Embedded Files
Overview
Subject combinations play an important role in shaping a student’s university options and academic pathway. Subject choices can affect eligibility for specific courses, preparedness for university level study and access to competitive or specialised programmes such as medicine or engineering. Choosing an appropriate combination helps ensure students meet university prerequisites while developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their intended field of study.
Guiding Principles for Choosing Your Subjects
When choosing subject combinations, students should be guided by both their current strengths and future aspirations. Subjects should align with intended university courses, particularly where specific prerequisites are required, while also providing an appropriate level of academic challenge. It is important to strike a balance between subjects a student performs well in and those that encourage intellectual growth, without creating an unmanageable workload.
Choices should reflect genuine aptitude, interests and skills, as sustained engagement and consistent performance over time are valued more highly than an overloaded or unfocused subject mix.
Keeping long-term academic and career goals in mind allows students to make informed decisions that preserve flexibility and support future opportunities.
Booking Your Higher Education Consultations to Discuss Subject Combinations
Higher Education consultations act as a guidance tool for students navigating the maze of university choices and career paths. Through these sessions, students gain clarity on course selection, career options and insights from personality assessments tailored to their needs. Students are encouraged to book a consultation if they require personalised advice or support in making informed academic and post-secondary decisions.
During consultations, we can explore what you enjoy and what you may be naturally inclined towards. For example, whether you are a hands-on person who enjoys taking objects apart to understand how they work, or someone who is sensitive to how language is used and tends to express yourself through words.
If you are unsure, you are encouraged to complete a Personality Assessment on BridgeU at https://app.bridge-u.com using your ACS (International) email, and then speak with a counsellor to review and interpret the results. Developing a clearer understanding of yourself, including your strengths, interests and skills, is key to selecting a subject combination that is well suited to you and supports both your academic success and future pathways.
^ IBO video on choosing the six main subject areas for the IBDP
^ Choosing IGCSE subjects
From Mr. Kinch: "In making their choices, students must consider their strengths and weaknesses, their interests and possible future plans. Choosing a particular subject because someone else in the family or circle of friends thinks it is a good idea is unwise. Students should spend time reading the course requirements and outlines in this booklet carefully, discussing their options with teachers and also their parents."
IGCSE Subject Options
Year-3-IGCSE-Subject-Information-Booklet-12-Aug-2024-for-2026-Examinations.pdfComponents
Compulsory First Language - English, Chinese or other approved first languages
Compulsory Second Language may be taken as Language B or Ab initio - Tamil, Malay, English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish
Compulsory Humanities (pick one) - Geography, History, Global Perspectives, Business Studies, Economics
Compulsory Science (pick one) - Biology, Chemistry, Physics
Subject Option 1 (pick one) - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Literature (English or Chinese)
Subject Option 2 (pick one) - Business Studies, Economics, Additional Mathematics, Global Perspectives
Subject Option 3 (pick one) - Biology, Additional Mathematics, Art, Music, Drama, IGPE, Literature (in English or Chinese)
* Students may not take both Business Studies and Economics.
* Students opting for Triple Science must select Biology as Subject Option 3.
* Pre-IGCSE students may choose only two subject options.
* Singapore citizens and permanent residents (PRs) must meet the Mother Tongue Language requirements unless officially exempted.
IB Subject Options
DSA students, as determined by Year 4 Preliminary Examination results, will attend two weeks of subject lessons at the start of term to gain exposure before making their final subject choices. Non-DSA students who join later, including those returning after IGCSE or entering via O Levels, will also have the opportunity to attend lessons to better understand the subjects before confirming their selections.
The IBDP Subject Information website will be updated by Ms. Carol Ling by the end of June. A subject selection presentation by all faculties will be conducted for all Year 4 students at the end of July. Students who wish to learn more about senior school life may refer to: https://www.acsinternational.edu.sg/en/life-at-acs/life-at-acs-curriculum/senior-division/.
For the IB Diploma Programme, subject selection takes place in Year 4, Term 3.
Students are also advised to read the note on university prerequisites on the right hand side, as it contains important and useful information.
Senior Students' Advice on Subject Combinations
Natasha Tan Rae
Class of 2025
How did you ensure that your subject combination aligns with your future academic or career goals?
When I was in Year 4, I had my mind set on Medicine as my future career path. Therefore, the subjects that I chose were HL Mathematics AA, HL Biology and HL Chemistry. As I was conducting my research on my subject choices, I realised that many Medical Schools required two HL sciences. For me personally, Chemistry was my best science followed by Biology (therefore my options were chosen).
Is there anything you wish you had known or considered before making your subject choices?
I think it is good to have an idea about which subject you would like to do your Extended Essay in. For me, I was keen on Biology or Chemistry so I asked my teachers in-charge for more advice.
Can you share any personal experiences or reflections on your subject choices now that you are in Y5?
I am content with my subject choices. People often say that certain combinations are considered more demanding, but I believe that when you choose subjects you are genuinely interested in, the content becomes easier to understand. I would therefore advise all Year 4 students to select subjects that align with their interests and the careers they hope to pursue.
Chua Yunyu
Class of 2025
What were your initial interests and strengths when you first started considering your IB subject combination?
I reviewed the subject requirements for my intended university courses using official university websites and selected my subjects accordingly. Some universities for my course require HL Mathematics, but many do not. As Mathematics is not my strongest subject, I chose SL Mathematics to ensure that I could perform well and achieve strong results.
Did you research different IB subjects before making your decision? If so, how did you go about it?
Yes. I reviewed the Business Management and Psychology textbooks from the school library and compared them at home to gain a better understanding of the syllabus content I would be studying.
Did you seek advice from teachers, counsellors or seniors? How did their input influence your choices?
I sought advice from my teachers and asked whether taking HL Chemistry, HL Biology and HL Business Management together would be manageable for me. I also reviewed a senior’s Internal Assessment from another subject to help me decide whether I should take that subject instead.
How did you ensure that your subject combination aligns with your future academic or career goals?
I examined the subject requirements for my intended university course through official university websites. I also read discussions on online forums to understand which subjects were considered beneficial for the course I am interested in.
Were there any specific universities or courses that influenced your subject choices?
Yes. I hope to pursue Medicine in the UK, so I carefully reviewed the subject requirements of my preferred universities. These requirements were easy to find through official university websites.
How did you balance choosing subjects you were interested in with considering workload and difficulty?
I prioritised my interests. I reminded myself that any challenges I face in the IB would be a result of my own choices, and that remembering why I chose a subject in the first place helps me stay motivated. Understanding my reasons for selecting a subject is very important.
What advice would you give to Year 4 students who are currently choosing their IB subjects?
Think about what you would like to pursue in the future. If you are unsure, consider which areas you enjoy more, such as sciences, languages or the arts. This can guide your HL choices, and your SL subjects will naturally follow. Seek advice from seniors and teachers, and explore online platforms where IB students share their experiences, challenges, and opinions on different subjects.
Is there anything you wish you had known or considered before making your subject choices?
Many people mention that certain HL subjects require a significant amount of work, so mental preparation is important before committing to a demanding subject combination.
Jayden Christian Budiman
Class of 2025
Overall Top Academic Performer, Year 5 2025
"When entering the IB subject selection process, my main aim was to choose subjects that would support the university major I am currently interested in, while still keeping some flexibility in case my interests evolve over time. As I am keen on pursuing law, I chose essay-based humanities subjects at Higher Level, namely HL English A and HL History. At the same time, I felt reasonably comfortable with Mathematics, so I selected HL Mathematics AA as my third HL subject, as it could keep open the possibility of exploring STEM-related pathways in the future. For my Standard Level subjects, I tried to choose areas where I felt I could perform steadily and manage the workload well. I therefore selected Economics and Chemistry at SL. Regarding second language, I had to decide between continuing Chinese at Chinese B or beginning a new language at Ab Initio level. As I was not very confident in my Chinese proficiency at the time, I chose to study Spanish Ab Initio instead."
Report abuse