Essay Writing at Advanced Level

Writing Essays at Advanced Level: Some General says at Advanced Level: Some General Advice
Writing Essays at IB Level

L1"No real understanding or knowledge"
▪ Demands of the question are not understood;
▪ Knowledge is irrelevant or absent;
▪ Structure is incoherent (e.g. a list of bullet points)
                                                                                                                              0-3

L2 "Little understanding; little knowledge"
▪ Demands or the question are vaguely understood;
▪ Knowledge is vague and poorly applied;
▪ Structure is lacking in coherence (e.g. no paragraphs)
                                                                                                                                4-5

L3 "Limited understanding; limited knowledge"
▪ Demands of the question are only partially understood;
▪ Knowledge is accurate, but limited in relevance and scope;
▪ Structure is basic (e.g. paragraphs in no obvious order)
                                                                                                                                  6-7

L4 "Narrative with bolt-on analysis"
▪ Demands of the question are generally understood;
▪ Knowledge is accurate and relevant, but limited in scope;
▪ Structure is narrative, with analysis "bolted-on" to the facts
                                                                                                                                    8-10

L5 "Analytical but lacking in breadth and / or depth"
▪ Demands of the question are understood but not fully addressed;
▪ Knowledge is accurate, relevant, and adequate in scope;
▪ Structure is analytical, with narrative backing up the arguments
                                                                                                                                      11-13

L6 "Analytical, with breadth and depth"
▪ Demands of the question are understood and fully addressed;
▪...