IB (International Baccalaureate) is a structured two-year program, usually in 11th and 12th grade, built around six subjects plus three core requirements: a research essay, a course called Theory of Knowledge, and a creativity, activity and service component. Students can pursue the full IB Diploma or take individual IB courses. It suits students who want breadth and sustained writing, but it is a heavy, long commitment.
How the IB Diploma is built
Diploma students take six subjects across groups such as their own language and literature, a second language, social sciences, sciences, math and the arts. Some subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL), which is deeper and longer, and the rest at Standard Level (SL). Students typically take three or four at HL.
- Extended essay: an independent research paper on a topic the student chooses, supervised by a teacher.
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK): a course about how we know what we know, with an essay and a presentation-style assessment.
- CAS (creativity, activity, service): ongoing experiences and reflection across the two years.
- Scoring: each subject is scored 1 to 7, with additional points available from the core, for a maximum of 45. Assessment mixes final exams with internal assessments graded during the course.
Full Diploma or individual courses
Many IB schools let students take selected IB courses without doing the full Diploma. Courses alone can still show rigor and may qualify for college credit, without the core requirements. The full Diploma adds the research, reflection and service pieces and asks for steady effort across both years. Which path is offered, and how students are placed into it, depends on the school.
IB vs AP in plain terms
- Structure: AP classes are standalone; the IB Diploma is a connected two-year program.
- Assessment: AP rests mainly on one exam per course; IB blends exams with work graded during the course.
- Writing: IB tends to ask for more extended writing and reflection across subjects.
- Flexibility: AP lets a student pick and choose; the Diploma asks for balance across subject areas.
- College credit: policies differ, and some colleges treat HL and SL results differently, so look up each college’s IB policy and ask the IB coordinator how recent graduates have fared.
Neither is better in general. Our AP classes guide covers the other side, and college credit in high school compares credit options.
Who tends to do well in IB
- Students who like connecting ideas across subjects and do not mind writing.
- Students who can manage long projects with distant deadlines, which is where the extended essay and internal assessments live.
- Students who want a broad education rather than going very deep in one area early.
- Students with enough room in their week; IB plus heavy athletics, a job or big family responsibilities is a lot.
If planning and long-range work are hard right now, read about executive function skills before committing.
Questions to ask before choosing IB
- Does the school offer the full Diploma, individual courses, or both?
- When do students commit, and can they switch to courses only partway through?
- How are internal assessment and extended essay deadlines spread across the two years?
- How have recent students managed IB alongside sports, arts or work?
- What support does the school offer when a student falls behind?
Bring these to a meeting with the IB coordinator or counselor. Our guide to working with the school counselor helps you prepare.
Where a mentor helps
Mentors are not tutors or IB teachers. A mentor helps an IB student keep the moving parts in view: mapping internal assessment and extended essay deadlines across months, breaking big pieces into weekly steps, and keeping CAS from piling up at the end. They meet weekly or more and stay in touch between sessions, with progress updates to parents. Learn more about mentoring for high school students.
Related
Common questions
Is the IB Diploma harder than taking AP classes?
It is different. The Diploma asks for steady work across six subjects plus the core for two years, while AP difficulty depends on how many and which courses a student takes.
Can my teen do IB courses without the full Diploma?
At many IB schools, yes. Ask your school how course-only students are placed and whether they can switch later.
Do colleges give credit for IB?
Some do, often for Higher Level results above a set score; others give little or none. Check each college’s published policy.
When do students start IB?
The Diploma usually runs through 11th and 12th grade, with the decision made in 10th grade. Some schools have earlier preparatory years.
Get started
Thinking about IB and wondering how your teen would manage the workload? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.