College admissions sometimes feels like a big pot of alphabet soup: AP, GPA, ACT, SAT, FAFSA, SRAR, SAI …
While you’re probably familiar with many of these acronyms (maybe you’re feeling a little too familiar with some), others, like IB, you might be feeling a little less sure about (we assume that’s why you’re here).
So, if you came here looking for an easy-to-understand explanation of what the IB program is (welcome, by the way), we’re here to help.
To describe it simply (or as simply as possible), the International Baccalaureate program offers students a globally recognized education that emphasizes:
critical thinking
international perspective
and well-rounded development.
And many consider it to be a rigorous alternative to AP classes and a comprehensive educational framework that colleges love. Sounds pretty awesome, right? But before you lace up those OnClouds to start this academic marathon, it’s important to know what this challenging academic path really means for high school students who start down it. And, even more important, is it even the right fit for you?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into the nuts and bolts of the International Baccalaureate program and share everything you need to know (and more!). From exploring the IB curriculum structure and requirements to weighing potential college benefits, we’ll help you make an informed decision about whether this distinctive educational approach aligns with your academic goals, potential future major, and learning style (not to mention your mental well-being).
Below, we’ll cover
What is the IB Program?
What the IB Diploma Program Curriculum Looks Like
What is the IB Program Extended Essay?
What Can the IB Diploma Program Do for Students?
What’s the Difference Between IB and AP Classes?
The Pros and Cons of the IB Program
Is the IB Program Right for You?
If you’re here for a particular question, click on the link in the table of contents below to jump to that section.
Let’s dive in.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(click to skip ahead)What is the IB Program?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a globally recognized, rigorous educational program for students aged 3-19, offering four programs:
Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Middle Years Programme (MYP)
Diploma Programme (DP)
and Career-related Programme (CP)
To help you really understand the IB Program, we’ll start with a little history on the IB organization and the programs it offers.
The nonprofit International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) was created in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968 as an educational program for the children of diplomats who moved from country to country.
The goal? Give these students a globally recognized, standardized diploma that moves along with them.
Fast-forward to today, and the organization (and its programs themselves) has grown well past the small diplomatic community it started with. But its goal remains the same: Implement a curriculum that emphasizes global citizenship, critical thinking, and a holistic approach to education that schools worldwide can use to prepare their students for success post-graduation.
“How many schools,” you ask?
Answer: A lot! As of October 2024, more than 5,900 schools in 160 countries were offering IB Programs.
While all four programs IBO offers are impressive and deserve a blog post of their own, we’ll focus exclusively on the Diploma Program for high school students aged 16-19 in this guide (since that’s what we’re pretty sure you’re here for).
Curious to learn more about the Diploma Program and how it’s structured? We can’t wait to tell you.
What the IB Diploma Program curriculum looks like
The two-year IB curriculum is all about giving students an interdisciplinary perspective and challenging their critical thinking through the courses they take—which is really important for today’s students.
But even better, students gain a better understanding of the research and writing that will be expected of them at the university level, uniquely preparing them for success post-graduation. (More on how colleges view the IB Program below.)
Here’s how the Diploma Program curriculum prepares students for college:
The IB Coursework
Students participating in one of the 3,799 Diploma Programs (as of 2024) at an International Baccalaureate Organization-authorized school must take courses across six subject groups:
Studies in Language and Literature. Students study their native language, although they can study a second language if they’re interested in obtaining a bilingual diploma.
Language Acquisition. Students can study another language (Spanish, French, etc.) that they have limited experience with or have never studied at all.
Individuals and Societies. This coursework educates students on human experience and behavior; humanity’s physical, economic, and social environments; and the history of social and cultural institutions.
Sciences. Students explore scientific concepts, theories, and models through courses like biology, physics, and health sciences.
Mathematics. These courses expand students’ mathematical knowledge while cultivating advanced cognitive skills, logical reasoning, creative thinking, and abstract conceptualization.
The Arts. Students can explore their creative sides through courses like music, film, and theatre—or they can take a second subject from groups 1-5.
You might be thinking that all of this sounds like pretty standard high school courses—just kicked up a notch. But we’re just getting to the three core (and must-complete) components that set the IB Diploma Program apart from other similar programs:
Theory of Knowledge (TOK): Not to get too deep, but this course is all about critical thinking and analyzing knowledge—how we know what we know. Whoa, right?
Extended Essay (EE): This 4,000-word research paper is based on an independent research project on a topic of the student’s choice [insert passion project or area of interest here!], supervised by a teacher.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Students engage in a range of experiences and projects outside the classroom that focuses on seven learning outcomes (including strength and growth, collaboration, and initiative) related to these three areas throughout their program, encouraging personal development by learning through experience.
This combination of IB program requirements and experiences is referred to as the “Diploma Program Core,” and it’s one reason so many students are drawn to the program. Not only does the Core prepare students for the rigors of college by emphasizing research, critical thinking, and global perspectives—it still lets them tailor their education to their strengths and interests. A win-win all around, if you ask us.
For more on creating an effective high school plan, see our guide on How to (strategically) choose high school courses.
The IB Assessment Structure
While becoming a well-rounded, globally conscious, independent thinker is pretty awesome in its own right, there’s also that question of grades and assessments. So let’s address the elephant in the room.
IB courses are assessed through a combination of:
Internal assessments: Projects, oral presentations, lab work, and other assignments are graded by teachers and moderated by IB examiners.
External assessments: Rigorous end-of-course exams are created and graded by IB examiners.
To earn the IB Diploma, students need to
Earn a minimum of 24 points (out of a possible 45) by completing six subjects (graded on a 7-point scale, totaling a maximum of 42 points)
Complete the Extended Essay
Take the Theory of Knowledge course
And complete their CAS project (the latter three can contribute up to a combined 3 additional points).
What Is the IB Program Extended Essay?
Let’s dive a little deeper into the required Extended Essay. You might be thinking that writing a 4,000-word essay sounds a little overwhelming—or maybe terrifying. But graduates often say it’s one of the most valuable (yet challenging) aspects of the IB experience. Why?
Because you get to dig deep on a topic that’s of particular interest to you (within the scope of one of the IB subjects, of course) while also preparing yourself for the rigors of undergraduate research.
And you’re not in this alone, even though this is an independent project: You’ll have the guidance and supervision of a teacher every step of the way.
This essay isn’t anything close to busywork—the IB Extended Essay serves several important educational purposes:
Introduce students to university-level research expectations (including developing research questions, communicating ideas, and understanding academic writing conventions and citation methods)
Develop independent thinking, project management, and self-management skills
Allow the deep exploration of a topic of personal interest (after all, it’s way easier to throw yourself into a topic you care about)
Bonus: Many of the skills students develop during the Extended Essay are similar to those they’ll need when it comes time to write an effective college admissions essay—so you’ll be getting a leg up on that process early on!
External IB examiners review the final essay andscore it on a scale from 0 to 34. Those scores are then translated into a letter grade ranging from A (highest) to E (lowest).
What Can the IB Diploma Program Do for Students? (And How Do Colleges View the IB Program?)
The IB Diploma is more than just another accolade on your resume or a bump to your GPA, so you shouldn’t pursue an IB Diploma just for these reasons (although we know it might feel tempting).
Because the IB Diploma is evidence you’ve completed one of the most challenging and comprehensive high school programs available to you, here’s how earning that IB diploma might help in college:
Give you a competitive edge in college admissions: Admissions officers at selective colleges recognize the rigor of the IB program and view IB students as high achievers.
Demonstrate your college readiness: The IB Program emphasizes independent research, critical thinking, global perspectives, and time management. And guess what? That aligns closely with what colleges expect of you, so you’ll step on campus feeling more prepared and capable.
Earn college credit. Many colleges and universities offer credit or advanced standing for strong IB exam scores—and who wouldn’t want that? (Disclaimer here: College credit policies vary among institutions, so check directly with colleges about IB credit policies instead of just assuming that IB credits will transfer.)
Has global recognition: The IB Diploma is recognized by universities in over 90 countries, so whether you’re looking to study in the U.S. or abroad post-graduation, this diploma carries weight.
Related Reading: Learn more about how colleges evaluate the strength of the high school curriculum in this blog post.
What’s the Difference Between IB and AP Classes?
Coming back to our alphabet soup, you might be wondering how the IB Program compares with AP classes. Great question. Both are rigorous programs that allow students to challenge themselves with college-level coursework.
We have a separate guide on IB vs AP courses here, but here are some important differences between the two:
Program Structure
AP classes are individual courses that last a semester or two and can be taken individually with no overall program requirements.
The IB program is a comprehensive two-year program (for diploma students) with required components beyond coursework.
Curriculum Focus
AP courses focus on content knowledge and subject-specific skills.
IB courses emphasize critical thinking, research skills, and global perspectives across disciplines.
Assessment Approach
A single end-of-course exam determines the AP score, and there’s a heavier focus on multiple-choice assessments.
The IB Diploma Program offers a combination of internal assessments (projects, papers, presentations) and external exams that are more writing-based.
The Pros and Cons of the IB Program
While we can’t distill the entire IB Program into a single pros and cons list (we’re good, but we’re not that good), we can give you a few more factors to consider when deciding whether to pursue an IB Diploma.
Pros
Excellent college preparation
A well-rounded high school education that lets you go both broad and deep
Critical thinking and global mindedness skills galore
Potential college credit and college admissions edge
A globally recognized diploma that goes wherever you do
Cons
Less flexibility (while you can still pursue your interests, the program’s structure inherently means fewer electives)
Intense workload (high school can be challenging in the base case, but adding on the IB rigor and Core Components might be too much for students with a robust life outside of school)
Limited access to the program, because not every school is IB-approved
Hot Tip: Don’t let the rigor of the IB program scare you off. For strategies on balancing challenging coursework (whether IB classes, AP classes, or just an unusually tough course) with the rest of your life, see our tips on bringing ease, purpose, and joy to your high school career.
Is the IB Program Right for You?
The International Baccalaureate Program isn’t for every student, and that’s okay. If you thrive in a structured, challenging environment and want to push yourself to grow in new ways (way to go, by the way), then the IB Program could be the perfect fit for you.
But if you want a little more flexibility in your course selection or want to balance a little less rigor with a little more in the way of extracurriculars, you might consider other ways outside of the IB Program to challenge yourself. (And that’s totally OK. No judgment here.)
Ultimately, there are multiple paths to success, and this is just one. Whether you choose the full IB Diploma Program, select individual IB courses, or pursue another rigorous curriculum, the most important factor is finding the one that matches your learning style and helps you achieve your long-term goals.
Julia Byrd published her first “book” on the elusive Pika in elementary school and has been writing fervently ever since. She’s thrilled to unite her quirky love of grammar and master’s in psychology to help students tell their most meaningful stories. Her favorite punctuation mark is the apostrophe because, in the words of Imagine Dragons, it’s “a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see.”
Top values: Collaboration | Family | Productivity
