To earn the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, students must complete six subjects and the three core components: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service. They need at least 24 points out of 45 and must also meet rules for their Higher Level and Standard Level grades. The school’s entry requirements are a separate check.
If your child is choosing IB subjects now, ask the school two questions early: Which subjects can they take together, and will that combination meet the requirements for the university courses they’re considering? A school may offer both subjects your child wants, yet schedule them in the same timetable block.
IB Diploma requirements at a glance
If you’re asking about… | What to check |
Getting into the IB Diploma Programme | The school’s admission criteria, including any prerequisites for individual subjects. |
Choosing an IB Diploma subject combination | Six subjects, typically three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL), plus the DP core. |
Passing the IB Diploma | At least 24 total points, the required HL and SL scores, limits on low grades, and completion of the core. |
Applying to university with the IB | The exact course’s requirements for total points, subjects, and grades at HL or SL. |
For a wider look at how the Diploma fits alongside the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Career-related Programmes, see SEV7N’s guide to the IB curriculum.
Who is eligible to join the IB Diploma Programme?
The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year programme designed for students aged 16 to 19. Students can enter from the IB Middle Years Programme or from another curriculum, such as IGCSE, CBSE, or an American high school programme. The receiving school decides whether to offer a place and which subjects the student can take.
Ask admissions about IB prerequisites at two levels:
Programme entry. Which school reports or qualifications will they review? Do they require an interview or entrance assessment?
Individual subject entry. What prior grades or knowledge does the school expect for the subjects your child wants at HL? Can the school confirm that those subjects fit into the same timetable?
For example, your child might qualify for a Diploma place and still need a stronger maths grade for their preferred HL course. If they’re deciding between the Diploma and A Levels, SEV7N’s IB vs UK curriculum guide compares how the two pathways handle subject choices and assessment. Families moving to the UAE can also use the parent’s guide to the IB curriculum in Dubai to compare school pathways and transfer options.
What six subjects do IB Diploma students take?
The Diploma is organised into six subject groups. The table shows a typical route, with examples of courses a school may offer. Students can usually replace the arts subject with an approved course from another group, which can make room for a second science or humanities subject. Some interdisciplinary courses can satisfy two group requirements, but students still take six subjects overall. Ask the DP coordinator to confirm the final combination.
Subject group | Examples | What to check before choosing |
1. Studies in language and literature | English A: Literature or English A: Language and Literature | Which course suits your child’s reading and writing strengths? |
2. Language acquisition | French B, Spanish B, or a beginner-level language course | Which level fits their previous study, and which languages does the school offer? |
3. Individuals and societies | Economics, History, Psychology, Business Management | How much of the assessment involves essays, source analysis, or data interpretation? |
4. Sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Does a degree your child is considering require one or two sciences at HL? |
5. Mathematics | Analysis and Approaches (AA) or Applications and Interpretation (AI) | Does the university specify a maths course and level? |
6. The arts | Visual Arts, Music, Theatre | Would an arts subject suit your child, or would an approved substitution support their plans? |
What is the difference between HL and SL?
Most students take three HL and three SL subjects. Four HL subjects are possible. The IB recommends 240 teaching hours per HL course and 150 per SL course. Both levels use the same 1–7 grading scale for the Diploma total. A 6 at HL and a 6 at SL each add six points, although the Diploma also has separate HL and SL minimums.
If your child is weighing up two options, look at the actual coursework before deciding. SEV7N’sIB Chemistry syllabus guide breaks down the difference between SL and HL content. For maths, use the IB Maths AA vs AI guide alongside the published entry requirements for any university courses they’re considering.
What are the three IB Diploma core components?
Core component | What students do | How it affects the Diploma |
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) | Explore how we know what we claim to know and how evidence is evaluated in different areas of knowledge. | Graded A–E. The grade combines with the Extended Essay grade to determine core points. |
Extended Essay (EE) | Develop a research question, investigate it independently with supervision, and write a formal research essay. | Graded A–E. Together, TOK and the EE can add up to three points. |
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) | Take part in creative, physical, and service experiences and reflect on what they learn. | CAS adds zero points. Students must meet the completion requirements to earn the Diploma. |
An Internal Assessment (IA) is assessed work within an individual subject. For example, a science investigation contributes to the grade for that science course. The Extended Essay is a separate piece of work within the Diploma core. It helps to put both sets of deadlines on the same calendar at the start of the programme.
What grades do you need to pass the IB Diploma?
Each of the six subjects earns a grade from 1 to 7, for up to 42 subject points. TOK and the Extended Essay can contribute up to three more, bringing the maximum to 45 points. The IB checks both the total and how those points are distributed.
Passing requirement | What it means |
Overall score | At least 24 points from subjects and any core points. |
Higher Level grades | At least 12 points across HL subjects. For four HL subjects, the three highest HL grades count toward this minimum. |
Standard Level grades | At least 9 points across three SL subjects. Students with two SL subjects need at least 5 points across those two. |
Lowest subject grade | Every subject must have an awarded grade of 2 or above. |
Limits on low grades | A maximum of two grade 2s and a maximum of three grades at 3 or below, counting HL and SL together. |
TOK, Extended Essay, and CAS | Students need an awarded grade for TOK and the EE, with a grade E in either triggering a failing condition. They must also complete CAS. |
Can two students get 24 points and have different outcomes?
Yes. These examples show how the HL minimum can affect the outcome even when the overall score is the same.
Example | HL grades | SL grades | TOK + EE points | Total | Outcome |
Student A | 5 + 4 + 3 = 12 | 4 + 4 + 3 = 11 | 1 | 24 | Meets the score and grade rules. The Diploma can be awarded if the remaining conditions are met. |
Student B | 4 + 4 + 3 = 11 | 5 + 4 + 3 = 12 | 1 | 24 | Falls one point short of the HL minimum. |
If you’re reviewing a school progress report, ask for the HL subtotal, SL subtotal, and CAS status alongside the predicted overall score. Each tells you something different about where your child stands.
Are IB Diploma passing requirements the same as university entry requirements?
Universities set their own entry requirements, often by degree. A course may specify an overall IB score, named HL subjects, and minimum grades in those subjects. Two universities offering the same degree may accept different maths courses or ask for different HL grades. Check the course page for the intended intake before your child commits to a subject combination.
A practical way to choose subjects:
Shortlist three degree courses your child might apply to, even if their plans are still open.
Write down the exact IB requirements for each course, including Maths AA or AI where specified.
Show the list to the DP coordinator and ask which combinations the school can timetable.
Review the workload with your child using sample tasks from the subjects they’re considering.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to complete the MYP before taking the IB Diploma?
No. Students can join the Diploma Programme from another curriculum. Ask the receiving school how it assesses prior qualifications and whether it has separate entry criteria for your child’s intended HL subjects.
Is a grade 4 required in every IB subject?
No. A grade below 4 can still count toward the Diploma. The IB applies limits on low grades and checks the total, the HL and SL subtotals, and the core requirements.
Is an arts subject compulsory in the IB Diploma?
Students can usually take an approved subject from another group in place of an arts course. Ask the school’s DP coordinator to confirm that the proposed combination meets the IB rules and fits the timetable.
Can you earn the IB Diploma with zero TOK and Extended Essay points?
Yes. Some combinations of TOK and Extended Essay grades earn zero additional points. A student can still earn the Diploma if neither grade is an E and all other requirements are met, including the 24-point minimum and CAS completion.
What happens if a student completes IB subjects but misses the full Diploma requirements?
A student can receive DP Course Results for individual subjects even when the full Diploma is not awarded. If university admission depends on those results, check how the specific institution considers individual DP courses.
Choosing IB subjects or trying to understand a recent grade report? Explore SEV7N’s IB Diploma tutoring and subject support. Bring your child’s proposed subject list or a recent piece of teacher feedback to make the discussion specific.
