IB courses in the Diploma Programme follow a clear structure: six subjects across six groups, three core elements, and a choice between Higher Level and Standard Level. This guide explains how it fits together and how to choose subjects with confidence.
Think of this summary as a map to read before the detail. The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year pre-university curriculum. Students take six subjects alongside three core elements, and the maximum score is forty-five diploma points. Examination sessions run globally twice a year, and universities worldwide recognize the diploma. If you are searching for IB courses, this is the quickest way to see how the main pieces fit together before looking at each one in turn.
To read the summary, notice that the six subjects and the three core elements are separate parts of the programme. Forty-two of the forty-five points come from the six subjects, and the rest comes from how the core is completed. Each later section on this page expands one line of the summary, so you can jump straight to subject groups, Higher Level and Standard Level, or the core. Your school sets its own timetable and deadlines, so treat this page as a general guide and confirm local details with your IB coordinator.
When you compare the groups, look for a balance between your strengths, your interests and the direction you may want to take after school. A student who enjoys writing and discussion may feel at home in the language and societies groups, while someone drawn to experiments and problem solving may lean towards the sciences and mathematics. Group Six is flexible: it can hold an arts subject or a second subject from Groups One to Four. Writing your preferences on a sheet and discussing them with a counselor or coordinator makes the trade-offs easier to see.
Higher Level two hundred forty, Standard Level one hundred fifty
Higher Level covers more content in greater depth
Higher Level exams are longer with more extended responses
Specific HL grades are often required
Three Higher Level and three Standard Level
When choosing levels, start with the universities and degree areas you are considering. Admissions offices often specify minimum HL grades for particular courses, so a subject that matters for your degree area is usually a candidate for Higher Level. Then be honest about interest and workload. Higher Level examinations are longer and ask for more extended responses, which suits students who enjoy sustained reasoning and writing in that subject.
A common mistake is choosing a level because of what friends are doing or because a subject sounds impressive. A better approach is to ask your teachers what each level feels like week to week, look at the content, and consider how much time you will realistically have. Remember that the structure keeps a limit of four Higher Level subjects, so your choices need to be deliberate rather than automatic.
Theory of Knowledge, or TOK, is a course in critical epistemology: it asks how we know what we claim to know. It is assessed through an exhibition, which is marked internally and externally moderated, and an essay on a prescribed title, which is marked externally.
TOK is graded from A to E. Its grade combines with the Extended Essay to contribute up to three bonus points to the diploma total, which makes both parts worth taking seriously.
The Extended Essay is an independent piece of research, and it develops the research independence that the programme aims to build.
Because it is self-directed, it rewards steady progress: choosing a question early, reading widely, drafting in stages and leaving time to revise. Students who postpone it often find it competes with subject coursework and internal assessments at the busiest moments of the two years.
CAS, Creativity, Activity, Service, carries no points but must be completed satisfactorily for the diploma to be awarded. The practical advice is to plan the core early: note the deadlines your school sets, keep records as you go, and agree with your coordinator how each part will be supervised. Starting the core in good time protects both your marks in the subjects and your wellbeing.
The Diploma Programme, as described here, combines six subjects with three core elements, and CAS must be completed satisfactorily for the diploma to be awarded. That is what we can say with confidence. This page does not set out whether a student can take individual courses without the full diploma, and we do not want to guess or suggest options that may not exist at your school.
If this question matters to you, the most reliable step is to ask your school's IB coordinator directly. They can explain what your school allows, how it handles the core, and what that would mean for your timetable. It is also worth checking early with the universities you are interested in, because entry requirements often refer to total points and minimum HL grades, and recognition policies vary by institution and country.
When you speak to your coordinator, bring a short list of questions: which subjects you would want to take, whether you intend to complete the core, and what your target universities ask for. Having those answers before subject choices are confirmed makes the decision clearer for you and for your family, and avoids surprises later in the two years.
There is no single set of IB courses that suits every university plan, but there is a sensible method. First, identify the degree area you are considering. Second, check what your target universities ask for, because admissions offices often specify required total points and minimum HL grades for particular courses. Third, balance those requirements with your strengths and interests, since you will study these subjects for two years. Finally, verify recognition rules, which vary by institution and country.
As broad examples, a student leaning towards a science-related degree may want to look closely at the sciences and mathematics groups and consider where Higher Level depth matters. A student leaning towards a humanities-related degree may give more attention to the language and individuals and societies groups. These are general illustrations rather than fixed rules, and the specific requirements always come from the universities themselves.
If you are undecided, keep your options open by choosing a balanced set of subjects and revisiting your plans as you learn more. The structure of six groups already supports breadth, which can help when your interests change. Once you have a shortlist of subjects and levels, the button at the end of this page leads to our consultation form, where you can describe your plans and ask for guidance.
Timing matters. It is common for MYP students to reach a point, often in the later part of the school year, where DP or CP subject choices need to be confirmed. At that stage it helps to understand what each chosen subject involves and how it fits both your academic profile and your future plans. This is a directional observation rather than a rule, and your school's own timeline always comes first. Questions about IB MYP courses leading into the Diploma are best raised with your coordinator.
Online tutoring from experienced subject tutors can support this planning and the work that follows. A tutor can help you understand what a subject asks of you, work through difficult content, and structure revision around the demands of Higher Level or Standard Level. Families looking for IB Diploma tutoring often want help with a particular subject, while others want a steady plan across the whole programme.
The Extended Essay is another area where students look for an IB extended essay tutor. Support can help with narrowing a question, organizing research, drafting in stages and planning time alongside other deadlines. To start, use the consultation form on this site and describe your subjects, your level of study and what you would like help with. That gives a clear starting point for the next conversation.
You take six subjects plus three core elements: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS. At least three and at most four of the six subjects are taken at Higher Level, and the rest at Standard Level. Three Higher Level and three Standard Level is the common pattern.
The Diploma groups subjects into six categories: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and Arts or a second subject from Groups One to Four. Which courses are available within each group depends on your school, so ask your IB coordinator for the school's own list.
Higher Level has two hundred forty teaching hours, while Standard Level has one hundred fifty. Higher Level covers more content in greater depth, and its exams are longer with more extended responses. Universities often require specific HL grades, so check the requirements for your target courses.
No. CAS does not contribute points, but it must be completed satisfactorily for the diploma to be awarded. The bonus points, up to three, come from the combined performance in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, so all three core elements deserve early planning.
This page describes the Diploma as six subjects plus the three core elements, and it does not cover single-course options. Ask your school's IB coordinator what is possible, and check the entry requirements of the universities you are considering as early as you can.
Online tutoring from experienced subject tutors can help with subject understanding, Extended Essay planning and organizing your study across the programme. To discuss what you need, fill in the consultation form and describe your subjects, your level and the areas where you would like support.
Tell us which subjects and levels you are considering, and what you would like help with. The consultation form is the first step toward working with an experienced online IB subject tutor.