How to Choose IB Subjects: The Complete Guide (In 2023)

March 20, 2023

how to choose ib subjects

Choosing the best IB subjects can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. So, we’ve put this guide together to help you learn how to choose the right discipline within the IB diploma program.

Key Takeaways

  • IB requires its students to pick and complete a course from each of the six subject groups.
  • The six subject groups are language and acquisition, language and literature, sciences, arts, mathematics, and individuals and societies.
  • One of the benefits of choosing and completing the right IB subjects is that you get the opportunity to earn college credits. But that’s on the condition that you earn high scores on your test.

Before we begin, it’s important to understand that the subject combination that you choose can have an impact on the course option at college level.

To access the best course option, you have to get your IB subject selection right.

How to Choose IB Subjects without Trying So Hard

There are many reasons why some students claim IB is difficult, and we believe that it partly comes down to subject selection.

If anything, you don’t have to make the same mistake that many IB students make, which is to choose subjects randomly to meet the requirements of the program.

Here’s how to choose IB subjects instead:

1. Determine What Your Interests Are 

When deciding which IB subjects to consider, the most important rule is to identify your interests. Consider both your experiences and what you would like to explore, even if you haven't studied it before.

Take a moment to reflect on your high school years and identify the things that you were most passionate about and why.

Ask yourself questions like:

  • Do I have a natural inclination towards Economics?
  • Have I always been interested in learning new languages in addition to what I already know?
  • Do I have passion for Biology? 
  • Do I find the study of organisms and their life cycle fascinating? 
  • Do I find yourself constantly delving into historical and current issues from around the world?

It may take some time to figure things out, but it's worth spending enough time to choose the IB subject combination that best aligns with your interests.

2. What Do You Love Studying?

Perhaps during your high school years, you found a subject or group of subjects that piqued your interest and you eagerly anticipated each upcoming lesson.

You may have even taken the initiative to study these subjects outside of class and had a strong desire to delve deeper into the material.

If this sounds like you, narrowing down your options for HLs and SLs in the IB program should be a straightforward process.

3. Consult with Your Teacher

Although some students may avoid seeking advice from their teachers when selecting IB diploma program subjects, teachers can offer valuable insight.

As they have been with you throughout high school, they are familiar with your strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, they can provide the guidance you need to make the right decision as far as subject selection go.

Additionally, your teachers are knowledgeable about the requirements of IB subjects in their respective fields. As such, seeking their advice can inspire and guide you towards selecting the appropriate IB subjects and ensuring a successful two-year diploma course.

4. Choose Subjects that Connect to the Extended Essay

We’ve published a number of helpful blog posts on Extended Essay. Some of the top examples on Help for Assessment include:

And there’s so much more.

Ideally, we’ve made these guides available for the simple reason that we would like to help you complete the EE on time, score better grades, and earn the IB diploma.

The Extended Essay is a long, 4,000-word essay that requires you to do individual research on a particular subject and present your findings with a given period.

Beyond testing your research skills, the EE assignment in IB will give you a clear picture of the type of research to expect at college level, thus giving you the opportunity to investigate related areas of interest.

Therefore, when it comes to selecting IB subjects, it’s important to do so from a subject group that you can connect to the EE. If the subjects allow you to look deeper into research topics and train you to perfect your writing skills, they make a good fit for you.

Get Help with Your IB Assignments

Here’s the deal:

Choosing the IB subjects to study is one thing. Studying every field from your selection is a completely different thing altogether.

As you pursue the two-year diploma course, you’ll have sit through hours of classes, complete an array of assignments, and write two essays, all which will contribute towards your final grades and  persuasion of the IB diploma.

To be precise, you’ll have to complete:

  • The Theory of Knowledge Essay
  • CAS project
  • A ToK Exhibition
  • An Extended Essay
  • Internal Assessments

If anything, these assignments are going to be too overwhelming to complete in one sitting. And you just might feel as if you want to give up on the course altogether.

However, you can get professional online assignment help to ease the difficulty of some of these subjects. With the help of qualified and expert academic writers online, you can get a clear understanding for some of the most difficult concepts taught in IB.

You can take advantage of our writing help and get these papers written and completed on time. 

The team at Help for Assessment has been in the writing industry for over 5 years. More importantly, we do understand the ins and outs of the IB curriculum, making us the right team to hire to get your work done fast. 

Order today and benefit from the convenience of a writing service that makes IB less straining and equally interesting.  

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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