The International Baccalaureate (IB) Explained: PYP, MYP, DP and CP

For expatriate families, choosing a school system is one of the most consequential decisions of an international move. Among the options that come up most often in international schools, the International Baccalaureate® (IB) stands apart: a rigorous programme, consistent from one country to the next, and recognised by universities all over the world.

Founded in 1968 in Geneva, the International Baccalaureate is a non-profit organisation that has built a complete educational continuum, from early childhood through the end of secondary school. Its ambition: to develop inquiring, internationally minded students who can think for themselves, wherever in the world they study. Today, the programme is taught in several thousand schools across more than 150 countries.

A continuum of four programmes, from age 3 to 19

Contrary to a common misconception, the IB is not limited to the end-of-school diploma. It is a continuum of four programmes covering the entire school journey:

• PYP (Primary Years Programme): for students aged 3 to 12. The emphasis is on inquiry-based learning, curiosity and transdisciplinary skills, organised around big themes rather than compartmentalised subjects.
• MYP (Middle Years Programme): for ages 11 to 16. Students study a broad range of disciplines while making connections between subjects and the real world, with a growing emphasis on personal projects.
• DP (Diploma Programme): for ages 16 to 19. This is the best-known programme, the one that leads to the IB Diploma, a globally recognised university-entrance qualification.
• CP (Career-related Programme): a career-oriented pathway that combines DP courses with study related to a professional field.

A school may offer just one of these programmes or several. Many schools offer the PYP and MYP, for instance, then let students choose between the DP and a national curriculum (British A-Levels, an American high school diploma, and so on) for the final years.

The Diploma Programme (DP): how it works

The DP runs over the last two years of secondary school. Its structure is one of the most distinctive in the global education landscape: neither the early specialisation of the British system nor the very broad core of the American one, but a balance between the two.

Six subjects across six groups

Each student chooses six subjects, one from each of the following six groups:

1. Studies in Language and Literature (the student’s first or strongest language)
2. Language Acquisition (a foreign language)
3. Individuals and Societies (history, geography, economics, psychology and more)
4. Sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and more)
5. Mathematics
6. The Arts (theatre, visual arts, music and more); this sixth group can be replaced by a second subject taken from one of the other groups

Of these six subjects, three are studied at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). HL subjects go into greater depth and require more teaching hours. The HL/SL choice is strategic: universities look closely at the subjects taken at HL when reviewing applications.

The core: TOK, Extended Essay and CAS

Beyond the six subjects, every DP student completes a three-part core, which is what makes the diploma unique:

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK): a course that reflects on the nature of knowledge itself. How do we know what we know? What counts as evidence in science, in history, in art?
• The Extended Essay: an independent research paper of around 4,000 words on a topic chosen by the student. A genuine introduction to university-level research, with a research question, sources and structured argument.
• CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service): hands-on engagement outside the classroom, through artistic, sporting and community-service projects.

Grading: a diploma scored out of 45 points

Each of the six subjects is graded out of 7 points, for a maximum of 42. The core (TOK and the Extended Essay combined) can add up to 3 bonus points, bringing the maximum total to 45 points. To earn the diploma, students need at least 24 points, subject to minimum requirements in certain components. The strongest candidates, the ones targeted by the most selective universities, typically score well above that threshold.

Worldwide university recognition

This is one of the diploma’s greatest strengths: the IB is accepted by universities around the world. In practice:

• In France, the IB Diploma allows students to apply through Parcoursup, on the same footing as a recognised foreign secondary qualification.
• In the United Kingdom, universities publish their entry requirements directly in IB points on UCAS (for example, a required total plus minimum grades in specific HL subjects).
• In North America, universities know the programme well; strong HL results can even earn students course credits or advanced standing in their first year.

For an expatriate family that does not yet know where their child will go to university, this portability is invaluable: the same diploma opens doors on several continents, without forcing the family to commit to a destination country years in advance.

The strengths of the IB, and who it suits

The IB’s success in international schools is no accident. Its strengths are well established:

• Balanced subjects: students keep studying languages, sciences, mathematics and humanities right through to the end of secondary school, with no premature specialisation.
• International outlook: the programme is the same everywhere, which makes mid-schooling moves far easier, and intercultural understanding sits at the heart of its pedagogy.
• Critical thinking: through TOK, students learn to question knowledge rather than absorb it passively.
• Independence and method: the Extended Essay and CAS build research, organisation and commitment skills that are highly valued in higher education.

The DP remains a demanding programme, however. It particularly suits students who are organised, confident writers, and not looking to specialise too early. A very focused profile (purely scientific, for example) may sometimes feel more at home in a system like A-Levels: that is a conversation worth having as a family before the final years of school begin.

What it means for expatriate families

For families on the move, the IB offers one decisive advantage: continuity. A student who leaves an IB school in Singapore for an IB school in Dubai or London finds the same framework, the same expectations and the same philosophy. A few points still deserve attention:

• Check that the new school offers the same subjects (and the same languages) as the previous one, especially in the middle of the DP.
• Avoid moving between the two years of the DP whenever possible, as the programme forms a single block with continuous assessment.
• Plan ahead for the Group 1 Language and Literature choice: maintaining an excellent written level in the family’s home language takes regular work when schooling is conducted in English.

How Axiom Academic supports IB students

At Axiom Academic, we have been supporting expatriate families whose children follow the IB for many years. Our teachers provide private tutoring in MYP and DP subjects, targeted exam preparation (methodology, past-paper practice, Extended Essay support), as well as educational guidance to choose the right HL/SL combination and build a coherent university plan, in Europe, North America or anywhere else. Every engagement starts with a first lesson covered by our satisfied-or-refunded guarantee, so you can make sure the student and the teacher are a great match.