What is MYP English?

The MYP English (Language & Literature) course is intended for students aged 11 to 16, as part of the five-year IB MYP program designed to be a primer for the IB Diploma Programme. With a focus on critical thinking and contextual learning, learners cover a wide range of literary and non-literary texts throughout the course. Candidates typically take MYP English alongside 5 to 7 subjects spanning the sciences, humanities, languages, and more.

The flexible nature of the MYP program allows teachers to create their own assessment and reporting procedures, as long as broad course objectives are met. MYP candidates receive marks out of 8 for each subject. There are no exams; assessments are instead based on submitted assignments and class projects. The most important of these are referred to as ‘summatives’, or assignments that reflect the summation of what has been learned.

Why is MYP English so difficult?

Children thrown into such a rigorous program often experience whiplash from the transition, and struggle to navigate the new sets of expectations and required skills. On top of this, the flexible assessment structure means summatives are difficult to navigate; there is a remarkable disparity between schools, and this makes it difficult to find relevant resources online. Meeting the abstract demands and standards can be very challenging for learners who struggle with various aspects of the curriculum, and the lack of useful and targeted online resources does not help.

The IB MYP attempts a holistic, ‘big-picture’ educational methodology which has a steep learning curve when transferring from other curricula. When it comes to exam and assessment time, it can be exceedingly difficult for students to understand how to apply this in a practical and technical sense. With an increasing focus on independent learning alongside shifting assessment requirements, MYP candidates often need modelled structure and organisation skills to build necessary study habits.

How to revise for MYP English

As mentioned above, given the non-specified assessment and reporting procedures, it can be hard to even find a standardised rubric or set of assessment criteria online. While notes on a particular text or source can usually be found online, finding helpful and productive guidance on how to ace the assessment specific to your course can be nearly impossible. Learners should still try their best to collate online resources where possible, while bearing in mind that seeking help on crucial and transferable essay-writing, analysis, and critical thinking skills is equally important.

Written expression in reflective thinking and being able to follow directions are the two essential skills for top marks in the MYP. Other than using the resources provided at school, it is very important to train structured analytical and reflective writing. At its core, academic reflective writing is an analytical practice. Intended to prepare for the rigour of the IBDP, the MYP expects exhibition of an in-depth scrutiny of ideas and theory, with critical and analytical thought directed by a clear line of argument. Many struggle with these two crucial skills because it is extremely challenging to strike the right balance between personal voice and academic rigour, and even more challenging to improve independently.

Need more help with MYP English?

With a course like MYP English, the best way to improve key skills and attain top marks is seeking individualised support from an experienced tutor. BartyED MYP English tutors have supported candidates across Hong Kong as mentors for academic excellence and confidence. We have helped learners with all aspects of the course, with summatives from comparative analysis of comics and advertisements, to structured argumentative essays on Shakespearean sonnets, and creative writing based on literary prompts.

For top marks, our MYP English tutors guide candidates through intensive writing programmes and critical thinking skills, and provide general structure and support to anything ranging from planning revision schedules to outlining essays. We pride ourselves on offering unparalleled tuition to students who want to succeed. Our tutors dispense with the formalities of instruction-based learning, preferring instead to empathise with our mentees in search of the fastest way to the most progress. This requires that we treat each learner on a case-by-case basis, something which we formalise through our initial assessments.

Find out more about our MYP teaching programmes here, or reach out to us today at (852) 2882 1017 or enquiries@bartyed.com.