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IB Philosophy Paper 1: Reconstructing Arguments, Assumptions and Evaluation
Reconstruct the argument before judging it
Philosophy Paper 1 supplies a passage or a scenario and asks you to identify the argument, state its assumptions, then evaluate it. The workable order is to write premises and conclusion as separate lines, name what is left unstated, and only then test the position. A fluent reaction still earns nothing for analysis.
How is IB Philosophy Paper 1 assessed, and what does each part carry?
Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes): Section A stimulus question 25 marks (one of two) + Section B essays 2 (SL 50% / HL 40%); Paper 2 (prescribed text): one of two questions, part A 10 marks + part B 15 marks = 25 marks; op (SL 25% / HL 20%); Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues): HL only; one unseen text, part A 10 marks + part B 15 marks = 25 marks (HL 20%); Internal assessment (philosophical analysis): a 2,000-word philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus, 2 (SL 25% / HL 20%)
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes) | Section A stimulus question 25 marks (one of two) + Section B essays 25 marks each; SL 2 questions/50 marks, HL 3/75 | SL 50% / HL 40% | SL 1 h 45 min / HL 2 h 30 min |
| Paper 2 (prescribed text) | one of two questions, part A 10 marks + part B 15 marks = 25 marks; open book | SL 25% / HL 20% | 1 hour |
| Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues) | HL only; one unseen text, part A 10 marks + part B 15 marks = 25 marks | HL 20% | 1 h 15 min |
| Internal assessment (philosophical analysis) | a 2,000-word philosophical analysis of a non-philosophical stimulus, 25 marks; done in school | SL 25% / HL 20% | 20 hours (in school) |
IB Philosophy Paper 1 drilling technique: state the issue before you argue – the stimulus question is marked from the moment the issue is named, not by length; the command term fixes the shape of your conclusion (Evaluate / To what extent always demands a judgement); about 50 minutes per question, and at HL never spend more than 55 minutes on Section A.
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes) | do the stimulus question first, then the essays | The answer gives a personal reaction with no reconstruction of the argument. |
| Paper 2 (prescribed text) | one clean, unannotated copy of the text | Examples are presented as the conclusion. |
| Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues) | philosophy and technology or the environment | Evaluation starts before any unstated assumption is named. |
| Internal assessment (philosophical analysis) | referencing and organisation carry marks | Problems are listed with no position offered in reply. |
What is each IB Philosophy Paper 1 paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes): do the stimulus question first, then the essays; Paper 2 (prescribed text): one clean, unannotated copy of the text; Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues): philosophy and technology or the environment; Internal assessment (philosophical analysis): referencing and organisation carry marks
Drill order: by topic, then by year, then the mark scheme
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. By topic | Work through each topic, starting with the paper that allows least help (no calculator / closed book) | Exposes what is genuinely not understood |
| 2. By year | Whole papers to time, one or two a week | Trains pace, stamina and question selection |
| 3. Mark scheme | Go through the marking scheme question by question and log the scoring steps you missed | Most lost marks are written wrong, not thought wrong |
Should drilling go by topic first or by year?
By topic first, then whole papers by year, then the mark scheme. The first third of the time goes topic by topic (8-10 years of the same topic back to back), the middle switches to timed whole papers, and the last fortnight only redoes the recurring errors from your log.
A 12-week drilling timetable
| Week | Phase | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-3 | By topic: foundation | Topic by topic, starting with the easiest marks, building habits and recall |
| Weeks 4-6 | By topic: core | 8-10 years of the same topic back to back, errors classified by topic |
| Weeks 7-8 | By topic: advanced and electives | Elective and higher-order topics, now under time pressure |
| Weeks 9-10 | By year: timed papers | One full paper a week, timed, no reference materials |
| Week 11 | Mark scheme work | Question by question against the marking scheme; list the scoring steps you omitted |
| Week 12 | Plug holes and simulate | Only the recurring errors from your log, then one full exam simulation |
Subject-specific weighting for this timetable: Weeks 1-3: reconstruction only, five lines of premises and conclusion per passage, with evaluation held back. Weeks 4-6: assumption hunting, three unstated premises per passage and a note on which is most exposed. Weeks 7-9: two named positions, three sentences each answering the question, then one weakness apiece. Weeks 10-12: two timed questions a week, unseen passages last, every evaluation carrying a stance and a concession.
Use it properly: this is not a checklist to finish. Every week must keep time for redoing errors, or from week 9 you will be repeating the same batch.
Pacing
| Paper | Time | Suggested split |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes) | SL 1 h 45 min / HL 2 h 30 min | about 50-55 min per question (SL two, HL three) |
| Paper 2 (prescribed text) | 1 hour | about 20 min for part A, 35 min for part B |
| Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues) | 1 h 15 min | about 15 min reading, 25 min part A, 35 min part B |
| Internal assessment (philosophical analysis) | 20 hours (in school) | choose the stimulus, then sharpen the question |
How should the time be split inside each IB Philosophy Paper 1 paper?
Paper 1 (core theme + optional themes): about 50-55 min per question (SL two, HL three); Paper 2 (prescribed text): about 20 min for part A, 35 min for part B; Paper 3 (HL extension: contemporary issues): about 15 min reading, 25 min part A, 35 min part B; Internal assessment (philosophical analysis): choose the stimulus, then sharpen the question
The drilling mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | What it looks like | What actually happens | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arguing before naming the issue | Launching into a stance | Section A marks start from a clear statement of the issue | name the issue in your first line |
| Reporting philosophers only | Three paragraphs of “X thinks…” | No evaluation, no top band | position + counterexample + judgement |
| Conclusion inconsistent with the body | A sudden switch at the end | 21-25 requires a conclusion consistent with the argument | the conclusion answers the issue you named |
| HL answers on the same theme twice | Both essays on Ethics | Breaches the Section B requirement | two different optional themes |
The error log and the mark scheme
Three columns: the question and passage; the premise or assumption left out; whether the loss was faulty reconstruction, a missing assumption, an unanswered position or an evaluation without concession. Reconstruction slips get the key sentence copied and the five-line skeleton rewritten.
How many years should you drill?
Philosophy is a new course with its first assessment in 2025, so there is almost no archive to drill by year. Work from the specimen questions in the official guide plus mock papers, putting the weight on reconstruction and evaluation, and check the current guide for assessment requirements.
How many years of past papers is enough?
Philosophy is a new course with its first assessment in 2025, so there is almost no archive to drill by year. Work from the specimen questions in the official guide plus mock papers, putting the weight on reconstruction and evaluation, and check the current guide for assessment requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IB Philosophy Paper 1 drilling guide: assessment structure, drill order, a 12-week timetable, pacing, common mark losses and the error-log method. For questions with answers, use the IB Philosophy Paper 1 mock papers linked under Related.
By topic or by year first?
By topic. Eight to ten years of the same topic back to back is what exposes repeating errors; going straight to whole papers just repeats the same batch under time pressure.
How should the error log be written?
Do not copy out questions. Per error record four things: question reference, which step failed (concept, wording, calculation), what the mark scheme requires, and the correct action next time.
How to drill with no past papers?
Use the specimen questions in the official guide and mock papers, practising reconstruction and evaluation alone rather than full essays; once both are steady, a full answer is only the join.
Do philosophers names earn marks on their own?
A name is only a starting point: state how the position answers the question and name one weakness, since a bare name adds nothing.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| IB Philosophy subject page (IBO) | Confirm the Paper 1-3 marks, times and weightings |
| IB Philosophy HL course guide | Course themes and the prescribed-text list |
Related: practice area · IB Philosophy drilling guide · IB World Religions Paper 1 drilling mock · IB Philosophy Paper 2 drilling mock (prescribed text) · IB Philosophy Paper 3 drilling mock (HL unseen text) · IB Global Politics drilling mock · IB Anthropology Paper 1 drilling mock
Next step: find a tutor / register as a tutor
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