What the Diploma is

The Diploma in brief

The IB Diploma Programme is a two-year course for students aged 16 to 19, taught in schools the IB has authorized to teach it. You take six subjects and three extra parts, called the core. Each subject is graded from 1 to 7, and the core can add up to 3 more points, so the most you can score is 45.

The six subject groups

Every subject belongs to one of six groups:

You take one subject from each of groups 1 to 5. The sixth comes from group 6, or you can take another subject from groups 1 to 4 instead of an art. Which subjects you can actually choose depends on what your school offers. Choosing subjects and levels goes into the rules.

Higher Level and Standard Level

Each subject is taken at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). HL goes deeper and covers more: the IB recommends 240 teaching hours for an HL course and 150 for SL. You take three or four subjects at HL and the rest at SL.

Both levels are graded from 1 to 7. A 7 at SL counts the same towards your total as a 7 at HL.

The core

Three parts sit alongside your six subjects:

• Theory of knowledge (TOK): a course about how we know what we claim to know, assessed by an exhibition and an essay.
• The extended essay (EE): an independent research paper of up to 4,000 words on a question you choose.
• Creativity, activity, service (CAS): experiences and a project over the two years, recorded and reflected on. CAS isn't graded, but you must complete it to receive the Diploma.

The IA, EE and TOK explains each one.

How the 45 points are built

• Six subjects, each graded 1 to 7: up to 42 points.
• TOK and the EE, each graded A to E, combined in a table: up to 3 points.

TOK and the EE are each graded from A (highest) to E. The two grades together give your core points:

The table works either way round: A in TOK with C in the EE gives 2, and so does C in TOK with A in the EE. An E in either one means no Diploma, whatever your other grades.

What you need to pass

You need at least 24 points, and all of these:

• CAS completed;
• a grade in every subject, in TOK and in the EE;
• no grade 1 in any subject;
• no more than two grade 2s;
• no more than three grades of 3 or below;
• at least 12 points from your HL subjects (with four HL subjects, the best three count);
• at least 9 points from your SL subjects (with two SL subjects, at least 5);
• no E in TOK or the EE.

So 24 points isn't always enough. Six 4s make 24, and pass. A total of 30 with a grade 1 in one subject does not. Academic misconduct, such as presenting someone else's work as your own, can also stop the Diploma being awarded.

The grade calculator adds up six grades and the core and checks these conditions for you.

The bilingual Diploma

A bilingual Diploma is awarded if you meet the Diploma's conditions and either:

• take two group 1 languages and get a grade 3 or higher in both; or
• take a group 3 or group 4 subject in a language other than your group 1 language, with a grade 3 or higher in both.

The extended essay doesn't count towards it.

Taking courses without the full Diploma

Some students take IB subjects without the whole Diploma. Each course is assessed and graded the same way, and the student gets a result for each course, but not the Diploma itself. Schools decide whether they offer this.

Sources

• International Baccalaureate. Curriculum, Diploma Programme. Subject groups, levels and teaching hours.
• International Baccalaureate. DP passing criteria. The conditions for the Diploma, the TOK and EE points table and the bilingual Diploma.
• International Baccalaureate. Creativity, activity, service.
• International Baccalaureate. Theory of knowledge.
• International Baccalaureate. Extended essay updates.