Every year, sophomores are tasked with crafting their junior year schedules and making important decisions regarding the trajectory of their post-secondary learning. Becoming a full International Baccalaureate diploma student can open up opportunities to many students looking to go to college. But, what is the IB program? Is it the right fit for you?
Summit High School offers a variety of IB classes.
By Sonnet Renoux
Nov. 23, 2024
What is IBDP?
The IBDP program is a two-year curriculum that aims to prepare 16 to 19-year-old students for college and university. IB stands for International Baccalaureate, and DP stands for Diploma Program. The diploma program offers college level courses, and is part of the bigger IB program, which includes the primary years program (PYP), and the middle years program (MYP), which is completed sophomore year. This series of classes and projects is implemented in 143 countries around the world.
The IBDP program opens doors for students looking to stand out in the college admissions process, especially to highly competitive schools, and international universities. For more information on college applications, visit Josie Speerstra’s article on, College applications 101: everything you need to know (or not).
Requirements to receive the diploma
In order to receive the IB diploma upon graduation, you must fulfill five important requirements.
First, you must take six classes across five subject groups: studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, and mathematics. You must take a class from each group, and the sixth class can be taken as part of subject groups three, four, and five, or it can be an IB art class such as music or theater. Students must complete a minimum of three high level (HL) subjects, but no more than four.
Group | Classes | Description |
Group 1: Studies in language and literature | Language A: literature Language A: language and literature Literature and performance | These classes are taught in the student’s first language. |
Group 2: Language acquisition | Classical languages Language AB initio Language B | These classes are taught in the student’s second language, or a language that they are just beginning to learn. |
Group 3: Individuals and societies | Business management Digital society Economics Geography Global politics History Language and culture Philosophy Psychology Social and cultural anthropology World religions | These classes are part of the humanities area. |
Group 4: Sciences | Biology Chemistry Computer science Design technology Environmental systems and societies Physics Sports, exercise and health science | These classes explore science. |
Group 5: Mathematics | Analysis and approaches Applications and interpretations | These classes explore math. |
Group 6: Arts OR another subject from groups 3, 4, or 5 | Dance Film Music Theatre Visual arts OR A class from group 3, 4, or 5 | Students may fulfill the six subject requirement by taking an arts subject, or by taking a class from either group 3, 4, or 5. |
Example full DP schedule #1
Group 1: IB English HL
Group 2: IB Spanish HL
Group 3: IB HOTA HL
Group 4: IB Environmental systems and societies SL
Group 5: IB Math analysis and approaches SL
Group 6: IB Psychology SL
TOK (one semester)
Example full DP schedule #2
Group 1: IB English HL
Group 2: IB Spanish SL
Group 3: IB HOTA HLGroup 4: IB Biology HL
Group 5: IB Math applications and interpretations SL
Group 6: IB Environmental systems and societies SL
TOK (one semester)
Other requirements needed to fulfill the program include the Extended Essay (EE), a 4,000 word research paper; the Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) project, a community service project; and the Theory of Knowledge class, which is offered at SHS.
Pros to being a full DP student
The IBDP program does have its positives. Specifically, the program has shown to prepare students to be successful and resourceful in college and university. The challenges that come with being a full DP student have shown to better prepare students for problems they may encounter in the future.
According to ibo.org, “Recent research on DP students in the US, shows that 79.7% of DP course students enroll in university immediately after high school. These students are also more likely to persist in university, with 85.4% of students continuing on to their second year at university”
The students in the diploma program learn important skills through their Theory of Knowledge class and CAS project.
Cons to being a full DP student
Numerous individuals refer to the IB/DP program as exceedingly demanding. The course requires students to have well-organized time management. Studying and research are essential tools needed for all IB classes.
Unfortunately, the IBDP program has little flexibility, as the course syllabus is very rigorous and rigid. This can cause extensive stress and burden on students who choose to enter the program. The workload includes various forms of writing, analyzing, and researching, all of which are thrown together to form projects like presentations, essays, and exams.
Advice from full DP students
SHS student and junior, Kate Eldredge, made the leap into full DP this year. “I realized that it could only serve me in the future,” she said. “I wanted to have a rigorous and meaningful course load that would carry me into a great postsecondary education career.”
“Have discipline and be patient with yourself,” she advises to students following a similar path. “It is vital that you determine what your true priorities are and make a plan for how you are going to succeed without feeling overworked or burnt out.”
Likewise, senior Jesse Wiono made the decision his junior year. “DP is great for preparing students for college and the real world,” he shares. Jesse suggests, “Stay on top of work, respect your teachers, and do what’s expected of you! Don’t slack off.”
So, if you are planning on going full DP, be aware of the challenges and pressure that come with each class. However, remember the magnitude of these skills and how they’ll ultimately prepare you for the future. Although it’s not the end of the world, the decision of entering full DP is a significant one.
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