IB Language B (HL) grade descriptors

Students speak with clarity and fluency; use a richly varied and idiomatic range of language very accurately; handle ideas effectively and skillfully with active and complex interaction; demonstrate a thorough understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have little difficulty with the most difficult questions; recognize almost all the subtleties of specific language usage; write detailed and expressive texts demonstrating an excellent command of vocabulary and complex structures with a consistently high level of grammatical accuracy; demonstrate clarity of thought in the organization of their work and an ability to engage, convince and influence the audience.

Students speak clearly, fluently and naturally; use a varied and idiomatic range of language accurately; handle ideas effectively with active and full interaction; demonstrate a very good understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have little difficulty with more difficult questions; recognize most of the subtleties of specific language usage; write detailed texts demonstrating a very good command of vocabulary and complex structures with a very good level of grammatical accuracy; adapt their writing appropriately to suit the intended audience and purpose; express their ideas and organize their work coherently and convincingly.

Students speak mostly clearly and fluently; use a varied range of language mostly accurately; handle ideas mostly effectively with generally full interaction; demonstrate a good understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have some difficulties with more difficult questions; recognize some subtleties of specific language usage; write fairly detailed texts demonstrating a good command of vocabulary with a good level of grammatical accuracy; show a reasonable ability to adapt their writing to suit the intended audience and purpose; express their ideas and organize their work coherently.

Students speak generally clearly; use a basic range of language correctly; handle ideas adequately with full interaction at times; demonstrate an adequate understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have some difficulties with almost all difficult questions and some average questions; recognize a few subtleties of specific language usage; write texts demonstrating an adequate command of vocabulary with an adequate level of grammatical accuracy; show some ability to adapt their writing to suit the intended audience and purpose; express their ideas and organize their work appropriately.

Students speak hesitantly and at times unclearly; use a simple range of language correctly at times; handle ideas with some difficulty with fairly limited interaction; demonstrate some understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have difficulties with questions of average difficulty; write texts demonstrating a basic command of vocabulary and some awareness of grammatical structure; produce an identifiable text type; make some attempt at expressing their ideas and organizing their work.

Students speak hesitantly and generally unclearly; use a limited range of language often incorrectly; handle ideas with difficulty and with restricted interaction; demonstrate a fairly limited understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have difficulties with some easy questions; write texts demonstrating a fairly limited command of vocabulary and little awareness of grammatical structure; produce an identifiable text type with limited success; make some attempt at basic organization; content is rarely convincing.

Students speak hesitantly and unclearly; use a very limited range of language mostly incorrectly; handle ideas with great difficulty and with very restricted interaction; demonstrate a limited understanding of the meaning and purpose of written texts; have difficulties even with easiest questions; write texts demonstrating a limited command of vocabulary and little awareness of grammatical structure; produce a barely identifiable text type; lack organization to an extent that content is unconvincing.