IB Spanish B

Spanish B text types

Every Paper 1 task offers three text types. Knowing what each one needs on the page is the quickest way to show conceptual understanding.

PersonalBlog, diary entry, email, letter
ProfessionalFormal email or letter, report, proposal, instructions
Mass mediaArticle, review, news report, brochure, speech, interview, opinion column, social media post

What each one needs

  • Email or letter: a greeting and a sign-off that suit the reader, tú or usted throughout
  • Article, review or news report: a headline, and a hook in the first lines
  • Diary entry: a date and a personal, reflective voice
  • Report or proposal: a title, clear sections and a recommendation
  • Speech: a greeting to the audience, a direct voice and a closing thank-you
  • Interview: an introduction, then questions and answers

Register

Decide on tú or usted from the reader before you start, and keep to it. A friend gets tú and Un abrazo; a head teacher or a company gets usted and Atentamente.

Next step

What if two text types could work?

Pick the one whose audience and purpose match the task most closely, and make its conventions visible on the page.

Independent practice for IB Diploma Programme Spanish B, Paper 1 and Paper 2 reading. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate Organization. All practice material here is our own.