IB Diploma Programme: Subjects, Scores and Requirements

The IB Diploma Programme, usually called the IBDP, is a 2-year international programme for students aged 16 to 19. It combines 6 academic subjects with 3 compulsory core components and finishes with assessments that can lead to the full IB Diploma.

Here we explain how the programme works, which subjects students take, the difference between Higher Level and Standard Level, how the 45-point score is calculated, what is required to pass, and how universities recognize the qualification.

What is the IB Diploma Programme?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is designed for students aged 16 to 19 and normally lasts 2 years.

To complete the full programme, a student studies:

• 6 academic subjects
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• Extended Essay (EE)
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

The programme is offered by authorized IB World Schools.

Students can also take individual DP subjects without completing the full Diploma, depending on what their school offers.

What subjects do IB Diploma students study?

The Diploma Programme is organized around 6 subject groups:

1. Studies in Language and Literature
2. Language Acquisition
3. Individuals and Societies
4. Sciences
5. Mathematics
6. The Arts

Students normally choose 1 subject from each group.

There is some flexibility. The Arts subject can usually be replaced with an additional subject from:

• languages
• Individuals and Societies
• Sciences

Some interdisciplinary subjects can also satisfy requirements across more than 1 group.

Higher Level and Standard Level

IB subjects are studied at either:

• Higher Level (HL)
• Standard Level (SL)

Students normally take:

• 3 or 4 HL subjects
• the remaining subjects at SL

The recommended teaching time is approximately:

HL subjects cover a wider range of content and usually require greater depth.

Both HL and SL subjects are graded on the same 1 to 7 scale.

The 3 IB Diploma core components

The academic subjects are only part of the programme.

Every full Diploma student must also complete TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS.

Theory of Knowledge

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) asks students to examine how knowledge is created, evaluated and understood.

Current assessment includes:

• a TOK exhibition
• a 1,600-word essay

TOK contributes to the additional points available from the DP core.

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay is an independent research project completed with support from a supervisor.

Students produce a paper of up to 4,000 words and take part in formal reflection sessions during the process.

The Extended Essay is externally assessed.

For students first assessed from May 2027, the revised programme allows research through:

• a subject-focused pathway
• an interdisciplinary pathway

Students should always follow the requirements for their own examination session because the IB updates curricula over time.

Creativity, Activity, Service

CAS stands for:

• Creativity
• Activity
• Service

Students complete experiences in these areas and provide evidence of achieving the required CAS learning outcomes.

They must also complete at least 1 CAS project.

CAS does not receive a numerical grade and does not add points to the final score, but completing it is required for the full Diploma.

How IB Diploma assessment works

Assessment varies by subject.

It can include:

• final written examinations
• coursework
• oral assessments
• practical work
• projects
• internally assessed work moderated by the IB
• externally assessed work

Final examinations are an important part of assessment in many subjects, but the final result is not necessarily based on a single exam.

How the IB scoring system works

Each of the 6 academic subjects receives a grade from:

• 7, the highest
• to 1, the lowest

The 6 subjects can therefore contribute up to:

6 × 7 = 42 points

TOK and the Extended Essay together can add up to 3 additional points.

The maximum possible Diploma score is therefore:

45 points

CAS does not add points.

How many points are needed to pass the IB Diploma?

Students generally need at least 24 total points, but receiving 24 points alone is not enough.

To receive the Diploma, students must also satisfy the IB's additional passing conditions.

These include:

• completing CAS
• receiving grades for all 6 subjects
• completing TOK
• completing the Extended Essay
• receiving no subject grade of 1
• receiving no more than 2 grades of 2
• receiving no more than 3 grades of 3 or below
• meeting the required HL and SL point totals
• avoiding a failing result in TOK or the Extended Essay

With the standard combination of 3 HL and 3 SL subjects, students need at least:

• 12 points across HL subjects
• 9 points across SL subjects

A student can therefore reach 24 points and still fail to receive the Diploma if another compulsory condition is not met.

How TOK and the Extended Essay affect the score

TOK and the Extended Essay are graded from:

A to E

Their combined results determine whether a student receives:

• 0 core points
• 1 core point
• 2 core points
• 3 core points

An E in either TOK or the Extended Essay is a failing condition for the Diploma.

This makes the core important even though it contributes only 3 of the possible 45 points.

When are IB exams held?

The IB runs 2 main examination sessions each year:

• May
• November

The examination session relevant to a student depends on their school and programme calendar.

Students should check the syllabus and assessment model linked to their own session, especially when a subject has recently been updated.

Can you retake an IB exam?

Yes.

Students can retake subjects in a later examination session if an IB World School is willing to register them.

When a subject or core requirement is retaken to improve a Diploma result, the highest grade is normally used toward the Diploma.

Students should check the syllabus carefully before retaking because curriculum changes can affect which version of a course they must follow.

Can you take IB subjects without doing the full Diploma?

Yes.

Students may take individual Diploma Programme courses without completing all the requirements for the full Diploma, where their school allows it.

Individual subjects are still graded on the 1 to 7 scale.

However, completing individual IB courses is not the same as earning the full IB Diploma.

Is the IB Diploma recognized by universities?

The IB Diploma is recognized by universities around the world.

IB data indicates that student transcripts are sent each year to more than 4,500 universities across over 110 countries and territories.

However, recognition does not mean that every university applies the same admission rules.

A university may set its own requirements for:

• total IB points
• particular HL subjects
• minimum grades in specific subjects
• language requirements
• course prerequisites
• additional admission tests

Students should therefore check the requirements of the individual university and degree programme they want to apply to.

If a university application also requires a separate admission test, TestBuddy can help organize that part of the preparation with realistic simulations, topic-based exercises, a digital manual, performance statistics and the TB™ Score. Students can start using TestBuddy for free.

How competitive is an IB score?

The passing threshold is 24 points, but university entry requirements can be considerably higher.

For context, in the May 2026 Diploma session:

• the global Diploma pass rate was approximately 82.6%
• the average total score was approximately 30.9 points

These figures are useful as general context, but they do not establish whether a score is competitive for a particular university.

For university applications, the relevant benchmark is always the requirement of the specific institution and programme.

Can the IB Diploma be completed online?

Online options exist, but students should distinguish between different formats.

Students enrolled at an IB World School may be able to take certain individual DP courses online when a subject is not available at their school.

The IB also operates a fully online Diploma Programme pilot with selected partners.

Availability depends on the school, provider and current IB arrangements.

Official information used

The programme structure, age range and general purpose are based on the International Baccalaureate overview of the Diploma Programme.

Subject groups, HL and SL requirements and teaching hours are based on the official Diploma Programme curriculum.

TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS requirements are based on the official Diploma Programme core guidance.

The 1 to 7 grading scale, 24-point threshold, core points and additional Diploma conditions are based on the IB's official Diploma Programme passing criteria.

Information about examinations and internal and external assessment is based on the IB's assessment guidance.

Information about retaking subjects is based on the IB's official examination retake guidance.

University recognition information is based on the IB's official university recognition guidance.

The latest curriculum-change information used here comes from the IB's Diploma Programme curriculum updates.

May 2026 performance figures come from the IB's May 2026 provisional statistical bulletin.

Online study information is based on the IB's official Diploma Programme online guidance.