Teaching IB English Language & Literature can feel like running a literary marathon with your students – except you’re carrying all the novels and the course guide on your back. Fear not! Below we’ve compiled the top teacher-friendly IB English resources (with a witty twist) to lighten your load and maybe even save your weekends. These DP English resources blend lesson-ready materials and assessment tools to help you teach like a pro (and still have time for coffee). Each resource comes with a short summary, key features, pros, cons, and our very scientific “Quick Start Rating.” Enjoy!
1. Diploma Collective
Ready-to-Teach IB English Resources 
Quick Start Rating: 5/5 stars – Sign up for the free preview and you can literally start teaching IB English the same day with ready-made slides and tests. Gold star for instant stress relief!
Summary: The all-in-one toolkit that does everything but grade the essays. Diploma Collective offers a complete IB Lang & Lit course package with zero prep required – seriously. It provides ready-to-present slides and ready-to-give assessments covering the entire course. This means you can waltz into class with PowerPoints and exams in hand, aligned to IB requirements, and look ultra-prepared (even on a Monday morning).
Key Features:
Complete Course Coverage: Full set of presentations and assessments for every part of the IB English L&L syllabus (literary, non-literary, Paper 1, Paper 2, IO, HL Essay – you name it)
IB-Aligned & Assessment-Ready: Every lesson is mapped to IB curriculum objectives and integrates assessment criteria to build student confidence
Time-Saving Slides: Editable slide decks that require zero prep – just open and teach. Perfect for those 7:00 AM “oops need a lesson” moments.
Free Preview Access: Not ready to commit? They offer a free preview with sample presentations and assessments (sign up at their site’s preview link). You get to test-drive materials before buying – kind of like Costco samples for IB teachers.
Pros
✅ Plug-and-Play: Huge time saver for planning; everything’s done for you. Great for new IB teachers or veterans who value their sleep.
✅ High Quality & IB-vetted: Created in collaboration with experienced IB educators, used in 80+ IB schools, so you know it’s the real deal.
✅ Assessment Included: No more scrambling for practice papers or rubrics – it’s bundled (students will be so prepared it’s almost unfair).
✅ Community Support: Comes with access to an active community of IB teachers for advice and sharing
Cons
⚠️ Cost (After Preview): Full access isn’t free long-term. There’s a one-time purchase and a small annual fee for updates – so budget accordingly.
⚠️ No Custom Texts: If your school mandates obscure texts, you may need to tweak the materials (presentations are editable, though!).
⚠️ Too Comprehensive? You might feel guilty for not creating any materials from scratch – what will you do with all that extra time?
2. IB English Resources in Teacher Facebook Groups – Crowdsourced Genius 
Quick Start Rating: 4/5 stars – Joining is easy: request to join, answer a few “I really teach IB” questions, and you’re in. Post your burning question or download a shared file the same day.
Groups To Join:
IB English A Language and Literature Teacher Support (no students)
Summary: The wisdom of thousands of IB teachers – and all you have to do is ask. Facebook isn’t just for photos of your cat on top of your students’ homework. It hosts thriving IB English teacher groups where educators worldwide swap ideas, lesson plans, and moral support. Think of it as the IB English Resource Room on a global scale – someone, somewhere has an answer to your question about Paper 2 or that text you’re teaching.
Key Features:
IB-specific Communities: Groups like “IB DP English A: Language and Literature Teacher Forum” (with ~4,000 members) and “IB English Resources for Literature Teachers” are active and supportive. You can post a question at 3 PM and often get answers by your 3:15 coffee refill.
Resource Sharing: Many groups maintain shared Google Drives or files section loaded with lesson plans, worksheets, sample assessments, rubrics, etc., contributed by teachers for free. It’s a communal treasure chest (some wheel reinventing required).
Instant PD & Advice: Need ideas to teach a complex poem? Unsure how to tackle the new curriculum? Crowdsource it! The collective wisdom and practical hacks from veteran teachers is priceless (and often entertaining).
Camaraderie: Sometimes you just need to hear “I’m behind on marking too.” These groups provide moral support and a space to celebrate successes or laugh about IB quirks only we understand.
Pros
✅ Free & Abundant: Thousands of free resources and tips at your fingertips – no budget approval needed. Teachers generously share what worked in their classrooms.
✅ Quick Answers: Faster than IB Answers service in many cases. Real teachers give real answers (and usually very candid advice).
✅ Networking: You’ll feel less isolated. It’s professional networking in pajamas – connect with teachers from different countries and perspectives.
✅ Up-to-Date: Get the latest updates on IB curriculum changes, examiner reports, or sneaky Paper 1 texts that surprised everyone, often in real-time.
Cons
⚠️ Signal-to-Noise: Facebook feeds can be chaotic. Be ready to sift through repeated questions (yes, someone just asked about the IO last week… search first!) and varying quality of advice.
⚠️ Privacy/Platform: Not everyone loves using Facebook professionally. There’s the whole “my profile is now mingling with my work” issue – setting up a separate teacher profile might be wise.
⚠️ Not Official: While advice is great, remember it’s not coming from IB itself. Double-check important info – the hive mind occasionally has a brain fade.
3. Official IB Resources (MyIB & IB Answers) – Straight from the Source 🏛
Quick Start Rating: 3.5/5 stars – Essential but requires patience. Your quick start is basically finding your MyIB login (half a star if you remember your password on the first try) and downloading the syllabus PDF. Once in, you have a universe of info – just proceed with caffeine.
Summary: When in doubt, go to the mothership. The IBO’s official teacher resources may not be witty, but they are certainly thorough. Through the MyIB portal, you get access to all the sanctioned goodies: subject guides, exemplar papers, teacher support materials, assessment rubrics, and answers to frequently (and infrequently) asked questions. It’s like an encyclopedia of IB teaching – a bit dense, but essential for accuracy.
Key Features:
MyIB Resource Centre: The official Program Resource Center on MyIB is where you’ll find the English A: Lang & Lit subject guide, assessment guidelines, sample papers, examiner reports, prescribed reading lists, and more. Essentially, everything IB wants you to know (and yes, you do want to know their official stance on things).
Teacher Support Material (TSM): This includes sample assessed student works, scoring commentaries, and sometimes even lesson suggestions. Great for seeing what a top-scoring Paper 1 analysis or IO looks like straight from IB.
IB Answers Service: Got a really niche question (“Can my student do their HL Essay on a graphic novel from 2007?”)? The IB Answers knowledgebase and email/phone support can help. Many answers are archived in a QA format, or you can submit your own query
Official Training & Webinars: On MyIB you might also find teacher webinar recordings or PD materials. These videos and FAQs are surprisingly helpful (don’t sleep on the videos; they’re often pretty good.
Pros
✅ Accuracy: It’s the official word. Using these resources ensures you’re teaching what you’re supposed to and grading how IB expects. No urban legends – just the facts.
✅ Comprehensive: If it’s part of the course, it’s on MyIB. The depth is fantastic – from curriculum info to assessment criteria to obscure policy details.
✅ Free (with IB School Access): Access comes with being an IB World School teacher. No extra charge (aside from the existential cost of navigating a less-than-intuitive website).
✅ IB Answers Backup: If you’re ever really stumped or have a unique situation, emailing IB Answers can get you an official ruling – useful for resolving debates in the English office!
Cons
⚠️ Navigation Nightmare: MyIB’s interface might have you clicking through a labyrinth of links. It’s not the most user-friendly (“Where was that file again?” is a common refrain). Pro tip: ask a colleague or your coordinator for directions the first time.
⚠️ Dense Reading: Guides and subject reports are long and dry. Consuming IB documentation can induce drowsiness – not recommended with hot coffee in hand.
⚠️ Slow Response: IB Answers (email) can take time. By the time you get a reply, you might have figured it out yourself or gotten help from Facebook groups. For urgent classroom needs, it’s not exactly a hotline.
4. Taughtly (Free IB English Resources) – Mini Lesson Lifesavers
Quick Start Rating: 4/5 stars – In less time than a coffee break, you can register and download a ready-to-use IB lesson. Instant gratification for time-crunched teachers.
Summary: Because sometimes all you need is one good lesson to fill a gap. Taughtly is an up-and-coming resource hub that offers free IB English Resources. Yes, you read that right – free! They currently have high-quality lesson PowerPoints and worksheets targeting specific skills for IB Lang & Lit. It’s like finding a $20 bill in an old coat – unexpected and thrilling.
Key Features:
Ready-Made Lessons: Taughtly provides downloadable lessons focused on crucial IB tasks. For example, there’s a 42-slide PowerPoint + worksheet that teaches students how to annotate and analyze unseen texts for Paper 1 (targeting criteria A & B). Another 48-slide lesson covers planning and structuring a Paper 1 response (criteria C & D), complete with a Grade 7 exemplar essay. These are turnkey lessons – just download and go.
Assessment Focus: The free resources specifically hit IB assessment skills (like how to meet Paper 1 criteria). They include practice activities and even a full practice Paper 1 with the first lesson, so students can apply what they learned immediately.
Quality Design: The materials are clearly structured and visually polished (created by IB English tutors). It’s not some random teacher’s half-baked slideshow – these look professional and pedagogically sound.
Premium Option: Aside from free offerings, Taughtly hints at premium resources and tutoring services. But the freebies alone are a great start for teachers wanting to enrich their toolbox without spending a dime.
Pros
✅ Specific & Skill-Based: Great for targeting a particular skill. If you notice your class bombing Paper 1 analyses, tomorrow’s lesson could be one of these focused workshops.
✅ Saves Prep Time: Why make a 40-slide presentation on stylistic analysis from scratch when Taughtly’s done it for you? Take that extra evening off (or, more realistically, catch up on grading).
✅ Scalable: Use with your whole class, or as a support for a few students who need the extra help. The included exemplars help set clear expectations.
Cons
⚠️ Limited Selection (For Now): Currently only a couple of lessons are offered for IB English. It’s not a full course solution – more like emergency aid. We’re hoping they add more topics (Paper 2 please!).
⚠️ Unknown Longevity: Newer resource providers can sometimes disappear or start charging. Enjoy the freebies while they last, and maybe keep backups.
⚠️ Login Required: You might need to create a free account to download. A minor hoop to jump through, but still an extra step before you get the goods.
5. Brad Philpot’s Support Site – The Textbook Author’s Playground
Quick Start Rating: 4/5 stars – Sign up, skim the units available, and download one interesting lesson or paper. In under an hour you could have a new mini-unit ready to roll. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Summary: Like having the IB English coursebook author as your personal tutor. Brad Philpot, who literally wrote the book on IB English (well, one of the course textbooks), runs an English A: Lang & Lit support site. It’s a subscription-based website full of ready-made thematic units, practice assessments, and student examples. Imagine an online library of lessons and papers curated by an IB expert – that’s what you get here.
Key Features:
Thematic Units: Access a range of thematic units on literary and non-literary works, complete with activities and teaching materials. These units align with the IB course parts and global issues – great for inspiration or full adoption.
Practice Papers & Marked Samples: The site provides practice Paper 1s, Paper 2s, IO prompts and more, often with sample student responses and examiner-style feedback. It’s like a sneak peek into the grading world.
Student Examples: A gallery of student work (essays, orals, etc.) at various score levels. Super handy to show your class “what a 7 looks like” or to calibrate your marking.
Community & Updates: Resources are updated weekly, and there are discussion forums where teachers (and sometimes students) can discuss. It’s a living resource, not a static textbook – new content appears as the IB world evolves.
Pros
✅ Expert-Curated: Philpot’s materials are known for quality – he has a track record in IB education. The content maintains high standards and IB alignment, so you can trust it.
✅ One-Stop-Shop: Units + assessments + samples all in one place. Ideal for new teachers or anyone who wants to enrich their course without reinventing the wheel.
✅ Flexible Use: You can use full units or just pick and choose activities or texts to supplement your own. It’s like having a giant toolkit at your disposal.
Cons
⚠️ Paid Access: It’s behind a paywall (after a free guest peek). Schools might cover it, but if not, you’ll have to justify the expense to yourself or your department head.
⚠️ Navigation Learning Curve: It runs on a Moodle platform. It’s fairly organized, but there’s a lot inside – might take some clicks to find exactly what you need in the course index.
⚠️ Overlap with Textbook: If you already use the Philpot textbook, some material may overlap or feel familiar. But hey, reinforcement isn’t bad!
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