Choosing IB Diploma Subjects: A Parent's Guide to the Six Groups

Your child is about to pick their IB Diploma subjects, and every adult has an opinion. Before you compare options, learn how the choice is built. Once you know the structure, the conversation moves from "which subjects are best" to "which combination fits my child and the courses they may want".

The structure: six groups plus a core

The IB describes the Diploma Programme curriculum as the DP core and six subject groups. The core has three required parts: theory of knowledge, the extended essay, and creativity, activity, service. The six groups are studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts.

Your child normally studies one subject from each group, six in all. The IB also allows a student to take an additional subject from sciences, individuals and societies, or languages instead of an arts subject. So the arts group is the one place where the structure gives some room.

A few subjects are marked by the IB as interdisciplinary, for example Literature and performance, Language and culture, and Environmental systems and societies. One of these can meet the requirement for two groups, and the student then picks another subject to complete the six. Ask the school whether it offers any of them before building a plan around one.

Higher level and standard level: how many of each

Each student takes at least three and at most four subjects at higher level (HL). The rest are at standard level (SL). The IB says standard level subjects take up 150 teaching hours and higher level 240. HL and SL differ in scope, but both are measured against the same grade descriptors. At HL students are expected to show a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills.

In plain terms, an HL subject asks for roughly 60 percent more teaching time than an SL one. Three HL subjects alongside the core is already a heavy load for many students, and four is heavier. Ask your child which subjects they would still enjoy in month eighteen, not only in week one.

Start from the university course, then work back

The IB advises families to look at the universities and degree programmes that interest the student and note their specific entry requirements. Many universities use three terms. Required subjects usually come with minimum grades. Preferred subjects are not required but can give your application an edge. Recommended subjects are not required but build a good base for the course.

Write these three words next to each course your child is considering. A required subject at HL decides one slot in the combination. A preferred subject is a tie-breaker. Check the requirement on each university's own page, because requirements change and the IB itself tells students to confirm them with individual universities.

What the IB says to check, group by group

Languages: if you plan to apply to a university with language requirements, check whether your child's languages cover them, and whether the university wants a Language A or a Language B subject. If a visa is involved, check its language requirement too.

Individuals and societies: the IB says entry requirements for these subjects tend to be flexible, unless the degree is a single honours programme such as history, where history may be required at HL.

Sciences: check that your child's science subjects fit the universities on the list, and ask whether those universities accept Environmental systems and societies, Sports, exercise and health science, or Computer science for the course in question.

Mathematics: check the mathematics course against the course requirements. Our guide to IB maths covers the four options in detail.

The arts: check whether the universities you are interested in consider arts subjects. The IB notes this is rarely a problem, but gives Swiss universities as an example where it needs checking, in which case a subject from another group may be the safer choice.

The medicine catch for families in India

The IB's own guidance says that for medicine, a few countries, such as India, Pakistan and some Scandinavian countries, will require three science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics or mathematics). It tells those students to consider the non-regular Diploma and to discuss it with the guidance counsellor or university careers counsellor. The IB's example subject choices include a "medic (non-regular diploma)" combination with Physics, Chemistry and Biology all at HL.

If your child may go for medicine, raise this at the very first subject-choice meeting, not after the combination is fixed. Ask the school whether it offers the non-regular route and ask the entrance examination or university concerned what it currently accepts. We have not checked any current Indian admission rule for this article, so do not treat it as one.

See what real combinations look like

The IB publishes example subject choices to show the range. They are labelled the engineer, the creative, the medic, the social scientist and the linguist. Each shows six subjects with levels, plus an extended essay topic. The IB says these are a small selection of the many combinations students choose. Use them to see how a combination hangs together, not as a template to copy.

Questions to ask the school

• Which subjects do you offer in each group, and which will actually run for our batch? Are there timetable or minimum-class-size conditions?
• Do you offer any interdisciplinary subjects, and is the non-regular Diploma route available?
• Can my child change a subject after starting, and until when?
• How many of your students take three HL subjects and how many take four? How do they cope with the workload?
• Which universities have your recent graduates joined, and what subject combinations did they use?

What to do this week

Make one page. List two or three courses your child might apply for. Under each, write the required, preferred and recommended subjects from the university's own page. Then sit with your child, the counsellor and, if possible, one teacher of each shortlisted subject and draft a combination with three or four HL subjects. The goal is a choice your child can explain and keep up for two years, with its limits understood.

Official sources read on 15 October 2026. University and entrance requirements change, so confirm each one directly with the institution. This guide does not replace advice from your child's school counsellor.