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SSST (School-supported self-taught Language A): Home

This guide supports the work of students who are undertaking a self-taught programme of study for their Language A requirement for the IBDP.

Updates to the SSST course load and assessments

As of August, 2024 these two significant changes affect SSST students:

The number of required works studied over the two-years of the programme has been reduced to seven (7) from nine (9);
The assessment criteria for Paper 2 has been modified.

These changes are not yet reflected in the material available on this page.

School-supported, self-taught guide for Language A (2021)

SSST guide in English
Language A: literature school-supported, self-taught PDF
You can download (and print, if you'd like) the complete guide.
SSST guide in French
SSST guide in German
SSST guide in Spanish
SSST guide in Chinese

Choosing works for your SSST Language A

Prescribed Reading List
All of the nine works you study must be selected from the IBDP's Prescribed Reading List. At least four must originally be written in your language of study. At least three must be in translation.

Introductory links from the IBO

Introductory video about the SSST from the IBO
Start here. This video gives a good overview of the purpose of the course from a teacher's perspective and of the challenges and expectations of the course from students' perspectives.

IBDP Language A: literature (first assessment 2021)