Language B updates

The new DP language B course will be launched in February 2027 for first teaching in August 2027. First assessment will take place in May 2029.

Below you will find an overview of the course updates. For a technical breakdown of the DP curriculum and assessment methods for this course, read the language B subject brief.

You also can view information on the current language B course.

To view all subject briefs, visit the DP curriculum page.

Overview of the enhanced course

Language B is a modern language acquisition subject designed to provide students with the necessary skills and intercultural understanding to enable them to communicate successfully in an environment where the language studied is spoken.

Language B provides students with the opportunity to continue to develop in their additional language (or languages) and to promote an understanding of other cultures through the study of language. This subject is designed to develop the competences and intercultural understanding needed for successful communication within and outside of the classroom in contexts in which the target language is used.

Information on appropriate placement is provided in the Placement of students into language ab initio section of the subject guide and in the The importance of thoughtful and responsible placement decision section in the DP language courses: Overview and placement guidance document on the Programme Resource Centre (PRC).

Communication is the focus of the language B course. As students develop in the target language, communication becomes more successful and effective. This is evidenced through the demonstration of receptive, productive and interactive skills across a range of contexts and purposes appropriate to the level of the course.

The structure of the enhanced course remains the same as the current course—organized around five prescribed themes. The themes are the contexts by which students can connect their study of the target language to the DP core: TOK, CAS and EE. The approaches to teaching guide students through their engagements with these contexts, and approaches to learning skills are developed through these engagements.

Course enhancements

The curriculum review focused on enriching the learning and teaching experience by enhancing the existing elements of the curriculum and providing more clarity and teacher support. The subject guide features clearer language, connections to the IB language tenets, integration of critical thinking, and explanations of concepts and conceptual understanding in and for language acquisition.

New teacher support materials have been developed for critical thinking, formative assessment, reflection, listening and reading comprehension, and unit planning (guidance, enhanced templates, unit plan samples).

Teachers will notice easier navigation between the subject guide and the teacher support material, with links between documents and resources.

Continuity in the assessment model

There are no changes to the assessment model or the assessed components. All aspects of the external assessments (Paper 1 and Paper 2) remain the same as in the current course. For the internal assessment (individual oral), the wording of the second descriptors in level 5-6 of criteria B2 and C have been slightly revised to provide greater clarity and accessibility.