The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a two-year, pre-university academic qualification offered by the International Baccalaureate Organization, typically studied by students aged 16 to 19 in their final two years of secondary school.
The Basic Structure
Every IB Diploma student studies six subjects, one from each of five academic groups (Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, and Mathematics), plus a sixth subject chosen either from the Arts or as an additional subject from one of the other groups. Three subjects are typically studied at Higher Level (HL), with 240 teaching hours, and three at Standard Level (SL), with 150 hours — see our full guide on how many HL subjects you should take for when a fourth HL genuinely makes sense.
The Core: What Makes the IB Different
Beyond the six subjects, every DP student completes three additional core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an exploration of how we know what we know (see our guide on what TOK is and why it confuses so many students if the concept still feels unclear); the Extended Essay (EE), a 4,000-word independent research paper; and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), a programme of activities outside the classroom (see our list of 30 CAS ideas for a sense of what this looks like in practice).
How the IB Is Graded
Each subject is graded on a scale of 1 to 7, giving a maximum of 42 points across six subjects, plus up to 3 additional bonus points from combined TOK and EE performance — for a maximum total of 45.
What Makes the IB Different From Other Systems
Compared to more specialized systems that focus on 3-4 subjects in depth, the IB deliberately combines breadth (six subjects across different disciplines) with depth (HL subjects, the Extended Essay) and skills beyond pure content knowledge (TOK’s critical thinking, CAS’s real-world engagement).
Who the IB Is Typically For
The DP is offered at IB World Schools across more than 150 countries, in international schools, some private schools, and a growing number of public and charter schools, particularly in regions where it’s offered as an alternative to national qualifications.
Final Tip
Before committing, talk to current DP students at your specific school, not just general online opinions — how demanding the programme feels varies meaningfully by school, teaching quality, and the specific subjects on offer.