How many pages should one write in the exam?

There is no written guideline from the IB in their documents regarding word limit on Paper 1 but it's 1000-1200 words in the coursework essay. However, SL students should aim for 3 sides minimum going up to 4 or 5 sides of A4. HL students are generally expected to write no less than 4 pages and no more than 6 pages. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS ABOUT QUALITY OF WRITING AND NOT QUANTITY.  It might be argued that the length of the original exam text will have some bearing on this too. Please remember that if you choose the prose text you are NOT supposed to comment on every line and every phrase. SELECT KEY PHRASES - COMMENT AND QUOTE-QUOTE-AND QUOTE AGAIN.  Let the RUBRIC be your guide as to how much you need to write to give a thoughtful, imaginative response to the text. Examiners do not reward page after page of poor analysis and poor writing, perhaps the reverse may happen. Please spend 10 minutes reading both texts before choosing one for your answer. Then spend about 20 minutes drafting a bullet point plan on the page on the actual answer sheet page. THAT STILL LEAVES 90 MINUTES FOR ACTUAL WRITING. You are free to deviate from the plan if you get new and better ideas as you write. No penalty for that but writing without a plan can get you in trouble. If you spend 30 minutes on mapping and bullet points - annotate the text too if you wish - the result will be much better than someone who just writes and hopes to make it up as they go along. Many students find this difficult to believe and feel that planning is wasting time. Nonsense! Every examiner I know favours the approach of student planning on the page where the examiner can see it - it shows respect for the process and that you are thinking before you write.