the Individual Oral IB French Exam for Language B?

• An interactive oral exam

• Accounts for 25% of final marks

• Lasts 12-15 minutes

• Conducted by your teacher, recorded and externally moderated

IB French SL Exam Oral: you will deliver a presentation using a visual stimulus, which could be a prescribed theme-based photo. You will have a choice between two pictures. Within 15 minutes, you should prepare approximately 10 bullet points. This oral presentation aims to demonstrate your proficiency in spoken French and your ability to engage in interactive conversations.

IB French HL Exam Oral: the format shifts from a visual stimulus to a talk about an extract from one of the two literary works studied during the course. The talk should be limited to a maximum of 300 words. You will have 20 minutes to prepare, and it is recommended to create around 10 bullet points that focus on key ideas rather than complete paragraphs. This oral presentation allows you to showcase your comprehension and analysis skills in French literature.

Get started with tutoring earlier to increase your chances of success.