IB
International Baccalaureate. A two-year college-prep program offering individual course exams or a comprehensive Diploma Programme.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a two-year college-preparatory curriculum taken in 11th and 12th grade. Students take six subjects (three at Higher Level, three at Standard Level), complete a 4,000-word Extended Essay, take Theory of Knowledge, and complete the Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS) requirement. Each subject is scored 1-7, with the full Diploma scored on a 45-point scale.
IB is widely respected for its breadth and rigor. Many colleges award college credit for Higher Level scores of 5 or higher. The full IB Diploma is a particularly strong admissions signal at selective universities, and most colleges that offer credit for IB Higher Level subjects will award the same credit as for an AP score of 4 or 5.
For parents whose teen attends an IB school, the practical question is whether to pursue the full Diploma or take individual IB courses. The full Diploma is harder but the strongest possible signal of rigor; individual courses still provide solid college-credit and rigor benefits.
Related terms
View all terms- APAdvanced Placement. College-level courses and exams offered in U.S. high schools by the College Board. Strong AP scores can earn college credit.
- Dual EnrollmentA program that lets high school students take college courses for both high school and college credit, often at a local community college.
- A-G RequirementsThe 15-course college-prep sequence required for admission to the University of California and California State University systems.