PastPaper.question 1 · written-response
30 PastPaper.marksDirections: Choose one of the following three tasks. Write a response of 450 to 600 words using an appropriate text type from the options provided below the task you choose.
**Option 1: Sharing the planet (The environment)**
Your school recently launched a "Zero Waste" initiative to reduce plastic waste and food scraps, but student participation has been extremely low, and recycling bins are constantly contaminated. Write a text in which you analyze the reasons for this low participation and propose three practical, engaging solutions to motivate the student body.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Blog**
- **Essay**
- **Report**
**Option 2: Social organization (The working world)**
Many senior students in your area struggle to find part-time jobs or work experience because they lack professional connections. Write a text aimed at local business owners, persuading them of the benefits of hiring youth and proposing a structured mentorship scheme to bridge the gap between high school students and local businesses.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Formal letter**
- **Proposal**
- **Article**
**Option 3: Human ingenuity (Communication and media)**
With the dominance of algorithmic recommendation systems on social media, many of your peers are trapped in "echo chambers" that limit their perspective and reinforce biases. Write a text to your fellow students raising awareness about how these algorithms function and providing actionable advice on how to develop more critical, diverse media consumption habits.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Speech**
- **Blog**
- **Leaflet**
**Option 1: Sharing the planet (The environment)**
Your school recently launched a "Zero Waste" initiative to reduce plastic waste and food scraps, but student participation has been extremely low, and recycling bins are constantly contaminated. Write a text in which you analyze the reasons for this low participation and propose three practical, engaging solutions to motivate the student body.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Blog**
- **Essay**
- **Report**
**Option 2: Social organization (The working world)**
Many senior students in your area struggle to find part-time jobs or work experience because they lack professional connections. Write a text aimed at local business owners, persuading them of the benefits of hiring youth and proposing a structured mentorship scheme to bridge the gap between high school students and local businesses.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Formal letter**
- **Proposal**
- **Article**
**Option 3: Human ingenuity (Communication and media)**
With the dominance of algorithmic recommendation systems on social media, many of your peers are trapped in "echo chambers" that limit their perspective and reinforce biases. Write a text to your fellow students raising awareness about how these algorithms function and providing actionable advice on how to develop more critical, diverse media consumption habits.
*Choose one of the following text types:*
- **Speech**
- **Blog**
- **Leaflet**
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PastPaper.workedSolution
### Task Guidelines & Structural Expectations
#### Option 1 (Sharing the planet - The environment)
* **Context:** Low engagement with a new school "Zero Waste" initiative.
* **Purpose:** Analyze the root causes of apathy/contamination and propose three solutions.
* **Target Audience:** School community (students, teachers, administrators).
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Blog:** Requires an engaging title, first-person perspective, direct address to the reader, chronological or themed subheadings, and an interactive closing (e.g., invitation to comment).
* **Essay:** Requires a clear introduction with a thesis statement, well-structured body paragraphs analyzing issues and proposing solutions sequentially, cohesive transition markers, and a formal concluding summary.
* **Report:** Requires a formal title, structured headings/subheadings (e.g., Introduction, Current Challenges, Proposed Solutions, Conclusion), objective analytical tone, and bulleted recommendations.
#### Option 2 (Social organization - The working world)
* **Context:** Senior students struggling to find work/experience due to lack of networks.
* **Purpose:** Persuade local business owners to hire youth and pitch a structured mentorship scheme.
* **Target Audience:** Local business owners / Chamber of Commerce.
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Formal letter:** Requires standard formal letter layout (addresses, date, subject line), formal salutation (e.g., 'Dear Local Business Owner' or 'Dear Members of the Business Association'), structured paragraphs with a professional tone, and an appropriate formal sign-off ('Yours sincerely').
* **Proposal:** Requires an administrative title, a clear objective statement, analysis of the current situation, detailed description of the proposed mentorship scheme, anticipated benefits for businesses, and a call to action.
* **Article:** Requires an eye-catching headline, an engaging lead paragraph (hook), use of subheadings, persuasive arguments integrated with direct or indirect quotes, and a thought-provoking conclusion.
#### Option 3 (Human ingenuity - Communication and media)
* **Context:** Social media algorithms creating echo chambers for teens.
* **Purpose:** Inform peers about algorithms and provide actionable advice for critical media consumption.
* **Target Audience:** High school peers / Youth community.
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Speech:** Requires an opening address to the audience (e.g., 'Good morning, fellow students'), structural signposting, engaging rhetorical questions, direct audience interaction, and a clear call to action or memorable closing remark.
* **Blog:** Requires a catchy title, personal/informal tone, anecdotes, clear subheadings for strategies, and a call-to-action inviting reader comments.
* **Leaflet:** Requires an informative, catchy title, highly structured sections with bullet points or numbered lists, bold font for emphasis, and clear, accessible visual cues (headings like 'What is an Echo Chamber?', 'How It Works', 'Tips to Break the Bubble').
#### Option 1 (Sharing the planet - The environment)
* **Context:** Low engagement with a new school "Zero Waste" initiative.
* **Purpose:** Analyze the root causes of apathy/contamination and propose three solutions.
* **Target Audience:** School community (students, teachers, administrators).
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Blog:** Requires an engaging title, first-person perspective, direct address to the reader, chronological or themed subheadings, and an interactive closing (e.g., invitation to comment).
* **Essay:** Requires a clear introduction with a thesis statement, well-structured body paragraphs analyzing issues and proposing solutions sequentially, cohesive transition markers, and a formal concluding summary.
* **Report:** Requires a formal title, structured headings/subheadings (e.g., Introduction, Current Challenges, Proposed Solutions, Conclusion), objective analytical tone, and bulleted recommendations.
#### Option 2 (Social organization - The working world)
* **Context:** Senior students struggling to find work/experience due to lack of networks.
* **Purpose:** Persuade local business owners to hire youth and pitch a structured mentorship scheme.
* **Target Audience:** Local business owners / Chamber of Commerce.
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Formal letter:** Requires standard formal letter layout (addresses, date, subject line), formal salutation (e.g., 'Dear Local Business Owner' or 'Dear Members of the Business Association'), structured paragraphs with a professional tone, and an appropriate formal sign-off ('Yours sincerely').
* **Proposal:** Requires an administrative title, a clear objective statement, analysis of the current situation, detailed description of the proposed mentorship scheme, anticipated benefits for businesses, and a call to action.
* **Article:** Requires an eye-catching headline, an engaging lead paragraph (hook), use of subheadings, persuasive arguments integrated with direct or indirect quotes, and a thought-provoking conclusion.
#### Option 3 (Human ingenuity - Communication and media)
* **Context:** Social media algorithms creating echo chambers for teens.
* **Purpose:** Inform peers about algorithms and provide actionable advice for critical media consumption.
* **Target Audience:** High school peers / Youth community.
* **Text Type Conventions:**
* **Speech:** Requires an opening address to the audience (e.g., 'Good morning, fellow students'), structural signposting, engaging rhetorical questions, direct audience interaction, and a clear call to action or memorable closing remark.
* **Blog:** Requires a catchy title, personal/informal tone, anecdotes, clear subheadings for strategies, and a call-to-action inviting reader comments.
* **Leaflet:** Requires an informative, catchy title, highly structured sections with bullet points or numbered lists, bold font for emphasis, and clear, accessible visual cues (headings like 'What is an Echo Chamber?', 'How It Works', 'Tips to Break the Bubble').
PastPaper.markingScheme
The writing is assessed out of a total of 30 marks, following the official IB Diploma Programme Language B Paper 1 assessment criteria:
### Criterion A: Language (12 Marks)
- **9–12 Marks:** Command of the language is very effective. Vocabulary is appropriate to the task, varied, and nuanced. Complex grammatical structures are used fluently and accurately. The register and tone are highly appropriate to the context, purpose, and audience.
- **5–8 Marks:** Language is generally accurate and effective. Vocabulary is adequate but may be repetitive. Simple structures are used accurately, though some complex structures may contain errors that do not hinder communication. Register and tone are generally appropriate.
- **1–4 Marks:** Language is limited. Vocabulary is basic and often repetitive or inaccurate. Grammatical errors are frequent and impede meaning. Register and tone are inappropriate or inconsistent.
### Criterion B: Message (12 Marks)
- **9–12 Marks:** Ideas are highly relevant, well-developed, and supported by appropriate examples. The structure of the argument is logical, coherent, and cohesive. The text length is within the 450–600 word limit.
- **5–8 Marks:** Ideas are relevant but may be unevenly developed or repetitive. There is a recognizable structure, though transitions between paragraphs may be abrupt. The word count is generally respected but may fall slightly short or exceed.
- **1–4 Marks:** Ideas are disorganized, irrelevant, or underdeveloped. The response lacks focus, cohesion, and logical sequence. Word limit is significantly violated.
### Criterion C: Conceptual Understanding (6 Marks)
- **5–6 Marks:** The chosen text type is completely appropriate to the context, audience, and purpose. The conventions of the text type are consistently and accurately applied.
- **3–4 Marks:** The chosen text type is generally appropriate, but there are minor inconsistencies in the application of its structural or stylistic conventions.
- **1–2 Marks:** There is little to no awareness of the conventions of the chosen text type, or the text type selected is highly inappropriate for the task.
### Criterion A: Language (12 Marks)
- **9–12 Marks:** Command of the language is very effective. Vocabulary is appropriate to the task, varied, and nuanced. Complex grammatical structures are used fluently and accurately. The register and tone are highly appropriate to the context, purpose, and audience.
- **5–8 Marks:** Language is generally accurate and effective. Vocabulary is adequate but may be repetitive. Simple structures are used accurately, though some complex structures may contain errors that do not hinder communication. Register and tone are generally appropriate.
- **1–4 Marks:** Language is limited. Vocabulary is basic and often repetitive or inaccurate. Grammatical errors are frequent and impede meaning. Register and tone are inappropriate or inconsistent.
### Criterion B: Message (12 Marks)
- **9–12 Marks:** Ideas are highly relevant, well-developed, and supported by appropriate examples. The structure of the argument is logical, coherent, and cohesive. The text length is within the 450–600 word limit.
- **5–8 Marks:** Ideas are relevant but may be unevenly developed or repetitive. There is a recognizable structure, though transitions between paragraphs may be abrupt. The word count is generally respected but may fall slightly short or exceed.
- **1–4 Marks:** Ideas are disorganized, irrelevant, or underdeveloped. The response lacks focus, cohesion, and logical sequence. Word limit is significantly violated.
### Criterion C: Conceptual Understanding (6 Marks)
- **5–6 Marks:** The chosen text type is completely appropriate to the context, audience, and purpose. The conventions of the text type are consistently and accurately applied.
- **3–4 Marks:** The chosen text type is generally appropriate, but there are minor inconsistencies in the application of its structural or stylistic conventions.
- **1–2 Marks:** There is little to no awareness of the conventions of the chosen text type, or the text type selected is highly inappropriate for the task.