How to choose the best IB subjects to Score 45?
So after you’ve made the big decision to choose the IB, now it's time to select the subjects you'll study for the next two years. While this can seem daunting at first, the picture is much clearer once you understand the curriculum better and your possible career directions and interests.
What is the IB Curriculum?
In a nutshell, the IB curriculum is divided into six groups, with each group designed to fulfil your education through various contexts and disciplines and highlighting interdisciplinary relationships to enhance your learning. Find out more in this article:
Note that the subjects offered can vary a lot between schools, as not all institutions provide the same subject options or all of the subject options as listed below. Please check the subjects available for your respective institutions carefully.
What subject to pick in Group 1?
In Group 1 (Studies in Language and Literature), you'll explore the depths of your native language through various texts and literary works. Under group 1, these language courses can be further divided into:
- Language A: Literature
- Language A: Language and Literature
- Literature and Performance
The availability of these courses depends on your school. Languages offered in this group focus on widely spoken global languages. Here is how you should pick the languages:
- Pick your mother tongue; or
- Pick the language you are the most comfortable with.
These courses are designed to help you make a stronger connection with the language and its texts, showing your appreciation of literature, culture, and oral communication.
What subject to pick in Group 2?
In Group 2 (Language Acquisition), you'll be required to study a language other than your native one. Language acquisition can be divided into two levels:
- Ab Initio for students with little or no prior experience in the language
- Language B for those who already have some experience in
Schools usually offer both Ab Initio and Language B to cater for all students. To make an effective choice here:
- Consider your interest in the language
- See if there is a benefit to achieving certain native speaker certification through IB Group 2
For example, if you reach a final grade of 5 or above in English B Higher Level, you would have achieved the equivalent to an English first language from some University's intake requirement.
What subject to pick in Group 3?
All students must take a subject from this group (Individuals & Societies), with the option to take an additional subject by replacing one from Group 6. The subjects offered by this group are quite diverse:
- Business and Management
- Economics
- Geography
- Global Politics
- History
- Digital Society
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- World Religions
Group 3 is the group of humanities subjects and my advice is:
- Think about your passions and career pathway
If you are considering studying business and economics at University, it would be a good idea to choose either Economics or Business Management to build a foundation in commerce. Nonetheless, subjects in group 3 are extremely diverse and can open up to many career opportunities, so the takeaway message here would be to choose something that you are interested in.
What subject to pick in Group 4?
Group 4 (Sciences) covers the three main branches of science:
These 3 subjects examine how the world is shaped through theories, models and practices. IB science subjects also provide practical teaching in deriving experimental methods and applications of scientific methods in various contexts.
- If you are good at Math, Physics would be a good choice.
- If you're interested in understanding life forms, Biology is an excellent choice.
- If you are interested in the relationships between atoms, leading to chemical reactions and products, then Chemistry would be good.
- If you already know what you want to study later, for example, medicine, it can be advantageous for you to choose both Biology and Chemistry since most medicine courses require Chemistry and Biology as prerequisites.
Some schools may provide additional options for Group 4 subjects such as:
- Computer Science
- Design Technology
- Sports, Exercise, and Health Science
For students who are interested in science but do not find Physics, Chemistry or Biology to suit them the most, these additional choices are good alternatives for students to explore their interests and different career pathways.
Although subjects like computer science, design technology and sports, exercise, and health science are relatively new IB subjects (around a ten-year history), more Universities are recognising these subjects as prerequisites, and these subjects can also help with specific career pathways.
What subject to pick in Group 5: Mathematics?
Currently, in the IB, there are two distinct Mathematics courses designed to develop your mathematical and logical thinking skills, and students choose the respective course depending on their interests and abilities.
Not sure what the difference is between both maths? Check this article out:
Here are my tips for choosing either math:
- AI is perfect for students who want to pursue a career where mathematics is important but not essential, such as engineering. As the name suggests, the subject is designed for those who want to apply mathematical skills to real-world situations, making maths practical for everyday use.
- If you’re someone who does not have a huge passion for Mathematics, or Mathematics is not your strongest subject, Maths AI would be a better choice.
- Maths AA is geared towards students with a strong proficiency in maths, who enjoy exploring more challenging mathematical concepts and theoretical approaches.
- Maths AA is ideal for those planning to pursue careers that heavily rely on mathematical principles, such as Economics, Physics, or Computer Science.
- Also, an important note is that Maths AA could be a prerequisite subject for University courses that heavily rely on mathematical principles as described above, so be sure to check out the requirements for your respective course.
In my opinion, picking the suitable maths course requires detailed thinking and is not an easy decision. Before choosing the course, I consulted with my maths teacher to ensure my chosen course aligns with my strengths and interests so I suggest you do the same if you are unsure which course to pick from.
What subject to pick in Group 6?
Group 6 (Arts) offers a range of arts subjects, though students have the option to replace an arts subject with an additional course from Science, Individuals and Societies, or Language. This flexibility does not diminish the importance of the arts.
Subjects in this group foster a different mindset and approach compared to subjects from other groups, helping students adapt to various contexts and societies. The arts courses available include:
- Dance
- Music
- Film
- Theatre
- Visual Arts
Note the availability of these subjects can vary a lot by school, but each course offers a unique opportunity for students to connect with their audience and express their creative personas through different mediums.
Should I do SL or HL?
Students do not usually have to pick their standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) subjects until the end of your first year in IB, but it is good to keep thinking out your potential SL or HL subjects during your first year of IBDP.
Follow your passion, and do the subject that you enjoy but also don’t forget to consider the extra workload of the HL subjects that may be brought to you.
Conclusion
When you spend more time exploring the wide selection of subjects available in the IBDP, the ultimate rule of thumb is to consider your goals and how you want to approach your future. Spend some time researching your options, and consider the direction you want to take. If you are struggling with any content in class now, a tutor from KIS Academics can help you clarify any doubts you may have.
FAQs
How long should I plan for choosing subjects?
- From brainstorming to filling in the subject form, it took me more than half a month to figure out my decisions.
- It is a daunting decision and you may question yourself a lot, but ultimately, do not overthink it.
I’m unsure about my career pathway, what should I do?
- Instead of keeping your thoughts to yourself, I suggest you talk to your subject teachers, or career counsellor (if you have one at your school).
- They’re excellent resources and I believe they are really willing to help you map out your career direction together. So don’t be shy, talk to somebody else about it!
Are there any easy subjects in IB? If so, should I pick all the easier subjects to maximise my marks?
- The difficulty of IB subjects definitely vary as different disciplines will have different content covered. However, there is no subject that is necessarily easier than others.
- The most important thing to consider is which subjects will enhance your learning, and aid your future career pathway.
Written by KIS Academics Tutor for IB Maths AA SL, Chemistry HL and SL, Economics SL, Lai Yin Yip. Lai Yin is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedicine in the University of Melbourne. You can view Lai Yin’s profile here and request him as a tutor.
Looking for more tips to ace your IBs? Look no further: