How long should an IB parent information evening last?

A general introduction usually works well at 60-90 minutes, including questions. A shorter event may not allow enough time for assessment, subject selection, the core, university entry, and support arrangements. If families are actively selecting subjects, add departmental consultation time after the main presentation. Publish the agenda in advance so parents know when general and individual questions will be addressed. Record or summarize the main presentation for families who cannot attend, while keeping confidential student discussions offline.

What is the simplest way to explain the IB Diploma to parents?

Describe it as a two-year programme combining six academic subjects with TOK, the Extended Essay, and CAS. Explain that students take three or four subjects at Higher Level and the rest at Standard Level. Each subject is graded from 1-7, while TOK and the EE can add up to three core points, creating a maximum score of 45. CAS does not add points, but successful completion is compulsory. Follow this explanation with one sample subject combination and one points calculation so the structure becomes concrete.

Should current IB students speak at the parent information evening?

A carefully briefed student or recent graduate can make the evening more credible and practical. Ask the student to discuss time management, subject adjustment, CAS, seeking support, and what they wish they had understood earlier. Avoid presenting one highly successful student's routine as the standard experience for everyone. Give the speaker clear boundaries so confidential information, examination content, and unsupported claims are not shared. The coordinator should still provide all official explanations of rules, assessment, and university recognition.

How should coordinators answer questions about IB workload?

Avoid promising a fixed number of homework hours because workload varies by subject combination, stage of the programme, and individual working pace. Show families a sample week and the school's two-year assessment calendar instead. Explain that pressure often increases when several coursework milestones, mock examinations, and university deadlines coincide. Emphasize early planning, regular work, communication with teachers, sleep, and timely intervention when avoidance or distress persists. Parents should understand that a demanding week is expected occasionally, but an unsustainable pattern requires review rather than admiration.

What should parents know about predicted grades?

Predicted grades are professional estimates produced by the school according to its established procedures and the evidence available at the relevant time. They are not guaranteed final results, and they may differ from report grades or online grade-calculator estimates. Universities use predicted grades differently, so the counsellor should explain the school's application context and reporting schedule. Parents should be told what evidence teachers consider and when predictions are finalized, without expecting negotiation over individual grades. Any concern should follow the school's published review or complaints process rather than being debated during a general information evening.

How should an IB coordinator discuss AI and academic integrity with parents?

Begin with the principle that submitted assessment must remain the student's authentic work. Parents may support planning, ask neutral questions, and encourage the student to consult teachers, but they must not write or substantially edit assessed content. Explain the school's current rules for generative AI, including when use is prohibited, permitted, or requires acknowledgment. Jojo AI and similar tools can support explanation and practice, but they should not produce submission-ready IA, TOK, or Extended Essay writing. Give families the academic-integrity policy and a named contact so uncertainty is resolved before work is submitted.

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How to Run an IB Parent Information Evening

IB Coordinators Parent Communication IB Study Guides

• 20 Sept 2026•10

How to Run an IB Parent Information Evening

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How to Run an IB Parent Information Evening | RevisionDojo

Back to all posts

How to Run an IB Parent Information Evening

IB Coordinators Parent Communication IB Study Guides

• 20 Sept 2026•10

An effective IB parent information evening should leave families understanding how the Diploma Programme works, what the school expects, and how parents can provide appropriate support. The strongest events combine an accurate whole-group presentation with school-specific guidance, practical examples, student perspectives, and time for questions.

Parents should leave with written resources, named contacts, and clear next steps. They do not need every detail of IB policy in one evening, but they should understand the decisions and responsibilities that will shape DP1 and DP2.

Decide what parents should know and do

Define the intended outcomes before building slides. By the end of the session, parents should be able to:

Describe the six-subject structure and the DP core.
Distinguish Higher Level (HL) from Standard Level (SL).
Explain how subjects, TOK, the Extended Essay, and CAS contribute to the Diploma.
Identify school deadlines and appropriate support contacts.
Understand acceptable parental involvement in coursework.
Check subject choices against possible university requirements.
Recognize when academic, organizational, or wellbeing support is needed.

This focus prevents the event from becoming a lecture about IB history. Introduce the programme's educational purpose briefly, then concentrate on the practical questions families will face.

Suggested agenda for an IB parent information evening

A 75-minute session is usually sufficient for a general introduction. Adapt the timing to your school, and arrange translated materials or interpretation when needed.

Time	Agenda item	Main content
0-5 minutes	Welcome	Introduce the DP team, outcomes, and question process.
5-15 minutes	Diploma overview	Explain six subjects, HL and SL, the core, and the two-year structure.
15-25 minutes	Subject selection	Present available courses, prerequisites, combination rules, and university considerations.
25-35 minutes	Assessment and points	Cover examinations, coursework, internal assessment, grades 1-7, and the 45-point maximum.
35-45 minutes	TOK, EE, and CAS	Explain purpose, assessment, milestones, and completion requirements.
45-55 minutes	Student experience	Show a sample week and assessment calendar, ideally with a student perspective.
55-65 minutes	Support and integrity	Identify support routes, inclusion procedures, and boundaries for parental help.
65-75 minutes	Questions	Answer general questions and explain follow-up arrangements.

If subject selection is the main purpose, add consultation tables afterward so families can speak with teachers, the coordinator, and university counsellors.

Explain the IB Diploma accurately

The official DP curriculum overview shows that students study six subjects alongside the core. Full Diploma students normally take three or four subjects at HL, with the remainder at SL. The IB recommends 240 teaching hours for HL and 150 for SL.

The core contains three components:

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): An exploration of how knowledge is produced, justified, and challenged. Assessment includes an exhibition and a 1,600-word essay.
Extended Essay (EE): An independent research project culminating in a paper of up to 4,000 words.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): Sustained experiences across three strands. CAS earns no points, but successful completion is required.

HL does not automatically make a subject more valuable. HL courses have greater scope and teaching time, but both HL and SL subjects receive grades from 1-7 and contribute equally to the numerical total.

Make the points system concrete

Use one calculation rather than describing the system abstractly.

Component	Example result
Six subject grades	6 + 6 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 4 = 31
TOK and EE core points	2
Diploma total	33 out of 45

The maximum is 45 points, consisting of 42 subject points and up to three points from TOK and the EE. The official DP passing criteria require at least 24 points, but 24 alone does not guarantee the Diploma. CAS completion, minimum HL and SL performance, and other conditions also apply.

Explain assessment and workload

The Diploma does not depend entirely on final examinations. Written examinations are central in most subjects, while assessment may also include investigations, oral work, performances, projects, and coursework.

Clarify that internal assessment does not mean the classroom teacher has complete control over the final result. Teachers mark certain components, and the IB moderates samples to maintain consistent standards. Other coursework is externally assessed, so families should use current school and subject information rather than generic percentages found online.

Show the school's two-year calendar for IAs, TOK, the EE, CAS reviews, mock examinations, and university applications. A calendar explains workload more honestly than assigning one weekly homework figure to every student.

Connect subjects to university entry

Do not promise that the Diploma guarantees admission, credit, or advanced standing. Requirements are determined by universities and national authorities and may change. Families should consult the IB university recognition database and official university pages.

Recommend this decision sequence:

Identify plausible degree areas.
Check required subjects, levels, grades, and total scores.
Compare these requirements with the school's subject menu.
Consider the student's attainment, interests, and sustainable workload.
Confirm the combination with the coordinator or counsellor.

The most demanding-looking combination is not necessarily the strongest. Appropriate choices preserve relevant options while allowing consistent performance.

Define the parent's role

Parents can support routines, sleep, communication, and deadline planning. The RevisionDojo IB parent checklist provides stage-specific prompts from DP1 through results.

Parents must not research, write, rewrite, analyse, or commission assessed work. The IB's academic integrity policy supports parental involvement in manageable planning while prohibiting unauthorized assistance. A useful principle is support the process, never supply the product.

The RevisionDojo guide for IB parents explains how Study Notes, Flashcards, the Questionbank, Mock Exams, and Jojo AI can supplement school teaching. External tools must still be used within school rules and cannot replace teacher feedback.

Address inclusion and common mistakes

Explain inclusion procedures before individual concerns arise publicly. The IB access and inclusion policy states that arrangements should reduce barriers without changing what students are expected to learn. Eligibility, supporting evidence, the student's usual way of working, and application deadlines may all matter, so families should contact the school early.

Avoid these common presentation errors:

Presenting 24 points as the only Diploma condition.
Describing CAS as optional because it carries no points.
Promising universal university recognition or credit.
Giving one workload estimate for every subject combination.
Allowing individual cases to dominate the general question period.
Sharing policies without explaining the next action.

Use an anonymous question form and send a consolidated response afterward.

Materials to send after the event

Provide the slides, a one-page overview, the subject-choice guide, a two-year calendar, relevant school policies, deadlines, and contact details. Include the official IB guide for parents and RevisionDojo's explanation of the Diploma Programme.

Collect brief feedback about what became clearer, what remains unclear, and which follow-up sessions families need.

Conclusion

A successful IB parent information evening translates programme rules into practical decisions. Explain the structure and points accurately, make workload visible, connect subjects to university requirements, and establish clear boundaries for parental support. Official IB resources should remain the basis for policy, while RevisionDojo Study Notes, the Questionbank, and Jojo AI can provide supplementary clarification and practice.