A guide to the International Baccalaureate Diploma

If you aim to study abroad, having a respected qualification with a global outlook could help you significantly when you apply. The International Baccalaureate (or IB) is designed for this purpose, preparing high school students around the world for a university education wherever they desire. Of course, it is far from the only programme of its type, and as such, you may have many questions about it. To help, our guide to the IB Diploma explains the basics and the finer details.

What is the IB Diploma?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a qualification taken by students aged 16-19 around the world. It is the most well-known part of the International Baccalaureate programme, which aims to make it simpler for students to enter higher education in a country other than their own.

More than 200,000 students complete the Diploma each year at around 3,700 schools in 155 countries. As an alternative to similar qualifications such as A-levels and high school diplomas, it is often highly regarded. It is accepted by almost every university you could name – around 5,000 in more than 100 countries – and recognised as an indication of an international perspective.

How does the IB Diploma work?

The IB Diploma is a two-year programme. As part of it, you will choose six subjects to study in addition to something known as the DP core, which comprises three compulsory components. We will explain these later in this article.

Each optional subject is part of its own subject group. There are six of these, and in general you will select one subject from each. Typically, three of these will be studied at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). As these descriptions suggest, higher level subjects will require more study and deeper understanding.

Notably, all IB students must study a language in addition to the one that is deemed to be their strongest. This is covered by the language acquisition subject group, as part of which you can choose to learn a modern or classical language. This can be taken at either SL or HL, depending on whether or not you are new to the language in question.

IB Diploma subjects

Subjects marked with an asterisk are considered to be interdisciplinary. This means that they overlap two different subject groups. As such, studying one allows you to select your sixth subject with no restrictions – it can be from any of the groups.

It is also permitted to study an extra subject from the sciences, individuals and societies, or languages groups, in place of an arts subject. This could be useful if you already know that the arts are not what you wish to study at university. Such flexibility is a key part of the IB.

What is the DP core?

The compulsory DP core element of the Diploma is designed to broaden your thinking, develop your academic skills, and expand your experience of the world. This is intended to prepare you for life at university and beyond.

The core components and what they involve are as follows:

• Creativity, activity and service – an individual or group project that develops your logistical skills, and which has a positive effect on your community or the wider world
• The extended essay – a 4,000-word paper based on an independently completed piece of research
• Theory of knowledge – an exploration of and reflection on the nature of knowledge, assessed via a 1,600-word paper and a presentation

How is the IB Diploma assessed?

The IB Diploma is assessed through a combination of exams and coursework. Exams may involve essay writing, structured problems or questions that require a short response. Coursework varies with each subject. For example, languages are assessed with oral work, while the sciences can be assessed with laboratory work.

Your performance in each of your six main subjects will be graded on a scale of 1-7 points. The higher the number, the better the score. In addition, the extended essay and theory of knowledge components of the DP core can together contribute a maximum of three more points. This means that the maximum IB Diploma score is 45.

To be awarded the Diploma, you will need to score at least 24 points and meet other minimum criteria, such as completion of the DP core. If you need or wish to retake a subject in order to improve your score, you may do so. However, restrictions sometimes apply, which your school should be able to explain.

How the Diploma compares to other qualifications at the same level can vary greatly. One way to judge is by looking at the entry requirements for undergraduate degrees. The table below does this, comparing the criteria for A-level and IB students at three universities in the UK. 

University entry requirements: IB vs A-levels

It is important to note that these requirements often have additional stipulations regarding your grades in different subjects. For example, to study psychology at Sheffield with an IB, you are expected to have scored at least 5 in a science subject at higher level. 

Why study the IB Diploma?

The IB combines an international outlook with a broad range of study subjects and the flexibility to focus on the ones that suit you best. That sets it apart from many alternative qualifications that you can take to gain access to higher education. It is well regarded, widely accepted and specifically designed to develop global citizens – the kind of people keen to study abroad.

Additionally, some universities offer designated funding to students who have an IB Diploma. You can search for those that do in our extensive scholarships section.

Where can you study the IB Diploma?

The IB can be studied at almost 3,700 schools in 155 countries. Each one is authorised to do so as an official IB school. Without that status, they would be unable to offer the qualification.

Plans are currently being made to allow you to study the IB Dipoma online. At the moment, this option is being trialled in partnership with a small number of schools. However, it is intended to become commonplace, enabling students to earn the qualification even if they are not near an IB school.

We hope our guide to the IB Diploma has answered some of your questions regarding the qualification. If you are wondering where it could take you next, we have advice. Read our list of reasons to go to university and tips on how to choose where to study abroad. Alternatively, you could begin looking for university courses today. Use the search tool below to get started.