At a glance
- Ages
- 16 to 19, two years
- Subjects
- 6, usually 3 HL and 3 SL
- Core
- TOK, Extended Essay, CAS
- Points
- 1 to 7 per subject, up to 3 core; 45 maximum
- Pass
- 24 points plus all conditions
- Main exam session
- May (November in some schools)
What the IB Diploma is
The International Baccalaureate was founded in Geneva in 1968 to give internationally mobile students a consistent, high-quality education. Its Diploma Programme is the final stage of four IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP and the Career-related Programme) and is designed as a broad, demanding preparation for university.
The key difference from A-Levels is breadth. A DP student cannot drop maths, a language or a science: every student studies their own language and literature, a second language, a humanity or social science, a science, mathematics, and either an arts subject or a second choice from another group. On top of that sits the core, which develops research, critical thinking and life outside the classroom.
The six subject groups and the core
| Group or core | What it covers | Typical choices in Gulf schools |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Studies in language and literature | The student's best language | English A Language and Literature, English A Literature, Arabic A |
| 2. Language acquisition | An additional language | English B, French B, Spanish ab initio, Arabic B |
| 3. Individuals and societies | Humanities and social sciences | Economics, Business Management, History, Geography, Psychology |
| 4. Sciences | Experimental sciences | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, ESS |
| 5. Mathematics | One of two courses, SL or HL | Analysis and Approaches, Applications and Interpretation |
| 6. The arts | Or a second subject from groups 1 to 4 | Visual Arts, Music, Theatre, Film |
| Core: Theory of Knowledge | How we know what we claim to know | Essay and exhibition, graded A to E |
| Core: Extended Essay | Independent research paper of up to 4,000 words | Graded A to E |
| Core: CAS | Creativity, activity, service over 18 months | Must be completed; no points |
Schools choose which subjects to offer. The usual pattern is three HL and three SL subjects; HL courses have more content and more teaching time.
How the 45 points add up
| Part | Scale | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Six subjects | 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest) each | Up to 42 |
| TOK and EE combined | Each graded A to E, combined on an IB matrix | Up to 3 |
| Total | Up to 45; 24 is the minimum for the diploma |
Reaching 24 points is necessary but not sufficient: the diploma is also withheld if CAS is incomplete, if TOK or the EE is graded E, if a subject is graded 1, or if too few points come from HL or SL subjects. The full list is in the IB's general regulations, and the IB coordinator at school can explain them.
How the IB Diploma is assessed
Every subject combines external assessment, mainly written exams at the end of the second year, with internal assessment, such as the science investigation, the maths exploration or the English individual oral, marked by teachers and moderated by the IB. Internal assessment typically counts for 20 to 30 percent of a subject grade, so it is worth real marks, not just a box to tick.
Most schools in the Gulf sit the May exam session at the end of Year 13 or Grade 12, with results published in early July. A smaller number of schools use the November session. Because university applications are made before the exams, schools issue predicted grades in the autumn of the final year, based on mocks, internal assessment drafts and class work.
The IB Diploma in the Gulf
In Dubai, KHDA describes two common models: dedicated IB schools that run the PYP and MYP before the DP, and UK curriculum schools that offer the IB Diploma or Career-related Programme in the sixth form as an alternative to A-Levels and BTEC. The same mix appears in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah, where IB World Schools are mostly international and bilingual private schools.
KHDA notes that IB qualifications are accepted by universities in over 100 countries, that leading universities often look for 40 or more points, and that strong HL scores can earn credit or advanced placement in the US, Canada and parts of Europe. UAE and Saudi universities accept the diploma under their own equivalency rules.
What parents often get wrong
- Choosing HL subjects by preference alone. University courses set HL requirements, for example HL Mathematics Analysis and Approaches for many engineering and economics degrees.
- Treating internal assessments as homework. They are a fixed share of the final grade and drafts feed predicted grades.
- Leaving the Extended Essay and TOK to the last term. A poor E grade in either can withhold the whole diploma regardless of subject points.
- Assuming Maths AA SL and AI SL are interchangeable. Some university courses accept only one of them.
How one-to-one tutoring fits the IB Diploma
IB students rarely need help with everything. They need targeted help with one or two HL subjects, with the step up in Maths AA or AI, or with the assessed writing tasks: the TOK essay, the Extended Essay research question and structure, or an internal assessment. A tutor who teaches the same subject and level works through the IB command terms, practises past paper questions against the published markbands, and gives feedback on drafts within the IB's rules on authenticity.
LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, in our own online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard. Tell us the subject and level when you book, and we match a tutor who teaches the IB course.
Common questions
What is a good IB Diploma score?
24 is the minimum for the diploma. Many selective universities ask for 36 to 40 or more, often with specific HL grades such as 7, 6, 6.
Is the IB harder than A-Levels?
It is broader rather than harder. IB students keep six subjects plus the core, while A-Level students go deeper in three. Students with strong, balanced profiles tend to do well in the IB; those with one clear passion may prefer A-Levels.
Can my child get IB certificates without the full diploma?
Yes. Students can take individual DP courses and receive course results, which universities may accept. KHDA notes these course certificates still have value for applications.
When does the IB publish results?
For the May session, results are usually released in early July. The IB confirms the exact date each year.
How much does IB tutoring cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson for every subject and level, including HL subjects, TOK and Extended Essay support, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial, one per household.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.