The bilingual IB Diploma requirements can be met through either of two subject combinations. A successful Diploma Programme candidate must earn at least grade 3 in two Studies in language and literature subjects, or earn at least grade 3 in one Studies in language and literature subject and an Individuals and societies or Sciences subject assessed in a different language.
The bilingual diploma is not a separate course or an alternative to the full IB Diploma. It is awarded when a successful diploma candidate also meets the bilingual criteria. Coordinators must ensure that the intended combination is available, registered correctly, assessed in the required languages, and monitored throughout the programme.
What are the bilingual IB Diploma requirements?
The IB recognizes two qualifying pathways. Both depend on the candidate's official six-subject registration and final results.
| Pathway | Required combination | Minimum result |
|---|---|---|
| Two Studies in language and literature subjects | Two subjects from Studies in language and literature | Grade 3 or higher in both |
| Language and literature plus another academic subject | One Studies in language and literature subject, plus an Individuals and societies or Sciences subject assessed in a different response language | Grade 3 or higher in both |
For example, a candidate taking English A and Spanish A may qualify through the first pathway. A candidate taking Spanish A and History assessed in English may qualify through the second, provided both subjects contribute to the six-subject diploma.
These criteria do not replace the ordinary IB Diploma passing requirements. The candidate must still complete six subjects and the DP core, satisfy CAS, reach the required points total, and avoid all applicable failing conditions. Coordinators should track bilingual eligibility and overall diploma eligibility separately.
What does not count toward the bilingual diploma?
The following cannot independently establish bilingual diploma eligibility:
- A Language B or language ab initio course
- An Extended Essay written in another language
- A school-based syllabus
- A subject taken in addition to the six diploma subjects
- Fluency, citizenship, home-language use, or an external language qualification
Language B belongs to Language acquisition, not Studies in language and literature. It remains academically valuable, but it cannot substitute for a qualifying Language A subject. Similarly, an EE written in another language may demonstrate linguistic ability, but it is not a qualifying route under the current criteria.
Pilot or interdisciplinary subjects may contribute when they meet the relevant group, language, and grade conditions. Because subject availability can change, coordinators should consult the current assessment procedures for the candidate's examination session rather than relying on guidance used for an earlier cohort.
Confirm that the pathway is feasible
Begin checking eligibility before subject selection is finalized. A combination that fits the timetable is not automatically a valid bilingual combination.
Verify the exact courses
Confirm each subject's official title, group, level, syllabus version, and assessment language. The IB's Studies in language and literature overview explains how Language A courses differ from Language acquisition courses.
Where a taught Language A course is unavailable, a school-supported self-taught arrangement may sometimes be appropriate. This requires formal school oversight, suitable supervision, access to texts, and use of the current subject guide. It should not be described as unsupervised independent study.
Check assessment-language availability
For the second pathway, the decisive issue is the response language, meaning the language used for IB assessment. English, French, and Spanish are the principal response languages for many subjects outside the language groups, while selected subjects may be available in additional languages.
Availability varies by subject and examination session. Teaching a subject informally in two languages does not make both languages valid assessment options. Coordinators must verify the available registration option before promising a pathway to a student or family.
Register subjects and response languages accurately
Schools register candidates through IBIS. Students and parents cannot make the registration themselves, so coordinator verification is essential.
For each prospective bilingual candidate, check:
- Candidate category and examination session
- All six contributing diploma subjects
- Subject group and level
- The qualifying Language A subject or subjects
- The response language for each relevant subject
- Whether the qualifying subjects are part of the six-subject diploma
- Whether assessment components use the registered response language
The 2026 DP general regulations require the same response language across a subject's components, apart from limited retake circumstances specified by the IB. They also prohibit assessed work from being translated for submission by another person or a digital tool. Response-language accuracy is therefore an assessment-integrity issue, not merely an administrative label.
Use two checks. First, compare the proposed registration with current IB documentation. Second, ask the student and relevant teachers to review an exported registration summary before the amendment deadline.
Build a bilingual candidate tracker
A school-controlled tracker should show technical eligibility and academic risk while IBIS remains the authoritative registration record.
| Tracking field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Candidate and session | Prevents cohort confusion |
| Qualifying pathway | Identifies the applicable rule |
| Language A subject or subjects | Confirms the required entry |
| Group 3 or 4 subject | Confirms the second pathway where applicable |
| Registered response languages | Detects assessment-language mismatches |
| Six-subject status | Prevents reliance on an additional subject |
| Current grade evidence | Identifies risk below grade 3 |
| Component completion | Tracks oral and internal assessment work |
| Responsible teacher | Establishes ownership for intervention |
| Verification date | Creates an audit trail |
A simple classification makes the tracker actionable. Green means the registration is valid and both qualifying grades are secure. Amber means the pathway is valid but a grade, assessment component, staffing arrangement, or academic-language skill is vulnerable. Red means the registration does not satisfy a pathway or the full diploma is seriously at risk.
Schools may supplement this record with RevisionDojo's coordinator progress-tracking approach. Platform analytics can identify academic weaknesses, but they do not replace IBIS or school verification.
Monitor academic language and achievement
Bilingual candidates must produce assessed academic work in both relevant languages. Conversational fluency does not necessarily show that a student can interpret literature, construct an argument, explain scientific reasoning, or evaluate evidence under timed conditions.
Review evidence during every reporting cycle. Use common assessments, oral performance, coursework progress, timed writing, and teacher judgement to determine whether the student remains safely above grade 3. Teachers should distinguish difficulties with subject knowledge, academic language, assessment technique, and workload because each requires a different intervention.
The RevisionDojo IB resource hub, Questionbank, and IB Grade Calculator can support practice and indicative monitoring. Calculator outputs are planning estimates, not official predictions or guarantees of eligibility.
Communicate clearly and complete a final audit
At subject-selection meetings, give families a written explanation of the pathway, response languages, minimum grades, and ordinary diploma requirements. Avoid saying that a student has been accepted for a bilingual diploma because the award depends on final results.
Before the examination session, coordinators should:
- Confirm the current criteria for the session.
- Recheck the six subjects and response languages.
- Confirm completion of required components in the correct language.
- Review performance in both qualifying subjects.
- Check overall diploma risks involving TOK, the EE, and CAS.
- Retain records of registration checks and amendments.
- Verify the award after results are released.
Conclusion
Managing bilingual IB Diploma requirements requires accurate curriculum planning, response-language registration, academic monitoring, and results checking. Candidates must satisfy one official subject pathway, earn at least grade 3 in both qualifying subjects, and receive the full IB Diploma. RevisionDojo can support academic practice through its Questionbank, subject resources, Jojo AI, and grade-planning tools, while coordinators remain responsible for official registration and verification.
Sources and referenced URLs
- IB Diploma Programme passing criteria
- IB Diploma Programme assessment
- IB 2026 General regulations
- IB Studies in language and literature
- IB Diploma Programme curriculum
- RevisionDojo bilingual IB Diploma guide
- RevisionDojo coordinator progress tracking
- RevisionDojo IB resources
- RevisionDojo Questionbank
- RevisionDojo IB Grade Calculator