IB or International Baccalaureate is known to be one of the best curriculums for preparing students for the future. According to recent studies published at ibo.org, IB programmes help students develop a well-rounded approach with a variety of abilities and attributes. They better prepare students for the next stage of their education and life beyond.

It is rigorous in nature. But is IB really difficult? Let’s dive deep into what IB offers.

What does the IB curriculum look like?

A student must pursue at least six subjects in order to get an IB diploma as a mandatory course. The student must specialize in 3-4 of the chosen six subjects so that they choose a Higher Level (HL) in those subjects. The remaining subjects are Standard Level (SL). In Higher Level (HL), they are required to thoroughly study their extra subjects, which are almost close to the courses offered in the college in their first year.

Well, this is not it.

Besides, HL and SL subjects, the IB curriculum needs students to involve in Extended Essay [EE], Theory of Knowledge [ToK], and Creativity, Activity, and Service [CAS].

Extended Essay: It is a self-directed research project of a 4,000-word paper.

Theory of Knowledge: It gives IB students the opportunity to think about the nature of knowledge and how we come to know what we claim to know.

Creativity, Activity, and Service: Here students must complete these three essential elements during their IB programme. Creativity involves arts and other activities which require and develops creative thinking. The activity involves physical exercise that supports a healthy lifestyle and academic work. Service involves voluntary, unpaid exchange that helps students learn respect for rights, dignity, and independence for all.

There is a planned and organised examination process for the IB curriculum. When evaluating its students, IB finds it beneficial to use a global standard. The structure of every IB subject ensures that students study a minimal range of topics, but in depth. In IB Curriculum, students learn analytical skills and critical thinking, which helps them become future-ready.

How the workload demand plays a major role

The IB programme demands a rigorous schedule from its students. Each subject has an internal assessment that reflects a single project. The total course load, excluding final examinations, is somewhere around 300 hours! Here’s the breakdown:

• 20-30 hours to finalize an assessment draft
• 20-30 hours to write ToK Essay
• At least 20 hours to finalize a draft for ToK Essay
• Preparing a 10-minute-long presentation for an ‘Internal Oral’
• A minimum of 150 hours for CAS over two years period
• At least 40 hours planning and preparing for extended essay
• 20-30 hours for preparing for the TOK presentation

The good news is that top IB schools also educate students on how to develop effective study habits, set aside time for assignments, personalise revising strategies, and avoid distractions.

Overall, IB students are multifaceted and what top universities are looking for in a student who is future-ready. IB teaches students how to learn through practical exposure and real-world experiences, which helps them become more confident, critical thinkers, problem solvers, and everything that can bring a positive impact to this world.

Being one of the top IB schools in India and part of the world’s leading premium schools organization, Nord Anglia Education, Oakridge empowers students to gain an indigenous as well as global perspective on various aspects. They are given opportunities to hone their critical and creative thinking abilities, their flexibility of thought, their capacity to collaborate with others and serve others, and their tenacity and perseverance in the face of difficulties. To know more, visit www.oakridge.in.

Expert analysis from Preeti Sahu – Shaping Brands and Inspiring Connections