IB English (Higher)

This is a literature course, offering exciting opportunities for all those students who are enthusiastic about reading and discussion. It is aimed not only at those students who wish to pursue literature or related studies at university but also at those students who simply wish to continue their literature studies beyond GCSE.

Download
This document is also available in a printable format.
PDF 1.19 MB | XPS 357 KB

Applications capable of
opening PDF or XPS files
are required to view the
above resources.

The course includes works of varied genres and periods, as well as texts from other countries. Such works are studied in translation - the aim is to broaden students’ perspectives and knowledge of other cultures. These texts are linked thematically and stylistically; they provide a challenging and stimulating course which will fully develop independent research and analytical skills. This is looked on most favourably by all universities.

Entry Criteria

Standard College entry requirements, including grade C or above in GCSE English and English Literature.

Course Content

There are 5 lessons per week and 15 works are studied:

Part 1: World Literature (Coursework)
 
  • Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
  • Therese Raquin - Emile Zola
  • Kitchen - Banana Yoshimoto/ Woman at Point Zero - Nawal El Sadaawi
Part 2: Detailed Study (Oral Commentary)
 
  • Hamlet - William Shakespeare
  • The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
  • Selected Poems - Gerard Manley Hopkins/T.S.Eliot
  • The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Part 3: Written Examination

Paper 1: students write a commentary on an unseen text.

Paper 2: four plays will be studied for this examination, one of which will be a World Literature work. Students have to write one essay based on at least two of the works studied:
 
  • A Doll’s House - Henrik Ibsen
  • A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams
  • Death of a Salesman - Arthur Miller
  • Arcadia - Tom Stoppard
Part 4: Oral Presentation
 
  • The Awakening - Kate Chopin
  • The Outsider - Albert Camus/ Candide - Voltaire
  • Individual Poetry Anthology
  • An Evil Cradling - Brian Keenan

Assessment

The course is assessed by two oral examinations plus two coursework essays and two externally assessed two-hour examinations:

Year 1: Individual Oral Presentation (15%)
Individual Oral Commentary (15%)
   
Year 2: Two Coursework Assignments of 1000-1500 words (20%)
Two Written Examinations (50%)

Further Information

Wherever possible the English Department runs appropriate trips and visits as part of the course in order to enhance the students’ learning experience. These include theatre visits, workshops and visiting poets. Students will be provided with a handbook and a variety of handouts, but are required to purchase their own texts. Financial assistance is always available where appropriate.

We offer several additional subjects which provide all students with a variety of writing outlets. These are: Creative Writing, The Voice: Online Magazine and College Magazine. Students from all subjects can participate in these additional studies.
Progression

English is a very useful qualification for practically any career avenue in life. The IB qualification will be most favourably viewed by all universities, as students will have covered such a wide range of reading and developed their analytical study skills.

Top of Page