The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year pre-university course taught in schools around the world. It is broader than most A Level routes because every student studies a range of subject groups and completes a set of core components.
Six subjects
According to the International Baccalaureate Organization, students are assessed in six subjects drawn from five subject groups. They must include a course from each of: studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, and mathematics. (Two language-and-literature courses in different languages can replace the language acquisition course.)
Subjects are studied at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Both carry equal weight in the points.
The core
- Theory of knowledge (TOK) and the extended essay (EE) are each graded A to E. Together they can add up to 3 points.
- Creativity, activity, service (CAS) is not graded. The school confirms that it has been completed, and it is a condition of the diploma.
The points
Each subject is scored out of 7, and the core adds up to 3 points, so the highest possible total is 45. To be awarded the diploma, a student needs at least 24 points, together with other conditions, for example limits on very low grades and minimum points from HL and SL subjects. The IBO's page on passing criteria lists them all.
What this means for a family
- The workload is steady across two years, including the essay and CAS, so planning matters from the first term.
- Universities set their own requirements, often as a points total plus particular HL subjects. Check each university's page.
- Subject choice at the start shapes later options, so talk to the school's coordinator early.
Choosing a tutor
Tutors usually specialise by subject and level (HL or SL). Ask whether they have taught the current syllabus, and whether they can help with internal assessments within the school's rules. A tutor should support a student's own work, never write it for them.
Source: International Baccalaureate Organization, Diploma Programme passing criteria. Check the IBO and your school for current rules.