Written By: Sarah Le
Edited By: Joseph Kim
Choosing what high school courses to take is a daunting task since you have to consider a series of aspects: you can handle the workload, the courses fit your graduating requirements, and you enjoy the subjects. For those who are willing to take the challenge of enrolling in IB (International Baccalaureate), this process is even harder because there are fewer options for you to choose from.
But, don’t worry! This article will give you an overall guide on how to decide on what course to take along with some tips from an IB Diploma student.
Know the graduating requirements
You are required to take at least 3 higher-level courses out of the 6 total courses. (You are allowed to take 4 higher-level courses, but the majority of DP students take only 3).
So, what are the differences between higher level (HL) and standard level (SL) courses, you ask? You would have a minimum of 240 instructional hours in HL courses, while 150 in SL courses. The main difference between HL and SL courses is that you will be covered in “a range of additional elements” to study the HL “subject in more depth” (ibo.org).
Because of the difference in time commitment, it is, therefore, important to consider this aspect when choosing your courses as keep in mind that you will need to do other mandatory core components of IB on top of your academic journey (CAS and TOK).
IB requires you to take courses in each of 6 subject groups: Language & Literature (1), Language Acquisition (2), Individuals and Societies (3), Sciences (4), Mathematics (5), and Arts (6). This allows you to explore a diverse breadth of subjects which might be an advantage for your university application to show the recruitment officers that you are an all-rounder.
Tip: Skim over the core syllabus to see which course would be less challenging for you and pick them as your HL. For example, I found the books that we would cover in my English A: Literature interesting, so I chose them as my HL course.
Another tip: If you are still unsure of what course to choose as HL, you can ask other IB graduates for suggestions. Some HL courses are rumored to be very challenging compared to others (Ex: Chemistry HL, Math AA HL, etc.).
Be aware of your post-secondary admission requirements
If you are thinking of pursuing a post-secondary degree after high school, make sure to check the school’s requirements for the specific programs you are interested in.
For example, many competitive programs in Canada require Calculus, and they only accept Math Analysis and Approaches (Math AA) Sl and HL and Math Applications and Interpretation (Math AI) HL. This means students enrolled in Math AI SL do not qualify for this requirement.
Or, if your degree is science-based, you can take 2 science subjects instead of 2 arts and 1 science. A very popular combination is Biology and Chemistry.
Follow your heart (not your friends)
As you should have already known, the IB Diploma Program is a 2-year program. Therefore, it is important that you choose something you enjoy or else, your 2 years of high school would be extremely unpleasant.
One important thing to keep in mind is the assessment models of IB. Whether you choose SL or HL, the assessment components for most of the subjects consist of the internal assessment (IA) and external assessment. The internal assessment normally is a writing assessment, even for subjects like math and science.
In Math AA, for example, you need to write a minimum of a 12-page investigation on a chosen topic using mathematical skills. This helps improve your writing and critical thinking skills, but, at the same time, can also be a terrifyingly stressful experience if you do not enjoy the subject you chose.
Tip: Look at your transcript for the last 10 years and see which subject areas you tend to do the best. And, maybe avoid choosing the HL level for courses that you are not confident with. In my case, I struggled a lot with physics in my junior year, so I decided not to take it (one of my best life decisions).
Look at the IB annual report
For every examination session, IB will publish a statistical bulletin that summarizes all the exam results, from mean grades, pass rates to specific course enrollments and grades. This might be helpful to give you an insight into how DP students perform overall over years in specific courses.
Disclaimer: Some courses are more popular than others. But does it mean it is easier? Not necessarily. So, be a critical thinker when looking at these numbers.
Tip: You can ask your school’s IB coordinator to explain some of these numbers to you if there is any confusion.
Reach out for help or more advice on other resources
One amazing benefit of the IB program is its international alumni network. You can find online resources almost on every platform, so take advantage of that! Some of the recommended organizations are listed below:
IBelieve: Your one-stop shop with free IB-related content for you to connect with IB alumni all across the world
Youtube: There are lots of IB graduate YouTubers out there that will share with you all about their experiences. Examples: Katie Tracy, studycollab: alicia, IB like Cole
IB Question Bank: IB Documents, ExamSnap, Pestle
Congratulations on reaching the end of this guide! Wishing you a successful journey in IB. If you need any help, reach out to Reach For The Stars, we are always happy to support you.
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