The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a two-year pre-university qualification accredited in over 5,000 schools across 160 countries. The programme combines six subject groups, three core requirements (the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service), and external examinations governed by the IB Organization in Geneva. The DP is recognised by universities worldwide as a rigorous alternative to A-Levels, AP, and national curricula. This hub covers DP subjects at Higher Level and Standard Level, the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, Internal Assessments, the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Primary Years Programme (PYP), and the writing scaffolds EssayFount writing experts produce for IB students worldwide.
Written by Henry Whitfield, Lead Writing Expert (Humanities and Languages). Reviewed by Naomi Alvarez, Lead Writing Expert (STEM and Engineering). Last reviewed 2026-04-24.
Why the IB Diploma Programme Stands Apart
The IB DP differs from A-Levels and AP in three structural ways that shape the student writing workload. First, every DP student studies six subjects rather than three or four, which spreads writing across a wider range of disciplines. Second, the core requirements (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS reflection) add roughly 5,000 words of additional written work over two years on top of subject coursework. Third, every subject has an Internal Assessment (IA) component graded by the classroom teacher and externally moderated, which means written work counts toward final grades in every subject including mathematics and the sciences.
The cumulative writing load is substantial. A typical DP student writes a 4,000-word Extended Essay, a 1,600-word Theory of Knowledge essay, three reflective CAS journal entries plus a final reflection, and six Internal Assessments ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 words each. Most DP students will produce more graded writing in the diploma years than they will in the first two years of university.
The Hexagon: Six Subject Groups
The IB hexagon requires students to choose one subject from each of six groups, with at least three (and at most four) studied at Higher Level (HL) and the remainder at Standard Level (SL). HL courses cover roughly 240 teaching hours over two years; SL courses cover roughly 150 hours.
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Students study their best language, typically the language of instruction at their school. Course options include Language A: Literature (focused on literary works in the chosen language), Language A: Language and Literature (combining literary and non-literary text analysis), and Literature and Performance (interdisciplinary with theatre, available at SL only). Assessment combines two written examinations (Paper 1 unseen text analysis, Paper 2 comparative essay on studied works), an Individual Oral (15-minute spoken commentary on a global issue across two studied texts), and an HL Essay (1,200 to 1,500 words on a literary or non-literary text studied in class).
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Students study an additional language at one of three levels: Language B for students with prior experience (HL or SL), Language ab initio for beginners (SL only), or Classical Languages (Latin or Classical Greek, HL or SL). Common Group 2 languages include French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, Japanese, Arabic, Russian, and Italian, but the IB authorises over 50 language options. Assessment combines reading and listening papers, a written paper, and an Individual Oral conducted with the teacher.
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 3 covers the social sciences and humanities. Subject options include History, Geography, Economics, Business Management, Psychology, Philosophy, Global Politics, Information Technology in a Global Society, Social and Cultural Anthropology, Environmental Systems and Societies (cross-listed with Group 4), World Religions (SL only), and Digital Society. Each subject combines two or three written papers with an Internal Assessment that varies by subject (a historical investigation, a geographic fieldwork report, an economic commentary on news articles, or a psychological experiment write-up).
Group 4: Sciences
Group 4 covers the experimental sciences. Subject options include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Design Technology, Sports, Exercise, and Health Science, and Environmental Systems and Societies. Each subject combines two or three written examinations (with multiple-choice, short-answer, and extended-response sections) with a Scientific Investigation IA (a 10-hour, 2,500-word individual investigation graded against five criteria: research design, data analysis, conclusion, evaluation, and communication). The Group 4 Project, an interdisciplinary collaborative activity, was retired in the 2025 syllabus revision.
Group 5: Mathematics
Mathematics offers two course pathways: Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (algebra-heavy, suited for students continuing in mathematics-intensive university programmes) and Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (statistics and modelling, suited for students in social sciences or natural sciences without mathematics intensification). Both courses are offered at HL and SL. Assessment combines two or three written papers (with and without graphical display calculator use) and a Mathematical Exploration IA (a 12 to 20 page individual investigation of a mathematical topic of the student's choosing).
Group 6: The Arts
Group 6 covers the creative and performing arts. Subject options include Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Film, and Dance. Students may substitute a second Group 3 or Group 4 subject in lieu of Group 6 if they prefer. Group 6 assessment combines portfolio work, performance or exhibition, and a research investigation of a theorist, performer, or artistic tradition.
The Three Core Requirements
The Extended Essay (EE)
The Extended Essay is a 4,000-word independent research essay on a topic of the student's choosing within one of the six DP subjects (or on an interdisciplinary topic under the World Studies category). Students develop the EE over the course of the diploma, supervised by a teacher who provides up to five hours of formal supervision plus three formal reflection sessions captured in the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form (RPPF).
EE grading uses a five-criterion rubric: focus and method (6 points), knowledge and understanding (6 points), critical thinking (12 points), presentation (4 points), and engagement (6 points), for a total of 34 points. The numerical score converts to a letter grade (A through E), and the EE grade combines with the TOK grade in a matrix that awards up to three bonus points toward the final IB total.
EssayFount writing experts support EE candidates with research question development, methodology selection, literature review construction, argument scaffolding, citation auditing, and final-draft revision. Subject pairings: history EEs go to Henry Whitfield's humanities desk, science EEs go to Naomi Alvarez's STEM desk, business management EEs go to Clara Bennett's social sciences desk, and so on. See the literature review format writing services for the lit review architecture and the citation styles guide writing services for IB-accepted citation styles (the IB accepts any consistent style; common choices are MLA 9 for humanities, APA 7 for social sciences, AMA or Vancouver for biomedical sciences, and IEEE for computer science).
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
The Theory of Knowledge course examines knowledge claims across disciplines through the lens of knowers, methods, and frameworks. The 2022 TOK syllabus revision introduced the core theme (Knowledge and the Knower) and five optional themes (Knowledge and Technology, Knowledge and Language, Knowledge and Politics, Knowledge and Religion, Knowledge and Indigenous Societies), plus five areas of knowledge (History, the Human Sciences, the Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and the Arts). Schools choose two optional themes for class study.
TOK assessment combines two components: the TOK Exhibition (an internal assessment in which the student selects three real-world objects and writes a 950-word commentary connecting them to a prescribed IA prompt) and the TOK Essay (a 1,600-word essay responding to one of six prescribed essay titles released by the IB six months before the May or November exam session).
Strong TOK essays do three things consistently: they engage the prescribed title precisely (rather than drifting into adjacent territory), they construct a sustained argument across at least two areas of knowledge with explicit transitions, and they incorporate concrete real-world examples that support theoretical claims. EssayFount writing experts produce TOK exhibition object commentaries, essay outlines, draft revisions, and citation audits.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
The CAS requirement extends across the diploma's two years and asks students to engage in creativity (arts, performance, creative thinking), activity (physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle), and service (unpaid voluntary work benefiting the community). Students complete approximately 18 months of CAS engagement, document seven learning outcomes through reflection, and complete at least one CAS Project (a longer-term collaborative activity). CAS is graded pass-fail; a failed CAS programme prevents diploma award regardless of subject grades.
Reflective writing for CAS is not graded for quality of prose but is required to document the seven learning outcomes. EssayFount supports CAS candidates with reflection scaffolds and the Gibbs reflective cycle structure that helps students surface the learning their CAS engagements produced. See the social work pillar for related reflective writing scaffolds drawn from helping-profession practicum contexts.
Internal Assessments by Subject Group
Group 1 IA: The Individual Oral
The Individual Oral (IO) is a 15-minute spoken commentary in which the student analyses how two extracts (one from a literary text and one from a non-literary text, both studied in class) relate to a global issue of the student's choosing. The IO is recorded and graded against four criteria. Preparation involves selecting the global issue, choosing the textual extracts, drafting analytical notes, and rehearsing the timing.
Group 3 IA: Subject-Specific
Group 3 IAs vary substantially by subject. The History IA is a 2,200-word historical investigation comprising a research question and identification of sources (Section 1), an investigation (Section 2), and a reflection on methods (Section 3). The Geography IA is a 2,500-word fieldwork report based on primary data the student collects. The Economics IA is a portfolio of three commentaries (800 words each) on news articles applying syllabus theory. The Psychology IA is a 2,200-word experimental write-up replicating a published study. The Business Management IA is a 1,800-word research project on a real organisation.
Group 4 IA: The Scientific Investigation
The Group 4 Scientific Investigation, introduced in the 2023 syllabus revision, is a 2,500-word individual investigation graded against five criteria: research design, data analysis, conclusion, evaluation, and communication. Students design and conduct an experimental, simulation-based, database-based, or hybrid investigation on a topic of their choosing within the syllabus, write the investigation up using the IMRaD-aligned IB format, and submit the work for teacher grading and external moderation. See the lab report format essay examples for the IMRaD structure that aligns with the Investigation report.
Group 5 IA: The Mathematical Exploration
The Mathematical Exploration is a 12 to 20 page individual investigation of a mathematical topic. The student selects the topic, frames it as a mathematical question, applies appropriate mathematical methods, communicates the work clearly, and reflects on the process. Topics range from applied probability in sports analytics to pure mathematics topics like fractal dimension or modular arithmetic. The Exploration is graded against five criteria: presentation, mathematical communication, personal engagement, reflection, and use of mathematics.
Group 6 IA: Portfolio and Process Work
Group 6 IAs are portfolio-based: Visual Arts students submit a comparative study, a process portfolio, and an exhibition; Music students submit a portfolio combining performance, composition, and a researched investigation; Theatre students submit research presentations, collaborative project documentation, and solo theatre piece work; Film students submit textual analysis, a film portfolio, and a collaborative film project.
Grade Bands and University Recognition
The Diploma Total
Each of the six subjects awards 1 to 7 points based on the combined external examination and Internal Assessment scores. A student's six subject grades therefore total a maximum of 42. The TOK and EE matrix awards up to 3 additional points (and can deduct points if both are scored as failing-condition E). The maximum diploma score is 45, the threshold for diploma award is 24 with no subject below 3 at HL or below 4 at any level (subject to detailed failing condition rules).
University Recognition
The IB DP is recognised at thousands of universities worldwide. UK universities issue conditional offers in IB-equivalent terms, often requiring totals of 36 to 40 with specific HL grades for competitive courses. US universities grant variable college credit for HL scores of 5 or higher (institution-dependent, typically 0 to 30 credits). Canadian universities recognise DP grades for admission and award course credit for HL scores. Australian universities convert IB scores to ATAR equivalents through state-by-state conversion tables. European universities in the IB's home territory accept the diploma directly.
The Middle Years Programme (MYP)
The Middle Years Programme spans ages 11 to 16 and bridges the PYP into the DP. MYP students study eight subject groups (the six DP groups plus separate Design and Physical and Health Education), complete Personal Project work in the final MYP year (typically Year 5, age 15 to 16), and may sit the MYP eAssessments for external certification. The MYP focuses on inquiry-based learning, conceptual understanding through Approaches to Learning skills, and global engagement through the Service as Action requirement.
MYP students writing personal projects, interdisciplinary unit work, or extended essay-style assignments benefit from EssayFount's research scaffolds and citation guidance. The transition from MYP to DP is often where students first encounter formal academic writing expectations; building writing fluency in the MYP years pays dividends in the DP.
The Primary Years Programme (PYP)
The Primary Years Programme spans ages 3 to 12 and organises learning around six transdisciplinary themes (Who we are, Where we are in place and time, How we express ourselves, How the world works, How we organise ourselves, Sharing the planet). PYP students conclude the programme with the PYP Exhibition, a collaborative inquiry project undertaken in the final PYP year (typically Year 6, age 11 to 12). EssayFount engagement at PYP level is rare; most academic writing assistance enters the picture from MYP onward.
How EssayFount Writing Experts Support IB Students
EE Supervision Companion
EssayFount writers work alongside the school-assigned EE supervisor rather than replacing the supervisor's role. Writers help students develop research questions that fit the EE rubric, build literature reviews against IB methodology criteria, draft and revise the essay against the five-criterion mark scheme, and audit citations for consistency. Final EE submission is the student's responsibility under the IB academic integrity framework.
TOK Essay and Exhibition Drafting
For the TOK essay, EssayFount produces outline scaffolds responding to the prescribed titles, model paragraphs that demonstrate area-of-knowledge analysis, and revision feedback against the four assessment criteria (understanding of knowledge questions, quality and effectiveness of analysis, evaluation of points of view, sustained argument). For the TOK exhibition, EssayFount writers help students select objects, draft commentary linking each object to the IA prompt, and revise the 950-word commentary to meet the format conventions.
Subject IA Support
Subject IAs are the highest-volume EssayFount IB engagement. The History IA, Geography IA, Economics IA portfolio, Psychology IA, Business Management IA, and Group 4 Scientific Investigation all benefit from structured outlining and revision against the published mark schemes. Mathematical Exploration support involves topic feasibility review and write-up clarity revision.
Group 1 Individual Oral Preparation
EssayFount supports IO candidates with global-issue selection, textual extract analysis, and analytical-note drafting. The IO is delivered live by the student; preparation can be supported but the spoken component is the student's own work.
The Two-Year DP Workflow
DP1 Term 1: Settling In
The first DP1 term focuses on subject orientation, initial assessments, and CAS engagement planning. EE topic exploration begins informally; formal supervisor assignment typically happens later in DP1.
DP1 Term 2: Internal Foundations
Most subjects begin Internal Assessment work in DP1 Term 2. Mathematical Exploration topic selection happens. EE supervisor pairings are confirmed; the EE research question is drafted. TOK introduces the core theme and the first optional theme.
DP1 Term 3: First IA Drafts
Group 4 Scientific Investigation experimental work begins. History IA research question selection happens. Economics IA portfolio commentary 1 is drafted. EE methodology and literature review draft. CAS Project plans confirmed.
DP2 Term 1: Heavy Drafting
Most IAs reach first-draft stage. EE first draft due in many schools. TOK exhibition objects selected, commentary drafted. Mock examinations begin in some subjects.
DP2 Term 2: Final Drafts and Mocks
IA final drafts due. EE final draft due. TOK exhibition completed. TOK essay prescribed titles released; essay drafting begins. Mock examinations across all subjects.
DP2 Term 3: Examinations
External examinations across all six subjects in May (or November for Southern Hemisphere schools). TOK essay submission. Final IA moderation. Diploma results published in early July (or January for November session).
Where to Begin
For EE topic development, TOK essay support, IA drafting, or general DP study guidance, brief a writer through the quote page writing guide. For broader study planning across the DP and pre-DP years, see the expert exam prep hub support for cross-curriculum exam preparation strategies and the flashcards hub coursework support for spaced-repetition study scaffolds. To browse the discipline pillars that align with DP subject groups, see the english literature pillar study materials for Group 1, the history research papers, economics writing guide, psychology coursework support, and political science research papers pillars for Group 3, the biology writing guide, chemistry, physics, and programming pillars for Group 4, the math pillar for Group 5, and the arts and media pillar for Group 6.