Founded in Switzerland in 1968, the International Baccalaureate is a globally respected educational framework, currently implemented by over 5,800 schools in more than 160 countries. The IB curriculum aims to form global citizens from an early age. This is the core strength of the IB Diploma: it provides a holistic education, designed with the future in mind by preparing students for a job market where the entire world is a workplace. IB students are empowered to identify and connect with opportunities across the broadest range of possibilities.

Unlike traditional curricula, the IB is designed to nurture critical thinking, international-mindedness, and the ability to operate effectively in multicultural contexts by promoting values such as social responsibility, empathy, and global citizenship. The IB fosters inquiry, interdisciplinary dialogue, intellectual autonomy, and holistic development. It emphasizes both academic rigor and the strengthening of social-emotional skills, equipping young people to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.

The IB is a program with clearly defined standards, and more than just meeting academic requirements, it prepares students to become global citizens with the ability to make an impact at the local level. It develops individuals who think critically, apply what they learn, and actively engage in meaningful projects that make a real difference in their communities and around the world—ready to thrive in diverse cultural settings.

The program is structured in three stages according to student age: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for early education, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for middle school, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for high school. Globally recognized as a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is designed to nurture critical, empathetic, and courageous thinkers—individuals willing to take risks and contribute to building a more just and equitable world.

The IB offers a gateway for universities in the US, UK and other countries, as it is currently accepted by thousands of colleges and universities worldwide. As a reference, the IB world schools yearbook showcases the recent developments in the curriculum and the list of schools around the globe - it may be downloaded here.

The philosophy behind IB

At the heart of the IB’s philosophy is the development of the IB Learner Profile—a set of ten attributes that guide students to become principled, thoughtful, and engaged individuals. IB learners are inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These traits promote core human values and empower students to act with awareness and purpose in the world. The IB learner profile can be downloaded here.

For the Diploma Programme, the program offers a selection of over 40 subjects, from which students must choose at least six, covering areas such as Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts. Each subject is available at two levels of rigor: Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). In addition to regular classes, students complete original written work, engage in interdisciplinary projects, and take final exams that are assessed by external examiners. At the end of the program, they may earn one of two types of certification: individual subject certificates or the full IB Diploma. To receive the full diploma, students must earn at least 24 out of a possible 45 points—a score that already qualifies them to apply to universities both in Brazil and abroad.

The IB Learner Profile gives students a distinct advantage over traditional educational models, especially in a world that is changing rapidly. While conventional schooling often focuses on content mastery and exam performance, the IB goes further: it cultivates a set of traits that prepare students to adapt, lead, and thrive in unpredictable environments.

The Diploma Program in IB

As mentioned before, the IB is offered on four different programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for early education, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for middle school, the Diploma Programme (DP) for high school and the Career-related programme (CP).

The Diploma Programme (DP), for students aged 16-19, started in 1968 with first examinations in 1970 and is now offered by 3,822 IB World Schools (as of October 2024). In May 2023, around 179,000 students participated in the DP exam session. Taking an International Baccalaureate DP curriculum is one of the strongest academic pathways for students aiming to enter schools abroad, whether at the high school level (transfers and exchanges) or at universities and colleges.

As it will be mentioned later, the IB curriculum is recognized by over 5000 universities worldwide. Many admissions officers abroad are already familiar with IB grading and rigor, so families don’t need to “translate” the transcript like they might with a local curriculum. Also, most IB programmes are taught in English, and students are also required to study a second language, which is a big plus for schools abroad where bilingualism is valued.

Many universities, especially in the United States, offer IB students university credit and/or placement in advanced-level courses when they enroll, reducing the time required to complete a degree and the cost of tuition. These are some of the main reasons the IB is being implemented by hundreds of schools each year.

The IBDP curriculum

The IBDP curriculum is one of several internationally recognised programmes that offer a holistic education. It is valued for its breadth, its emphasis on inquiry and international-mindedness, and its academic rigour. The IB Diploma Programme follows a distinctive and comprehensive curriculum model that balances breadth with depth of learning.

Students have a wide range of subjects to choose from within each of the six subject groups, allowing them to tailor their studies to their individual interests, strengths, and future aspirations.

Mandatory to all IB students, there's the DP core: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE) and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) are part of what make the IB so unique. More on them later.

The IB DP programme is demanding, however its structure also allows flexibility, and each of the required components and six subjects are excellent preparation for future study at universities and other higher education institutions.

When entering IB DP, students must choose one subject from each group (except in certain cases where they can replace Group 6 with another subject from Groups 1–4):

More on the IBDP curriculum: TOK, EE and CAS

The EE, TOK, and CAS are part of the IBDP core curriculum. They are what admissions tutors at top universities rave about: they demonstrate the skills of an independent, thoughtful, and engaged student.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

TOK is the course that teaches you how to think, not what to think. It invites you to question how knowledge is created, shaped, and challenged by asking one powerful question: “How do you know what you know?”. Students learn to evaluate evidence, analyse claims, and compare different perspectives across subjects and real-life situations—skills that are invaluable at university and beyond.

The Extended Essay (EE)

The Extended Essay is your chance to become a researcher. You choose a topic you’re genuinely interested in and explore it in depth through a 4,000-word independent research paper, guided by a supervisor. A mini-thesis, in essence. Along the way, you’ll learn how to formulate a research question, evaluate sources, and write in an academic style—essential skills for university. For many students, the EE is their first real taste of higher-level research and a strong preparation for undergraduate study.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

CAS is the heart of the IB experience, where learning moves beyond the classroom and into real life. Through creative projects, physical activity, and meaningful service, you are encouraged to grow as a person—not just as a student. Rather than focusing on grades, CAS is about initiative, commitment, and reflection. You will develop skills like leadership, teamwork, and empathy while making a genuine impact on your community. It is also a chance to explore your passions, try new challenges, and create experiences that are both personally rewarding and highly valued by universities.

How the students are assessed in IBDP

The IB uses a mix of external and internal assessments to measure both knowledge and skills.

External Assessments (≈ 70–80% of subject grade)

• Conducted at the end of the two-year programme.
• Include written exams, taken in May or November.
• Some subjects also have other externally marked components (e.g., oral exams in languages, portfolios in Visual Arts, recordings for Music).
• Examples:
• Sciences: Written papers, plus sometimes a data analysis component.
• Languages: Written papers and oral examinations.
• Individuals & Societies (e.g., Economics, History): Essays and structured questions.
• Mathematics: Written papers (with and without calculators) worth 80% of their grade.

Internal Assessments (≈ 20–30% of subject grade)

• Completed during the two years of study.
• Designed and assessed by the classroom teacher, but externally moderated by the IB to ensure global consistency.
• Tailored to the subject:
• Sciences: Practical investigations/lab work.
• Mathematics: Mathematical exploration.
• Languages: Oral assessments.
• History: Historical investigation.
• Visual Arts: Art portfolio and exhibition.

Grading System

• Each subject is graded from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest).
• Students take 6 subjects, so the maximum from subjects alone is 42 points.
• Up to 3 additional points can be earned from the Core (see below), making the maximum possible IB score 45 points.

Diploma Award Criteria

• Achieve at least 24 points out of 45.
• CAS requirements are met.
• A grade has been awarded in all subjects, TOK and the EE.
• A grade of at least a 2 has been awarded in all subjects.
• There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (SL or HL).
• There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (SL or HL).
• The candidate has at least 12 points on HL subjects. (For candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
• Candidates have at least 9 points on SL subjects. (Candidates who register for two SL subjects must be awarded at least 5 points at SL).
• More on the passing criteria here

On IB Math

The IB market currently serves over 2 million students worldwide—and continues to grow. Yet, there remains a significant gap in specialized, high-quality support for IB Math. The IB’s ambitions are extraordinary—but in practice, many students and parents find themselves facing a gap between those ambitions and day-to-day reality.

• IB Math is one of the most challenging components of the programme, demanding deep conceptual understanding, strong problem-solving skills, and exam technique that even top-performing students may not have mastered.
• Teachers—often juggling large classes and multiple responsibilities—cannot always give the individualized, high-quality attention every student needs to excel.
• As a result, capable students underperform, stress levels rise, and the broader educational goals of the IB risk being overshadowed by the struggle to “just get through” the course.

Our projects close that gap. By providing specialized, high-quality, and structured IB Math support at every stage of the student journey—from pre-IB preparation to final exams—we ensure that students:

• Build the solid foundations needed to excel in assessments.
• Develop efficient study systems that free up time for other demanding IB subjects.
• Approach exams with confidence, knowing exactly how to meet IB criteria.

For parents, this means peace of mind, knowing their child is receiving targeted, expert guidance in the toughest subject of the IB Diploma. For students, it means higher grades, less stress, and the ability to fully embrace the IB’s vision—not just survive it.

IB Math internal and external assessments

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The different options besides the IB (mainly AP courses)

The International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) programs are both rigorous academic paths that prepare students for university-level work, but they differ significantly in philosophy, structure, and scope. While both are respected by universities around the world, the IB offers a far more holistic and globally minded approach to education, whereas the AP program focuses more narrowly on subject-specific achievement.

AP is widely available in the United States and allows students to take individual courses—such as AP Calculus or AP Biology—based on their interests and strengths. It’s flexible and efficient for students who want to demonstrate mastery in specific subjects and potentially earn college credit. However, AP lacks a cohesive educational framework. There’s no unifying philosophy or required core, meaning students can graduate with a series of disconnected academic experiences rather than a comprehensive, integrated education.

The IB Diploma Programme, on the other hand, is a two-year curriculum rooted in balance, reflection, and international-mindedness. Students are required to study six subjects across diverse disciplines—language, science, math, humanities, the arts—and complete a rigorous core that includes the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, an extended essay (EE), and a creativity-activity-service (CAS) project. This structure encourages students to make connections across fields, develop independent thinking, and engage with the world beyond the classroom. As a result, IB graduates emerge not only academically prepared but also ethically grounded, socially engaged, and intellectually curious.

In short, while AP may allow students to excel in specific academic areas, the IB goes further—cultivating the whole student. It challenges them to explore the intersection of disciplines, think critically about global issues, and reflect on their learning in meaningful ways. For families and educators looking to develop not just capable test-takers, but capable citizens of the world, the IB stands out as a truly transformative educational experience.

More on the rigor of the IB curriculum

The IB Diploma Programme has a reputation for being one of the most challenging pre-university curriculums in the world—and that’s not by accident. Its design pushes students academically, intellectually, and personally, preparing them for the demands of higher education.

• Breadth and depth at the same time
• The core requirements add extra pressure
• Rigorous internal and external assessments
• Time management is non-negotiable
• Intellectual challenge and critical thinking
• Emotional and mental resilience

The IB Diploma isn’t just hard because of the volume of work, but because it demands breadth, depth, independence, and reflection all at once. That’s why universities worldwide respect it: they know IB graduates can handle complex workloads and think critically under pressure. That comes with a price, which is a lot of effort on part of the students. There is no lack of criticism about the rigor of the IB curriculum in online communities such as Reddit, where students share their challenges and frustrations.

Resources

• The IB DP through the lens of students and educators (video)
• IB learner profile (pdf)
• IB world schools’ yearbook 2025 (pdf)

(This page was last updated in Aug/25)