French B Paper 1: the writing paper
You choose one of three tasks and write it in the text type that fits best. Paper 1 is 25% of the final grade and is out of 30 marks, at both SL and HL.
| Weight | 25% of the final grade |
|---|---|
| Marks | 30 |
| SL length | 250 to 400 words |
| HL length | 450 to 600 words |
What a task looks like
Each task sets a situation, a reader and a purpose, then offers three text types. One of them fits the situation best: a complaint to a company is a formal letter or email, not a diary entry. Choosing well is part of what the paper judges.
The three criteria
- Language: how varied and how accurate your French is
- Message: whether your ideas answer the task, are developed and are clearly organised
- Conceptual understanding: whether the text type, register and tone suit the reader and purpose
What changes at HL
At HL the tasks need more complex language and structures and more demanding thinking, such as comparing, evaluating or persuading, and the word range is higher to make room for it.
Next step
Is Paper 1 changing?
Not for the 2026, 2027 or 2028 exams. The new Language B guide is first assessed in May 2029, and the IB says the assessment model stays the same.
Does the course mark my writing?
Mia gives feedback on each criterion area in practice terms (needs work, getting there, strong), with the words from your answer that show it and one change to make. It never gives a mark or a grade, and it never writes your French for you.