International Baccalaureate
Choosing the subjects
In IB, every student has to choose at least 6 subjects. Three or four of them are
usually higher-level subjects ( each takes up 6 x 45 minutes a week), while the
remaining ones are standard-level subjects (each takes up 4 x 45 minutes a
week).
Plenty of subjects are available, but there are some unusual ones that every IB
school does not necessarily offer. It is important to remember that each student
has to choose at least one subject in each category. However, it is possible to
opt to study an additional subject from a different group, by resigning from arts.
IB subjects list with categories
The ones coloured red may not be offered in most public schools, due to their
unpopularity. In such cases, students can still choose them, but only in the
Pamoja course form, which is completely online and requires many additional
payments.
Category Subjects offered
● Language A: literature
● Language A: language and
Studies in language and literature
literature
● Literature and performance
● Classical languages
● Language Ab initio (studied
Language acquisition
from scratch)
● Language B
● Business management
● Digital society
● Economics
● Geography
● Global politics
Individuals and societies ● History
● Language and culture
● Philosophy
● Psychology
● Social and cultural
anthropology
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International Baccalaureate
● World religions
● Biology
● Chemistry
● Computer science
● Design technology
● Environmental systems and
Sciences
societies
● Physics
● Sports, exercise and health
science
● Analysis and approaches
● Applications and interpretation
(this subject is often considered
Mathematics easier and more useful than the
other one. Unfortunately, some
universities only accept
analysis and approaches)
● Dance
● Film
● Music
Arts
● Theatre
● Visual arts
An exemplary subject list may look like this one:
1. Polish A- language and literature (standard level)
2. English B (higher level)
3. Economics (standard level)
4. Biology (higher level)
5. Analysis and interpretation (standard level)
6. Chemistry (chosen instead of arts) (higher level)
Students are allowed to choose a seventh subject from any group. However, it is
said to be very exhausting and often unnecessary.
Mandatory subjects
Besides the chosen subjects, IB students must complete three additional
components to receive a full diploma.
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International Baccalaureate
● Creativity, activity, service (students do something creative, active and
good-willed, for three hours a week in total. Detailed documentation is
necessary after each week. )
● The extended essay (students write an essay on any topic connected to
one of the chosen subjects.)
● Theory of knowledge (this subject takes up to two hours every week. To
pass it, students prepare an exhibition and a 1600-word essay).
International Baccalaureate grades
Grades in IB are quite messy. Each subject's final grade depends on multiple
exams with different percentage divisions. Therefore, it is important to research
certain subjects’ grading details.
Students receive a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 7 for each subject on their
diploma. Six subjects’ results are counted, which gives a maximum of 42 points.
The remaining three come from successful TOK projects and a well-written
extended essay.
Additional information
In case you need any further information, the official IB website may come in
handy: https://www.ibo.org/
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