In simple terms
A friendly intro before the formal notes — no formulas yet.
From Big Idea to Sharp Focus
The global issue is the central argument of your Individual Oral. It's not just a topic, but a specific, debatable idea that connects your two chosen texts and allows you to analyse how authors present this issue to the world.
Think of choosing a global issue like using a camera. The 'Fields of Inquiry' (e.g., 'Power, politics and justice') are like a wide-angle lens, showing you the whole landscape. A 'topic' (e.g., 'government corruption') is like zooming in a bit. A strong 'global issue' is the macro lens, focusing sharply on a specific, detailed point: 'How state-controlled media uses propaganda to normalise political corruption and silence dissent.' Your job is to analyse that specific, focused point, not the entire landscape.
- 1
Brainstorm broad ideas from the five 'Fields of Inquiry' that you see in your chosen texts.
- 2
Identify specific moments, characters, or techniques in both your literary and non-literary works where this idea appears.
- 3
Refine your broad idea into a precise statement. Instead of 'racism', try 'The way internalised racism perpetuates systemic inequality even in the absence of overt discrimination.'
- 4
Test your statement: Does it force you to analyse how the authors make their point using literary and stylistic devices? If you can discuss it just by summarising the plot, it's not focused enough.
Explore the concept
Use the live diagram and synced steps — play it or tap a step card to walk through.
Full topic notes
Formal explanation with the rigour you need for the exam.
Deconstructing the IB's Definition of a 'Global Issue'
The IB subject guide defines a global issue as having three core characteristics. Understanding these is non-negotiable. A top-band response demonstrates a clear grasp of these from the very first sentence of the oral.
Has significance on a wide/large scale: The issue must be bigger than the characters or the specific setting of your texts. It should be a concern that affects people in different parts of the world.
Is transnational: It must exist across national borders. 'The politics of the 2020 US election' is not a global issue; 'The impact of social media echo chambers on democratic processes' is.
Its impact is felt in everyday local contexts: You must be able to show how this big, transnational issue is explored through the specific, local situations in your texts. The global is made personal.
From Broad 'Field of Inquiry' to Focused Issue
A common mistake is to mistake one of the five Fields of Inquiry for a global issue. These fields are starting points, not destinations. Your task is to funnel down from the broad field to a specific, debatable issue. For example, the field 'Culture, identity and community' is not a global issue. A topic within it could be 'cultural assimilation'. A strong global issue would be: 'The tension between preserving cultural heritage and the pressure to assimilate for social mobility.' This final version is specific, contains inherent conflict, and prompts analysis of how texts explore this tension.
Ensuring a Strong Connection Between Your Texts
The global issue is the bridge between your literary work and your non-literary body of work. If that bridge is weak, the entire argument collapses. The issue must be a significant concern in both. This does not mean they must present the issue in the same way. In fact, some of the most insightful analysis comes from exploring the different perspectives or approaches the two works take. For example, a novel might explore the psychological cost of conformity, while a set of advertisements might celebrate conformity as a means to social acceptance. The underlying issue—conformity and individuality—is the same, but the treatment is different, providing rich ground for comparison and evaluation.
Check that the issue is not just a passing mention in one of your texts.
Look for contrasts in how the issue is presented. This is a source of analysis, not a problem.
The connection should be conceptual, not superficial. Two texts about boats are not necessarily connected; two texts exploring 'the journey as a metaphor for existential discovery' are.
Your chosen extracts for the IO must clearly and strongly represent the way each work presents the global issue.
Avoid choosing a global issue that can be discussed simply by summarising the plot or describing what you see. If your issue is 'The effects of poverty', you might just describe poor characters. A better issue would be 'How literary and rhetorical devices are used to evoke empathy for the impoverished and critique the economic systems that create poverty'. This forces you to analyse technique, which is the heart of Criterion B.
Final Checklist: Testing Your Global Issue
Before you commit to your issue and begin scripting your oral, run it through this final checklist. If you can't confidently answer 'yes' to these questions, you should continue to refine your issue or reconsider your choice of texts.
Is it precise? Is it a focused statement, not a single word or broad topic?
Is it transnational? Does it exist in multiple countries and cultures?
Is it locally manifested? Is it clearly and significantly present in the specific worlds of both your texts?
Does it prompt analysis of authorial choice? Does it lead you to discuss form, structure, language, and style, rather than just plot?
Is it comparative? Does it provide a basis for comparing and contrasting the approaches of the two works?
Is it sustainable? Can you talk about it with sufficient depth and detail for 10 minutes?
Worked examples
See the formulas applied — reveal one step at a time, like the exam.
A student has studied the novel Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and a collection of Banksy's street art. They are interested in the Field of Inquiry 'Power, politics and justice'. How can they develop a focused global issue?
- 1
Field of Inquiry: Power, politics and justice.
A student has chosen the global issue: 'The commodification of female identity in patriarchal societies.' They are using Henrik Ibsen's play A Doll's House and a series of perfume advertisements from the 1950s. Write a model introductory paragraph for their IO that would impress an examiner.
- 1
Here is a model opening that establishes the global issue and analytical approach, targeting high marks in Criteria A and B:
How it all connects
The big idea sits in the middle — tap a linked idea to explore the link.
Tap a linked idea to see how it connects back to the main topic — that connection is what examiners reward.
Glossary
Try to recall each definition before you reveal it.
Quick check
Answer in your head first — then tap to check. No pressure.
Revision flashcards
Flip the card. Test yourself before the exam.
Global Issue
A specific issue that has significance on a transnational scale but also manifests in local contexts. It must connect the two works being analysed in the IO.
Key takeaways
Review these before you close the topic — retrieval beats re-reading.
- ✓
Has significance on a wide/large scale: The issue must be bigger than the characters or the specific setting of your texts. It should be a concern that affects people in different parts of the world.
- ✓
Is transnational: It must exist across national borders. 'The politics of the 2020 US election' is not a global issue; 'The impact of social media echo chambers on democratic processes' is.
- ✓
Its impact is felt in everyday local contexts: You must be able to show how this big, transnational issue is explored through the specific, local situations in your texts. The global is made personal.
Practice — then mark it
The whole point: a real Cambridge question, marked mark-by-mark.
Test your global issue and get feedback
Test your global issue and get feedback
Extra simulations & links
PhET, GeoGebra and other curated tools — open in a new tab.
Frequently asked
Checkpoint
One marked question is worth ten re-reads — close the loop before you move on.
Reading it isn’t knowing it — prove it.
Before you move on: do Test your global issue and get feedback on paper, snap a photo, and get examiner-style feedback on exactly where you win and lose marks.