Most Common IB English Paper 1 Text Types: Literary & Non-Literary Guide
Advertisements, speeches, cartoons, poems, short stories… IB English Paper 1 can involve a wide variety of text types, and knowing what to expect can make a huge difference to your exam preparation.
But with so many possible formats, which ones should you actually revise?
The key isn't predicting the exact text you'll receive. It's understanding the conventions, features and techniques associated with different text types so you can confidently analyse an unfamiliar passage.
In this guide, we'll break down common literary and non-literary text types relevant to IB English Paper 1, explain what to look for in each one and share practical revision tips.
Table of Contents
- What Text Types Appear in IB English Paper 1?
- Common Non-Literary Text Types in IB English Language and Literature
- Common Literary Text Types in IB English Literature Paper 1
- Literary vs Non-Literary Texts: What's the Difference?
- How to Prepare for Different IB English Paper 1 Text Types
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Text Types Appear in IB English Paper 1?
First, it's important to distinguish between the two IB English A courses.
IB English A: Language and Literature focuses on non-literary texts in Paper 1, including advertisements, articles, speeches, infographics and other forms of communication.
IB English A: Literature focuses on literary passages, such as poetry, prose fiction, drama and literary non-fiction.
Both SL and HL students receive two unseen passages. SL students choose one to analyse, while HL students analyse both separately.
The following text types are useful revision categories, not an official ranking of exam frequency. You should prepare broadly rather than relying on predictions.
Common Non-Literary Text Types in IB English Language and Literature
1. Advertisements
Advertisements aim to promote a product, service, cause or idea. They often combine persuasive language with striking visual elements.
Common techniques:
- Slogans and catchy headlines
- Emotive language
- Colour symbolism
- Typography
- Visual imagery
- Direct address
- Imperatives
Example:
A sports advertisement featuring an athlete running through heavy rain with the slogan "Nothing Can Stop You."
The dramatic imagery reinforces perseverance, while the absolute language associates the brand with determination and resilience.
What to analyse: How do visual and linguistic choices work together to influence the target audience?
2. Opinion Articles and Editorials
Opinion articles present a particular perspective on an issue and often attempt to persuade readers to agree with the writer.
Common techniques:
- Rhetorical questions
- Emotive language
- Statistics and evidence
- Counterarguments
- Inclusive language
- Persuasive tone
- Argument structure
Example:
"How many more hours must commuters waste before our cities take action?"
The rhetorical question encourages readers to share the writer's frustration while framing transport congestion as an urgent issue.
What to analyse: How does the writer build their argument and position the reader to accept their perspective?
3. Speeches
Speeches are designed to be delivered to an audience, often with the purpose of persuading, motivating or inspiring listeners.
Common techniques:
- Repetition and anaphora
- Inclusive pronouns
- Rhetorical questions
- Emotive language
- Parallelism
- Direct address
- Calls to action
Example:
"We will rebuild. We will recover. We will rise."
The repetition and parallel sentence structure create rhythm and reinforce collective determination.
What to analyse: How do rhetorical techniques create emotional engagement and strengthen the speaker's message?
4. Cartoons and Comic Strips
Cartoons frequently communicate social or political commentary through humour, satire and visual exaggeration.
Common techniques:
- Caricature
- Exaggeration
- Irony and satire
- Symbolism
- Juxtaposition
- Speech bubbles
- Facial expressions
Example:
A cartoon depicts a politician standing in a flooded street while declaring, "There is no environmental problem."
The contradiction between the visual evidence and dialogue creates irony, highlighting the politician's apparent denial.
What to analyse: How do images and words interact to communicate criticism or humour?
5. Infographics
Infographics combine statistics, visual elements and concise language to communicate information efficiently.
Common techniques:
- Graphs and charts
- Statistics
- Icons and symbols
- Colour coding
- Typography
- Visual hierarchy
- Layout
Example:
An infographic about water scarcity uses a large red percentage to emphasise the number of people affected.
The prominent statistic establishes scale, while the red colouring reinforces urgency.
What to analyse: How does the organisation and presentation of information influence the reader's understanding?
6. Blogs and Online Articles
Blogs often use an accessible, conversational style to communicate personal experiences, advice or commentary.
Common techniques:
- Conversational tone
- First-person narration
- Direct address
- Rhetorical questions
- Informal language
- Subheadings
- Digital conventions
Example:
"Ever wondered what it's like to wake up overlooking the Swiss Alps?"
The rhetorical question creates a conversational relationship with the reader and encourages curiosity.
What to analyse: How does the writer establish authenticity, credibility or a connection with the audience?
7. Brochures and Travel Writing
Brochures and promotional travel texts typically aim to inform readers while encouraging interest in a destination or experience.
Common techniques:
- Descriptive language
- Positive adjectives
- Imperatives
- Attractive imagery
- Testimonials
- Selective information
- Layout and typography
Example:
"Escape the ordinary and discover paradise."
The imperative "Escape" encourages action, while "paradise" creates an idealised representation of the destination.
What to analyse: How does the text construct an appealing image of the destination or experience?
8. News Reports and Feature Articles
News reports generally aim to inform readers about events, while feature articles may incorporate storytelling, interpretation and human-interest perspectives.
Common techniques:
- Headlines
- Factual evidence
- Expert quotations
- Formal or semi-formal tone
- Photographs and captions
- Information hierarchy
- Selection of sources
Example:
"Record Heatwaves Sweep Across Europe."
The word "Record" emphasises the exceptional nature of the event, framing it as significant before the reader encounters the article's evidence.
What to analyse: How do word choice, source selection and information structure shape the reader's understanding?
9. Letters and Open Letters
Letters are written communications directed towards particular recipients. Open letters are often intended for public audiences and may aim to persuade or raise awareness.
Common techniques:
- Direct address
- Formal or informal register
- Personal anecdotes
- Emotive language
- Appeals to authority
- Rhetorical questions
- Persuasive conclusions
What to analyse: How does the relationship between the writer and intended recipient influence tone and language?
10. Social Media Posts and Digital Campaigns
Digital campaigns use concise, visually engaging content designed to attract attention and encourage interaction.
Common techniques:
- Hashtags
- Slogans
- Concise language
- Visual imagery
- Calls to action
- Informal tone
- Platform-specific conventions
What to analyse: How does the digital platform shape the text's presentation, tone and intended audience engagement?
Common Literary Text Types in IB English Literature Paper 1
Students studying IB English A: Literature should prepare for unfamiliar literary passages.
1. Poetry
Poetry often explores complex ideas and emotions through condensed language, imagery, sound and structure.
Common techniques:
- Metaphor and simile
- Imagery and symbolism
- Enjambment
- Caesura
- Rhyme and rhythm
- Repetition
- Stanza structure
Example:
"The city swallowed the last light of day."
The personification of the city creates an image of an overwhelming urban environment, potentially suggesting isolation or loss.
What to analyse: How do language, sound and poetic structure contribute to the poem's meaning?
2. Prose Fiction
Prose fiction includes extracts from novels and short stories.
These passages often explore characters, settings, conflicts and relationships through narrative.
Common techniques:
- Characterisation
- Narrative perspective
- Dialogue
- Setting
- Imagery
- Foreshadowing
- Sentence structure and pacing
Example:
"She watched the train disappear, knowing she had missed more than a departure."
The departing train may symbolise a lost opportunity, while the character's reflection suggests regret.
What to analyse: How do narrative choices shape the reader's understanding of characters, conflict and themes?
3. Drama
Drama extracts come from plays and are written for performance.
Meaning is often communicated through dialogue, stage directions and interactions between characters.
Common techniques:
- Dialogue
- Stage directions
- Dramatic irony
- Conflict
- Pauses and silence
- Character relationships
- Symbolic props
Example:
A character declares, "I trust you completely," while stage directions reveal another character hiding a letter.
The contrast creates dramatic irony, building tension because the audience knows something the speaker does not.
What to analyse: How do dialogue, stage directions and dramatic structure influence the audience's experience?
4. Literary Non-Fiction
Literary non-fiction uses creative literary techniques to explore real people, experiences or events.
Examples include memoirs, autobiographical writing and personal essays.
Common techniques:
- First-person narration
- Reflection
- Imagery
- Anecdotes
- Tone
- Narrative structure
- Juxtaposition
Example:
A memoir describes a childhood home using warm sensory imagery before shifting to a more distant, reflective tone.
The contrast might highlight the narrator's changing relationship with memory and identity.
What to analyse: How does the writer shape personal experience into a meaningful narrative?
Literary vs Non-Literary Texts: What's the Difference?
Although literary and non-literary texts share many techniques, their typical conventions and purposes differ.
| Feature | Literary Texts | Non-Literary Texts |
|---|---|---|
| Common forms | Poetry, prose fiction, drama, literary non-fiction | Advertisements, articles, speeches, cartoons, infographics |
| Typical purposes | Explore experiences, emotions, ideas and themes | Inform, persuade, entertain or influence |
| Key techniques | Imagery, narrative voice, symbolism, characterisation | Rhetoric, audience targeting, layout, visual design |
| Analytical focus | How literary choices shape meaning and interpretation | How linguistic, structural and visual choices communicate meaning |
| IB Paper 1 course | English A: Literature | English A: Language and Literature |
These categories aren't absolute. Literary texts can persuade readers, and non-literary texts can use symbolism, narrative techniques and sophisticated imagery.
The important skill is understanding how a creator's choices contribute to meaning within a particular text.
How to Prepare for Different IB English Paper 1 Text Types
1. Learn the Conventions of Each Text Type
Understanding typical features helps you recognise significant choices quickly.
For example, infographics often rely on statistics and visual hierarchy, while speeches frequently use repetition and direct address.
2. Practise a Variety of Formats
Don't only revise the text types you find easiest.
Language and Literature students should practise a range of non-literary formats, while Literature students should become comfortable with different literary forms.
3. Focus on Analysis, Not Technique Spotting
Identifying a technique is only the first step.
You also need to explain how it contributes to the text's meaning, purpose or effect.
For example:
Descriptive: "The advertisement uses a rhetorical question."
Analytical: "The rhetorical question directly challenges the audience's assumptions, encouraging them to reconsider their position on the issue."
4. Practise With Unseen Texts
Use past papers and unfamiliar texts to develop your ability to interpret material without prior preparation.
This is particularly important because Paper 1 assesses how well you can analyse an unfamiliar passage under timed conditions.
5. Learn a Flexible Analytical Framework
Regardless of text type, start by identifying:
- Text type and context
- Intended audience or readership
- Central message or theme
- Significant techniques
- How those choices contribute to meaning
Want to learn exactly how to turn these observations into a high-scoring response? Read our step-by-step guide to analysing non-literary texts for IB English Paper 1, including a worked example and analytical paragraph structure.
🚀 Need Help Scoring Top Marks in IB English Paper 1?
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Personalised tutoring can help you:
- Recognise techniques across different text types.
- Develop stronger literary and non-literary analysis.
- Improve your analytical paragraph structure.
- Practise unfamiliar Paper 1 questions.
- Receive targeted feedback on your writing.
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Extra Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common non-literary text types in IB English Paper 1?
Useful formats to prepare include advertisements, speeches, opinion articles, cartoons, infographics, blogs, brochures and news articles. However, there is no guaranteed ranking of text types by frequency.
What literary text types appear in IB English Literature Paper 1?
Literary passages may include poetry, prose fiction, drama and literary non-fiction.
Does IB English Language and Literature Paper 1 include literary texts?
No. IB English A: Language and Literature Paper 1 focuses on non-literary texts. IB English A: Literature Paper 1 focuses on literary passages.
How many texts do you analyse in IB English Paper 1?
SL students choose one of two unseen passages to analyse. HL students analyse both passages separately.
What is the hardest IB English Paper 1 text type?
This depends on your strengths. Some students find cartoons challenging because of satire and implied meaning, while others struggle with poetry because of its condensed language and complex imagery.
How do I analyse an unfamiliar non-literary text?
Start by identifying its audience, purpose and central message. Then examine significant language, visual and structural techniques and explain how they contribute to meaning.
For a full walkthrough, read our guide to analysing non-literary texts for IB English Paper 1.
Do I need to memorise every literary and non-literary technique?
No. Focus on understanding common techniques and practising how to explain their significance in different contexts.
Want more personalised guidance to help support you through your studies? Find a KIS Academics tutor today!
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