International Baccalaureate · IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme Language B
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Language B. What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official syllabus, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.
- Syllabus
- DP Language B
- Qualification
- IB Diploma Programme
- Not your course?
- Change course
Topics and resources
Each topic below is from the official International Baccalaureate document for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Language B, with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for IB Diploma Programme Language B only.
- Learn with study guides
- Revise with revision notes
- Practise with practice questions
Searches topic names and resource titles for this course only.
No IB Diploma Programme Language B resources match “”.
- Try one shorter word, or check the spelling.
- Try the wording the syllabus uses for the topic, as listed below once you clear the search.
- Some topics have no Marlbridge resource yet; they are still listed.
- Topic 1
Identities
Study guides
Revision notes
- Topic 2
Experiences
Study guides
Revision notes
- Topic 3
Human ingenuity
Study guides
Revision notes
- Topic 5
Sharing the planet
Study guides
Revision notes
Covering more than one topic
Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.
Revision notes
Practice questions
Source: International Baccalaureate Organization, Diploma Programme Subject Brief – Language acquisition: Language B, first assessment 2020, published 2018 — First assessment 2020. Verified 2026-09-08. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.
About this course
- Qualification
- IB Diploma Programme Language B
- Spec code
- DP Language B
- Does Marlbridge teach it?
- Yes — request a free trial class
- Who teaches it?
- Ammar Bilal
- Are resources available?
- Yes — 34 published
- Is enrolment open?
- Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
- Official syllabus
- International Baccalaureate syllabus
- Topic checklist
- Printable DP Language B checklist
- Where was this verified?
- 2026-09-04, official International Baccalaureate specification
Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official International Baccalaureate specification on 2026-09-04.
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.
The qualification
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Language B
Marlbridge's summary of the course
IB DP Language B is a language acquisition course for students with some previous experience of the target language, developing communication skills across five prescribed themes, at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).
The board's own description is on the official International Baccalaureate syllabus page.
First assessment 2020. Sourced from the freely public official subject brief plus the freely public official specimen exam papers, both read on 2026-09-04 – no licensed subject guide was needed. Five prescribed themes (Identities; Experiences; Human ingenuity; Social organization; Sharing the planet); the assessment outline is identical at both tiers except for the complexity of language required. See the matching assessment record for the sourced paper-by-paper breakdown, modeled at both tiers.
Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the International Baccalaureate syllabus page for your examination year.
Assessment structure
Component-based qualification
| Component | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1: Paper 1 – Productive Skills: Writing (SL) | 1h 15m | 30 | 25% | Writing |
| Paper 2 (Listening): Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Listening Comprehension (SL) | 0h 45m | 25 | 25% | Listening |
| Paper 2 (Reading): Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Reading Comprehension (SL) | 1h | 40 | 25% | Reading |
| Individual Oral: Internal Assessment – Individual Oral Assessment (SL) | — | 30 | 25% | Oral |
| Paper 1: Paper 1 – Productive Skills: Writing (HL) | 1h 30m | 30 | 25% | Writing |
| Paper 2 (Listening): Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Listening Comprehension (HL) | 1h | 25 | 25% | Listening |
| Paper 2 (Reading): Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Reading Comprehension (HL) | 1h | 40 | 25% | Reading |
| Individual Oral: Internal Assessment – Individual Oral Assessment (HL) | — | 30 | 25% | Oral |
Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04. Both tiers modeled in full. The official public subject brief (first assessment 2020) states the assessment outline is identical at Standard Level and Higher Level except for the complexity of language required, so weighting is the same at both tiers. All mark totals and durations are read from the official specimen papers (read on 2026-09-04) and confirmed on 2026-09-21 against the IB's Language B guide (first assessment 2020), whose assessment outlines print the same figures: Paper 1 (one productive-skills writing task, 30 marks, 1 hour 15 minutes at Standard Level, 1 hour 30 minutes at Higher Level); Paper 2, sat as listening comprehension (25 marks, 45 minutes Standard Level, 1 hour Higher Level) followed by reading comprehension (40 marks, 1 hour, both tiers) – recorded here as two components since they are separately timed and separately instructed sections, though published together as one 'Paper 2'; and the Individual Oral Assessment (30 marks, both tiers, internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB, stimulus is a visual image at Standard Level and an excerpt from a studied literary work at Higher Level).
Questions about this course
How is International Baccalaureate Language B (DP Language B) assessed?
International Baccalaureate Language B (DP Language B) is assessed through: SL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Productive Skills: Writing) — 1h 15m, 30 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Listening) (Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Listening Comprehension) — 0h 45m, 25 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Reading) (Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Reading Comprehension) — 1h, 40 marks, 25% of the qualification; Individual Oral (Internal Assessment – Individual Oral Assessment) — no fixed duration, 30 marks, 25% of the qualification. HL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Productive Skills: Writing) — 1h 30m, 30 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Listening) (Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Listening Comprehension) — 1h, 25 marks, 25% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Reading) (Paper 2 – Receptive Skills: Reading Comprehension) — 1h, 40 marks, 25% of the qualification; Individual Oral (Internal Assessment – Individual Oral Assessment) — no fixed duration, 30 marks, 25% of the qualification. It is a component based qualification. Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04.
What topics does IB Diploma Programme Language B cover?
5 topics in the current syllabus: Identities; Experiences; Human ingenuity; Social organization; Sharing the planet. The printable topic checklist lists every topic on one page.
Can I get a tutor for IB Diploma Programme Language B?
Yes. Marlbridge teaches IB Diploma Programme Language B live online, one-to-one only, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.
Are there free IB Diploma Programme Language B revision notes and practice questions?
Yes. Marlbridge has published 34 free resources for this course (study guides, practice questions, revision notes, exam preparation guides, a subject guide), free to read with no sign-up.
The subject
IB Diploma Programme Language B teaching and study resources.
Language B at other qualifications
These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.
No other qualifications are published for this subject yet.
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