IB subject choices

GERMANY IB AGREEMENT

This change provides more flexibility in selecting higher level subjects and will be effective for DP students sitting exams in May 2025 and later.

We wanted to share this exciting development with you as soon as possible, as a school that is either; 

• in Germany

• offers German A or German B as a subject choice for students 

or

• has previously sent transcripts to German universities 

The change may impact the subject choices of your next cohort of Diploma Programme students due to start in the next couple of months.   

The changes will be reflected in the next update of the KMK recognition agreement which will be made available here. (A German copy of the agreement PDF is available here)

What does this change mean? 

This major change to the agreement, which has been in place for over 30 years, means that IB students who wish to study subjects such as languages, arts or humanities courses at German universities, will now be able to do so with the inclusion of standard level mathematics and sciences in their subject choices as long as one of their higher level subjects is a language – providing DP students aiming to study in Germany a greater choice in their higher level subjects.  

Please note that if your students intend to study mathematics, natural sciences or university courses related to technology and engineering in Germany, they would still be best advised to complete a mathematics and natural science course at higher level, which will best prepare them for the transition to their future studies. 

The six subjects required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) must include the following, designated according to IB terminology:

- two languages ​​at level A or B (at least one of which must be a continuing foreign language, designated as "Language A" or "Language B HL"2),

- one science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physics),

- mathematics (Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches, or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation)

- one social science subject (History, Geography, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Social Anthropology,

Business and Management, Global Politics).

The sixth compulsory subject may be one of the following, designated according to IB terminology:

- Art/Design,

Music, Theatre Arts,Film, Literature and Performance,

another modern foreign language, Latin, Classical Greek, General

b) Among the three subjects required for the International Baccalaureate Diploma/Diplôme du Baccalauréat International at the Higher Level, one must be a language, mathematics, or a science subject as defined in point 1 a), first to third bullet point.

c) All subjects must have been studied continuously in the IB Diploma Programme, i.e., in two-year increments.

d) The required six subjects must have been graded at least 4 on the IB scale.

If only one subject has an IB grade of 3, this can be compensated for if another subject has achieved at least an IB grade of 5 at the same level of difficulty and a total of at least 24 points.

e) German certificate holders who do not study German at a school abroad with an IB program must demonstrate sufficient German language skills before commencing studies in Germany; further details are governed by state law.

IB SUBJECT CHOICES 2025 POWERPOINT 

MATH REQUIRMENTS PER COUNTRY :