What the Individual Oral Is
The individual oral is the internal assessment for IB Language B — a one-to-one conversation with your teacher, recorded and moderated by the IB. It is worth 25% at SL and is based on a studied theme, but the stimulus differs by level: SL works from a visual stimulus (an image) and HL works from a literary extract.
At SL you get 15 minutes of supervised preparation; at HL, 20 minutes. The oral itself runs about 12–15 minutes. That is long enough that you cannot improvise your way through it — but short enough that a well-prepared structure can carry you.
Confirm with your teacher
Exact timings and stimulus rules follow the current IB Language B guide and your school's implementation. Check the details with your teacher before your mock.
Structure and Timing
The oral is not a monologue. Roughly a third is your prepared presentation; the rest is a genuine discussion in which the teacher pushes you to extend, justify and connect. Marks come from both parts.
The Presentation
SL: describe, then interpret
Start with what is literally there, then move to meaning. A strong SL presentation follows this arc: describe the image concretely, identify the theme it relates to, explain what it suggests, and connect it to your own knowledge or a cultural comparison.
Sur cette image, on voit une famille qui partage un repas. Cela évoque le thème des coutumes et traditions.
In this image, we see a family sharing a meal. This evokes the theme of customs and traditions. [Describe → link to theme]
HL: analyse, do not summarise
The HL presentation must be literary analysis, not plot summary. Identify the extract's context within the work, then analyse technique — imagery, tone, structure, characterisation — and connect it to the work's wider themes. Quotations should be brief and purposeful.
The three-part frame
Context (where this extract sits) → analysis (what the language does) → significance (why it matters to the work's themes). This frame keeps an HL presentation analytical rather than descriptive.
The Discussion
The discussion is where the highest marks are available and where most candidates lose them. The teacher will ask follow-up questions, challenge your interpretation, and steer towards a second theme. Your job is to sustain, extend and justify — not to wait for the next question.
Use the "and because" habit
Never answer a question with one sentence. Add a reason, an example, or a comparison. This is the same habit that lifts every speaking exam, and here it directly targets the interactive-skills criteria.
Handle the challenge
If the teacher disagrees, do not collapse. Acknowledge, then defend or refine: Je comprends ce point de vue, mais je pense que… Nuanced disagreement scores better than agreement or silence.
Repair phrases buy thinking time
Ce que je veux dire, c'est que… · Autrement dit… · Ça dépend du point de vue… · Je n'y avais jamais pensé, mais… — natural fillers that keep the conversation moving.
Using the Stimulus or Extract
Your notes are for structure, not a script. Reading from notes kills the interactive marks and sounds rehearsed. Use the preparation time to write a short outline — five or six bullets — not full sentences.
What Is Actually Rewarded
The individual oral is marked against criteria covering language command, message and interaction. In practical terms, examiners reward three things:
Note that "language" is not just accuracy. Candidates who play safe with simple sentences cap their range marks. A controlled complex sentence earns more than a correct simple one.
Common Mistakes
- Describing without interpreting — the fastest route to a mid-band score.
- Reading a memorised script — obvious to the examiner and penalised in interaction.
- One-sentence answers in the discussion — no extension, no marks.
- Ignoring the second theme — the discussion deliberately moves beyond the stimulus theme.
- Panicking at an unfamiliar question — use a repair phrase and think aloud.
Check your spoken grammar
Transcribe a recorded practice answer and paste it into the Lingaso writing analyser to see the structures and errors you cannot hear in real time.A Four-Week Practice Plan
Record every mock. The oral is an invisible skill until you hear it back — recording exposes the pauses, the repeated phrases and the missed opportunities to extend.
FAQ
Is the individual oral the same at SL and HL?
No. Both last about 12–15 minutes, but SL uses a visual stimulus and 15 minutes of preparation, while HL uses a literary extract and 20 minutes of preparation. The HL presentation must be literary analysis, not description.
Can I choose my own stimulus?
No. The stimulus is selected by your teacher from the studied themes; you see it for the first time in the preparation period. What you can control is how well you have prepared the themes and vocabulary beforehand.
How is the oral graded?
It is marked by your teacher against IB criteria for language, message and interaction, then moderated by the IB. Because it is recorded, consistency matters — speak clearly and treat every mock as the real thing.