The aim of the International Baccalaureate is to deliver quality education and provide the knowledge and skills necessary for living in a world based on intercultural respect.

The International Baccalaureate subjects are a fundamental pillar for studying and developing a professional career abroad, but they are also a wonderful opportunity to acquire new skills in those areas where students are most interested.

However, there are so many options available that choosing the right ones is not always an easy task. Not only do you have to decide on the subjects according to your own interests and objectives, but you also have to choose the level. In this article we explain how the International Baccalaureate subjects work and how to choose the right ones for you.

What subjects are there in the International Baccalaureate?  

The subjects of the International Baccalaureate in Spain are classified in the following groups:

  • Compulsory subjects: these are the most important in order to be accepted onto the course you want to study and for which the universities require minimum qualifications.  
  • Preferential subjects: these are not a mandatory requirement for admission to a determined degree course, but they can be considered a plus when it comes to granting preferences in admission over other students.
  • Recommended subjects: although not compulsory, they help to build a solid foundation for university or other advanced studies.

Complete list of International Baccalaureate subjects  

When choosing your International Baccalaureate subjects, you should always remember that every one of them will provide you with specific knowledge and skills for the professional field in which you intend to work. For this reason, it is essential that you choose your subjects wisely.

Throughout the two years of the course, students have to take six subjects, three of them at higher level (240 teaching hours) and another three at intermediate level (150 teaching hours). The student has to choose one subject from each group.

  • Group 1 subjects – Studies in Language and Literature: literature studies in the native language of the students.
  • Group 2 subjects – Language Acquisition: studies in a second language chosen by the student. The complexity of the syllabus is adjusted to the initial level of the students.
  • Group 3 subjects – Individuals and Societies: Social and Cultural Anthropology, Information Technology in a Global Society, Psychology, Economics, History, Philosophy, Business and Management, Geography and Environmental Systems and Societies.
  • Group 4 subjects – Experimental Sciences: Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Design Technology.
  • Group 5 subjects – Mathematics: Applied Mathematics, Information Technology and Mathematical Studies.
  • Group 6 subjects – Visual Arts, Music, Film and Theatre: this is not compulsory, it is possible to choose a different one from the other five groups.

In addition, students must prepare a 4,000-word monograph in English, take the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course and participate in Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).  

In order to graduate, students must score at least 24 points out of the maximum 45 points available in the programme and pass all the core subjects (Monograph, ToK and CAS).

How to choose the right subjects

Given how important it is for a student’s future when it comes to choosing subjects for the International Baccalaureate, it is essential to think carefully about the decision in order to suitably plan their studies and career. To help you make the right choice here is some advice:

  1. Get your bearings

It is normal that at this point in their lives, students may feel indecisive and confused due to the emotions of this new stage in their lives. Obviously, they will have particular tastes related to their age and with what they observe in their environment. Therefore, when it comes to making a choice, it is very important for a student to get their bearings to find out which subjects or professions best suit their personality.

In this sense, the school’s own guidance advisors can be of great help, steering the pupil by using tools such as psychometric tests to find out what their aptitudes and preferences are, or by carrying out vocational coaching based on their personality.

  1. Choosing a career path

Some of the key questions that students should ask themselves include what their motivations are, what kind of work they see themselves doing in the future and what course they need to study to become what they want to be. This way, when choosing subjects for the International Baccalaureate, they will only have to look into those that are most suited to their unique characteristics.

  1. Research the requirements of the programme

Once the student has a clear idea of the professional field they want to follow, it is necessary to analyse in detail the requirements needed to be accepted into the university programme. There are centres that require the student to have taken certain subjects and to have obtained certain grades.

  1. Assess your academic level

The International Baccalaureate subjects have 2 levels: intermediate and advanced.  The main difference between them is the number of hours and the exam time. Depending on the level, students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge in the subjects that are taught during the lessons. Some subjects are taught at both levels, but there are some which are specific to each level.

In summary, it is very important to reflect and evaluate which are the best subjects for each student depending on their level, as this will go a long way to shaping their future.