The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), was established in 1968 with its headquarters in Switzerland and course and exam centers located in Cardiff, United Kingdom. The IB program offers a comprehensive learning experience for students aged 3 to 19, aiming to develop students’ overall competence in intelligence, emotions, personal development, and social skills, enabling them to possess comprehensive capabilities for learning, working, and surviving in the world. The IB program, along with A-Levels, VCE, AP, is recognized as one of the four major global high school curriculum systems.

The IB program is widely recognized globally, with over 3000 universities currently acknowledging its graduates’ qualifications. The program is acclaimed as the world’s best pre-university high school program, and its diploma is recognized as one of the highest standards of high school diplomas globally.

The IB program is not based on the curriculum of any specific country but is a standalone program that absorbs the strengths of mainstream curriculum systems from various developed countries, covering the core content of these systems. Therefore, the IB program is compatible with the mainstream education curriculum systems of various countries and has developed unique features based on its educational philosophy.

Curriculum Content

• 3-12 years: IB PYP Primary School Program

The IB PYP Primary School Program adopts a student-centered teaching approach, aiming to cultivate young learners into loving and actively engaged lifelong learners. The curriculum includes six subjects: language, social studies, mathematics, arts, personal education, social education, physical education, and five elements: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes, and actions. Assessment methods include collaborative interdisciplinary research project presentations and teacher assessments in the final year.

• 11-16 years: IB MYP Middle School Program

The IB MYP Middle School Program is designed as a challenging framework that encourages students to establish practical connections between learning and the real world. The curriculum includes eight subjects: language acquisition (foreign language), language and literature (mother tongue), mathematics, arts, individuals and societies, physical education, design, science, and five areas: approaches to learning, community and service, health and social education, environment, and human creativity. Assessment methods include teacher assessments, involving solving open-ended new problems, investigations, organized debates, hands-on experiments, analysis, and feedback.

• 15-19 years: IB DP High School Program

The IB DP High School Program aims to cultivate students with excellent breadth and depth of knowledge who thrive in physical, intellectual, emotional, and moral aspects. The curriculum includes six academic areas: language A1 (mother tongue) and world literature, language B (modern language other than mother tongue), individuals and societies, experimental sciences, mathematics, arts, and three core elements: theory of knowledge, creativity, action and service, and the extended essay. Assessment is through globally unified exams, with the IB headquarters coordinating the setting and marking of papers.

Exam and Grading Standards

To obtain the IB DP High School Diploma, students need to study courses in six different subjects, with three of them being at the Higher Level (HL). Each course’s maximum score is 7 points, plus an additional 3 points for the extended essay and theory of knowledge essay, making a total of 45 points. The passing score is 24 points, and for applying to top universities, a score of 40 or above is required.

Exam Time

Students holding an IB high school diploma can directly apply to universities in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc. Almost all European and American universities accept IB scores, including top universities like Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, etc. Many prestigious schools offer preferential policies for IB students, such as credit transfer, outstanding students directly taking sophomore courses, etc.

Suitable for Students

The IB program is suitable for students with strong learning abilities, good at managing study time, emphasizing balanced development, requiring a high level of English proficiency, and suitable for students with strong thinking abilities.