Criterion A: Framework for the essay
6 marksUse a clear question, suitable research methods and an effective essay structure.
IB English A Literature EE Grader
Grade your English A Literature EE before you submit. Upload your draft and get a mark for each criterion, comments tied to your sentences, and a list of what to fix first.
5 free gradings a month. No card. Private to you.
- of IA and TOK marks within one grade of the IB's final mark
- 92%
- marking score. ChatGPT 65, Claude 61, Gemini 57
- 74/100
- real IAs and TOK essays tested against the mark the IB gave
- 1,317
These results are for IAs and TOK. We haven't tested Extended Essays yet.
- Marks
- 30, from five criteria
- Length
- 4,000 words at most
- Reflection
- One RPF statement, up to 500 words
- Texts
- At least one first written in English
See the mark, and the sentences behind it
Test your research question, subject knowledge, line of argument, evaluation and reflection across the whole draft. See what is working and get a short list of what to change next.
What Marksy checks for each English A Literature EE criterion
You get a mark for each IB assessment criterion below. The points under each one are what Marksy looks for in your draft. See the mark bands
Criterion B: Knowledge and understanding
6 marksShow subject knowledge through relevant sources, concepts and accurate terminology.
Criterion C: Analysis and line of argument
6 marksAnalyse the research and connect the question, findings and conclusions.
Criterion D: Discussion and evaluation
8 marksWeigh the findings and assess the strengths and limits of the research.
Criterion E: Reflection
4 marks- This criterion uses the reflective statement on the RPF, rather than the essay itself.
Where English A Literature EEs usually lose marks
Marksy flags these in your draft and links each one to the sentences it is about.
- A topic that just fits a templateShowing that a fantasy series follows the Hero's Journey is box-ticking. Ask how the writer's choices shape a theme or effect, and what that shows about the text.Criterion A
- Too few poems or storiesTwo short poems won't carry 4,000 words. Try three or four poems by one poet, or stories by one writer, on a shared theme. Then check there's enough to analyse.Criterion A
- A text no critic has written aboutA novel from last year may have no criticism yet, and some young adult novels are too thin to analyse closely. You need critics to discuss, so check before you commit.Criterion B
- Terms that don't fit the genreUse the words your genre needs. Poems call for terms like rhyme and enjambment. Plays call for stage directions, props and sound. Explain what each device does.Criterion B
- Retelling the plotSaying that a ghost haunts a character is only step one. Then ask "so what?" What does the haunting do to the character, and what does it show about the novel?Criterion C
- Only your opinion, or only the critics'An essay of personal views scores low, and so does one that repeats the critics. Weigh their readings against your own, and back each point with quotations.Criterion D
Before you upload
- Name every primary text and its author in your introduction.
- Quote the lines you analyse in the essay itself, next to your comments on them.
- If you compare a translated text, say which text was first written in English.
- Include your works cited, with every critic you discuss.
Your draft stays at the centre
Marksy reads the work you upload, points each comment back to your writing, and puts the most important changes first.
Does each chapter move your research question forward with explicit analytical purpose?Read English Literature EE Planning Guide
- 1
Upload your draft
A PDF of your English A Literature EE, finished or not. Every comment stays connected to your own writing.
- 2
Read the comments
Highlights show which passage each comment is about.
- 3
Fix the important parts first
Work down a short list instead of making scattered edits.
- 4
Keep the final say
Accept, adapt or ignore each suggestion. You stay the author.
What students wrote afterwards
From Trustpilot, as written.
marksyib has saved my ib diploma. thanks to it, my IA's were perfect and got the points i needed. really recommended.
Marksy ib allowed me to be able to finish my IAs much before allowing me to be able to relax better. 100% recommended
Your work stays your work
Marksy reads the draft you upload and comments on it. It doesn't rewrite your assessment, and your files are never used to train AI.
Read the safety answers- Private to youOnly you can see your work unless you choose to share it.
- Never used for trainingYour coursework is not added to any AI training data.
- Feedback, not ghostwritingUse the report to improve your own analysis and decisions.
- Delete it whenever you wantYou control the files stored in your account.
Questions before you upload
Still planning? The coursework guide covers the criteria and what to ask yourself while you write. Open the guide
Yes. In a comparative language A essay, at least one primary text must be first written in English. The others can be translations.
There's no set number. The EE guide suggests starting with three or four by the same writer on a shared theme. Pick enough to talk about how they're written, not only what they say.
Yes, if the essay analyses how the text treats the issue. Don't use the novel as evidence about real life. Topics about the author's life or history tend to drift away from the text.
No. A language A EE can't be in the language you take as Language B. If English is your Language B, look at the English B EE instead.
The 2027 Extended Essay criteria, read with the EE guide's advice for language A essays. It doesn't use IB-marked English EEs as examples yet.
We tested Marksy on 1,317 real IAs and TOK essays with the mark the IB gave them. 92% of Marksy's marks landed within one grade. On a set with as many weak as strong essays, it scored 74/100 on our marking score, against 65 for ChatGPT, 61 for Claude and 57 for Gemini. We haven't tested Extended Essays yet, because the marked EEs we hold are almost all high-scoring. Every number is on the grading accuracy page.
Yes. Marksy checks your English A Literature Extended Essay EE against the IB assessment criteria for it and returns marks, comments and fixes instead of generic essay advice.
Yes. Early drafts are useful because the report can show a weak criterion before you spend hours polishing the wrong section. You can revise and grade another version later.
A free account includes 5 gradings a month. You don't need a card.
No. Marksy reads your existing work, explains each comment, and suggests what to revise. The writing and the final decisions stay yours.
Your upload is private to your account, is not used to train AI models, and can be deleted whenever you want.
Stop guessing what to fix in your English A Literature EE
Upload the version you have now and find the parts holding it back.