DP Spanish B

23 titles

What’s changing? The exams stay the same: Paper 1, Paper 2 and the individual oral keep their structure and weightings. The update brings clearer subject guides, more emphasis on critical thinking and concept-based learning, and new teacher support materials. New-edition coursebooks are written to reflect that guidance, so they’re the right choice for any class starting in August 2027 or later. Students sitting exams in 2027 or 2028 continue on the current courses.

Spanish B or Spanish ab initio?

	Spanish B	Spanish ab initio
Who it’s for	Students with some prior Spanish	Beginners with no or very little Spanish
Levels	SL and HL	SL only
Content	Five prescribed themes with optional recommended topics	Five prescribed themes with 20 prescribed topics
Literature	Two literary works originally written in Spanish (HL)	Not required
Individual oral	Visual stimulus (SL); literary extract (HL)	Visual stimulus
Paper 1 writing	One task: 250–400 words (SL), 450–600 words (HL)	Shorter writing tasks for beginners

Compare our new-edition IB Spanish coursebooks

	Spanish B for the IB Diploma, 3rd Edition	Oxford Resources for IB DP Spanish B: Course Book	Spanish ab initio for the IB Diploma, 2nd Edition
Course	Spanish B	Spanish B	Spanish ab initio
Publisher	Hachette Learning	Oxford University Press	Hachette Learning
Authors	Mike Thacker, Sebastián Bianchi	Ana Valbuena, Laura Martín Cisneros	Rafael Mendoza
Publication	18 March 2027	4 February 2027 (est.)	25 February 2027
Formats	Print (384 pages) and Boost eBook	Print with online audio	Print (360 pages) and Boost eBook
Stand-out feature	Print and digital options for flexible classroom use	Concept-based; developed in cooperation with the IB	Built for complete beginners

Which Spanish B book is right for you? Choose Oxford if you want a concept-based course developed in cooperation with the IB, with online audio for listening practice. Choose Hachette if you want the flexibility of a Boost eBook alongside print. Many departments use one as their core text and the other for extra practice.

The five themes your Spanish course is built on

Both Spanish B and ab initio use the same five prescribed themes, explored through texts from Spain and across Latin America:

Identities: lifestyles, health and wellbeing, beliefs and values, language and identity
Experiences: leisure, travel, life stories, customs and traditions, migration
Human ingenuity: entertainment, artistic expression, media, technology, scientific innovation
Social organization: relationships, community, education, the world of work, law and order
Sharing the planet: the environment, human rights, equality, globalization, ethics

How IB Spanish is assessed from 2029

Component	What students do	Weighting
Paper 1	Writing in a chosen text type	25%
Paper 2: listening	Comprehension of audio passages	25%
Paper 2: reading	Comprehension of written texts	25%
Individual oral	Presentation, discussion and conversation	25%

Listening is a quarter of the final grade, so look for resources with audio, such as the Oxford Course Book’s online audio.

Frequently asked questions

When does the new IB Spanish B syllabus start?
The new guide is released in February 2027. First teaching is August 2027, and first exams are in May 2029.

Is the IB Spanish B exam changing?
No. The assessment structure and weightings stay the same. The update focuses on clearer guidance, critical thinking, conceptual understanding and new teacher support.

Is Spanish ab initio changing too?
Yes, on the same timeline. It keeps its five themes and 20 prescribed topics, and remains an SL-only course for beginners.

Which is better: the Oxford or Hachette Spanish B book?
Both are written for the new guide. Oxford’s is concept-based, developed in cooperation with the IB and includes online audio; Hachette’s is available in print and as a Boost eBook. The right choice depends on your teaching style and whether you want digital access.

Can students taking exams in 2027 or 2028 use the new books?
They should follow the current guide, but because the assessment structure is unchanged, much of the practice in the new editions is still useful.

When will the books ship?
All three publish between February and March 2027 and can be pre-ordered now. Orders ship as soon as stock arrives.