Subject Selection & Placement for the Diploma Program (grades 11-12)
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*The Core is also part of the Full Diploma candidate's study plan:
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a course taken for approximately 100 hours that addresses "How do we know what we know in various disciplines?"
Extended Essay (EE) is a 4,000 word academic research essay guided by a student's own research question within one of the subjects in the Diploma.
Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) is a series of extra-curricular experiences designed and undertaken over the 18 months of the program.
A: The Full Diploma Program Model
A: The Full Diploma Program Model
Students take 6 subjects over two school years and "the core"*. Generally one subject is taken from each group, with some exceptions permitted.
3 subjects will be taken at Higher Level (240 hours)
3 subjects at Standard Level (150 hours).
A successfully completed IB Diploma gives basic eligibility to apply to University.
Before requesting subjects, students should research university program websites to see if there are any pre-requisite courses needed to be able to apply.
A student's Diploma Program should reflect:
a) their interests
b) their capabilities and prior knowledge
c) their goals for future university studies
Watch this video before you get down into the details. It is a helpful overview provided by the IB.
If the link/video doesn't start playing, this is the direct link:
B: Eligibility to take the Full Diploma
B: Eligibility to take the Full Diploma
As a basic rule, to be a Full Diploma candidate, you must have at least passed all subjects from the preceding school year.
Certain subjects, for example: Math AA HL or Physics HL, require a demonstrated higher level of proficiency than passing level in order to take it in the Diploma Program. These policies and guidlines are delineated in Section E.
If you are not eligible for the Full Diploma, you might instead be offered to become a course candidate. Course candidacy does not merit basic eligibility to apply to all universities, but might yield some merit for some international universities.
Course candidacy is discussed more in our Assessment Policy.
C: The Assessment Model in the Diploma Program
C: The Assessment Model in the Diploma Program
Over 18 months, students will study the 6 subjects and complete the "core".
Each subject has several assessment components, one of which is always something like a larger piece of work which students are guided through at school with their teacher. These are called internal assessments. Your teacher can and does guide you and give you feedback for improvement, however, under certain conditions specified by the IB and our own policies.
The rest are called external assessments. They are usually exams called Paper 1, Paper 2, or Paper 3. Or they can even be something the student works on at school under guidance of the teacher, but that is sent to the IB for marking externally.
The exams are done on paper in May in the final year, and then get sent to the IB for marking. The results of the exams and the internal assessments are collected by the IB and it is the IB which awards the student their final grade in July.
D: Earning the Diploma
D: Earning the Diploma
You can earn the Diploma if your subject grades, which can range from 1-7...
equal at least 24 points total.
equal at least 12 in the Higher Level subjects chosen.
equal at least 9 in the Standard Level subjects chosen.
do not contain a 1 in any subject.
do not contact more than two grade 2s.
do not contain more than three grade 3s.
Additionally, you must complete the Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay at a passing level (at least a D on a scale from A-E).
And finally, you must also complete Creativity, Activity, and Service successfully.
This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to see Article 13 of the General Regulations for the full list of requirements needed to earn a Diploma.
E: Swedish University: links and a task to complete
E: Swedish University: links and a task to complete
The following section is information about Swedish University specifically. We do require that, before making subject requests, students research at least 1-2 programs in Sweden and 1-2 programs internationally to see if their possible program of desire has any special subject requirements and to get used to the process of searching and finding information. More information about how to search is in this task to complete: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ypwvnk3zg1B79VubO0qfbDTvdFuhXwIG/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109554418021439034902&rtpof=true&sd=true
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The governing authority is "Universitets och högskolerådet" (UHR) and all applications are done through this body, via the website www.antagning.se.
An overview of information is available in English: https://universityadmissions.se/en/apply-to-bachelors/provide-application-documents-bachelors/ib-and-eb-studies/
In Swedish, there is very detailed, specific information through Antagning.se:
The IB specific landing page is: https://www.antagning.se/sv/betyg-och-behorighet/international-baccalaureate/ib-examen-2021-och-framat/
To see which IB subjects are equivalent to certain, sometimes required, specific Swedish subjects: https://www.antagning.se/sv/betyg-och-behorighet/international-baccalaureate/ib-examen-2021-och-framat/sarskild-behorighet/
An important point regarding these specialized subjects is that one must also earn a grade of at least 4 for the specialized subject to be fulfilled. All of the details about this are on the website posted above, so be sure to read carefully. If you need help understanding, please reach out to our Study and Career Counselor for more help.
To see the conversion chart from IB final points to Swedish grade points and info about determining extra merit points: https://www.antagning.se/sv/betyg-och-behorighet/international-baccalaureate/ib-examen-2021-och-framat/rakna-ut-ditt-meritvarde/
To see which IB subjects yield extra merit points and under which conditions: https://www.antagning.se/sv/betyg-och-behorighet/international-baccalaureate/ib-examen-2021-och-framat/meritpoang/
To see programs whose language of instruction is English (where the Swedish level requirement is waived): https://studyinsweden.se/
F: List of subjects we typically offer:
F: List of subjects we typically offer:
We cannot promise any combination will work. We take requests. We check against eligibility and scheduling alternatives.
Group 1
English Literature HL or SL
English Language & Literature, HL or SL
Swedish Language & Literature, HL or SL
Self-Taught Literature SL only
Group 2
Swedish ab initio SL only
Swedish B HL or SL
French HL or SL
Spanish HL or SL
German SL only
English B has not been on offer lately as it hasn't matched most of our students' language profiles.
Group 3:
Economics HL or SL
History HL or SL
Psychology HL or SL
Group 4
Biology HL or SL
Chemistry HL or SL
Physics HL or SL
Design Technology HL or SL
Group 5
Math AA HL or SL
Math AI HL or SL
Group 6
Visual Arts HL or SL
(or one doesn't take Art and chooses another subject from Groups 2-4)
Each group has more detailed information below including links to the IB Subject Brief (i.e. the syllabus in short), guidance on selection considerations, and how it is considered by the Swedish University authority.
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