Three Skill Strands
Reading | Writing | Oral communication — assessed in balance across the year IB Middle Years Programme Language and Literature (Years 1–5)
📖 IB MYP Language and Literature Reference Sheet 2026
A complete reference sheet for IB MYP Language and Literature students — covering reading, writing, oral communication, key concepts, literary devices, narrative perspective and assessment criteria A–D.
Reading & Writing Literary Devices Essay Structures Criteria A–D
Our reference sheets are free to download — save this one as PDF for offline revision.
Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
All the Core MYP Language and Literature Frameworks in One Reference Sheet
IB MYP Language and Literature develops three core skills — reading, writing and oral communication — through the analysis of literary and non-literary texts. This reference sheet brings together the MYP conceptual framework, genre conventions, literary devices, writing process, and the four assessment criteria so you can revise efficiently.
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Key concepts, related concepts and global contexts for L&L
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Genres and literary devices with concise definitions
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Writing process and PEEL essay structures
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Assessment criteria A–D and ePortfolio guidance
MYP Conceptual Framework for L&L
Concepts and contexts shape every text you study and produce.
Key Concepts
Communication
How meaning is shared between writer/speaker and audience Connections
Relationships between texts, ideas, contexts and readers Creativity
Original use of language, form and ideas to make meaning Perspective
Point of view, voice, and how it shapes interpretation Related Concepts
Audience, character, context, intertextuality, point of view, purpose, self-expression, setting, structure, style, theme, tone Global Contexts
Identities and relationships | Orientation in space and time | Personal and cultural expression | Scientific and technical innovation | Globalization and sustainability | Fairness and development Genres You Will Study
Recognise the conventions that shape each genre.
Fiction
Short story (single effect) | Novella (focused, mid-length) | Novel (extended plot, multiple characters) Non-fiction
Autobiography (self-written life) | Biography (someone else's life) | Essay (argument-driven prose) | Memoir (reflective slice of life) | Journalism (news, features, opinion) Poetry
Sonnet (14 lines, often iambic pentameter) | Haiku (3 lines, 5-7-5 syllables) | Free verse (no fixed metre/rhyme) | Ballad (narrative, often quatrains) Drama
Play (stage performance) | Screenplay (film/TV scripts with scene directions) Multimodal
Graphic novel (image + text) | Film (moving image, sound, dialogue) | Podcast (audio storytelling) Literary Devices Toolkit
Name the device, then explain its effect on the reader.
Imagery & Comparison
Metaphor
Direct comparison saying one thing IS another (e.g. 'her eyes were oceans') Simile
Comparison using like/as (e.g. 'as quiet as a mouse') Personification
Giving human qualities to non-human things Symbolism
Object/idea standing for a deeper meaning Imagery
Sensory description (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) Structural & Narrative Devices
Allegory
Whole text functions as an extended symbol for an idea/event Foreshadowing
Hints at later events Juxtaposition
Placing contrasting ideas/images next to each other Irony
Verbal (saying opposite), situational (unexpected outcome), dramatic (audience knows, character doesn't) Allusion
Reference to another text, person or event Hyperbole
Deliberate exaggeration Sound Devices
Alliteration
Repeated consonant sounds at start of words Sibilance
Repeated 's' sounds — soft or hissing Assonance
Repeated vowel sounds within words Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate sounds (buzz, crash) Drama-Specific Devices
Dramatic irony
Audience knows what a character does not Soliloquy
Character speaks thoughts aloud, alone on stage Pathetic fallacy
Setting/weather reflects character's mood Narrative Perspective & Reading Strategies
Identify the lens through which a story is told and how to read closely.
Narrative Perspective
1st person
I/we — narrator is in the story 2nd person
You — addresses the reader directly 3rd person omniscient
Knows all characters' thoughts 3rd person limited
Knows one character's thoughts only Unreliable narrator
Reader is meant to question the narrator's truthfulness Reading Comprehension Strategies
Skimming
Read quickly for the gist Scanning
Search for specific details/keywords Close reading
Slow, detailed analysis of word/structure choices Inference
Read between the lines using textual clues + own knowledge Writing Process & Essay Structures
Plan, draft and refine — every strong piece passes through these stages.
Writing Process
Brainstorm → Outline → Draft → Revise → Edit → Publish Revising changes content/structure; editing fixes grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Essay Structure
Introduction
Hook → context → thesis statement (your overall argument) Body — PEEL
Point → Evidence (quotation) → Explanation/Effect → Link back to thesis Conclusion
Restate thesis in new words → summarise key arguments → broader implication Argumentative Writing
Claim → Evidence → Warrant (why evidence supports claim) → Counterargument → Rebuttal Creative Writing
Show don't tell | Sensory imagery | Narrative arc (exposition → rising action → climax → falling action → resolution) | Characterisation through speech, action, thought | Dialogue conventions (new line per speaker, punctuation inside quotes) Assessment Criteria & ePortfolio
Each MYP L&L criterion is marked 0–8.
Criteria A–D (each 0–8)
A — Analysing
Identify and analyse content, context, language, structure, technique, style and effect B — Organising
Use organisational structures effectively; employ conventions of form C — Producing text
Produce texts that show personal engagement, creativity, and intention for purpose/audience D — Using language
Use accurate, varied vocabulary, grammar, spelling, register and tone ePortfolio
A digital collection of work for assessment and reflection.
Curate samples across all four criteria | Include drafts, final pieces and reflections | Use multimodal evidence where appropriate How to Use This Reference Sheet
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
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Read Widely and Annotate
Mark devices, structure shifts and key vocabulary in every text. Annotation turns reading into analysis.
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Always Explain the Effect
Naming a device earns little — explaining the effect on the reader earns top marks. Use 'this creates...', 'the reader feels...', 'this emphasises...'.
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Plan Before You Write
Spend a few minutes outlining thesis and PEEL points. A clear plan beats a long but unfocused essay.
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Practise Oral Tasks Aloud
Record yourself, listen back, and refine pronunciation, pace and intonation — oral communication is one of the three skill strands.
Reference Sheet FAQ
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Is the IB MYP Language and Literature Reference Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
What Language and Literature topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?
This page groups key Language and Literature formulas in one place for revision. Master IB MYP Language and Literature (English, Years 1–5) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers key concepts, genres, literary devices, narrative perspective, essay structures, and assessment criteria A–D. Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
Who is this formula sheet for (Middle School)?
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Middle School in Language and Literature, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
How should I revise with this formula sheet?
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Where can I get more help with Language and Literature revision?
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Need Help with IB MYP Language and Literature?
Strengthen reading analysis, essay structure and creative writing with an experienced IB MYP English tutor. We focus on criteria A–D, literary technique, and confident written and oral communication.
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This reference sheet aligns with the IB Middle Years Programme Language and Literature subject group framework.
Always link textual analysis to a clear thesis and explain the effect of language and structure on the reader.