What Are International Baccalaureate Exams?
International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are the final assessments students take in the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). They evaluate knowledge, skills, and critical thinking across a range of subjects, and are essential for earning the IB Diploma.
These exams take place in May or November each year and are externally marked by IB examiners worldwide.
IB Diploma Exam Structure
IB Diploma students study six subjects from six groups:
- Studies in Language and Literature (Group 1)
- Language Acquisition (Group 2)
- Individuals and Societies (Group 3)
- Sciences (Group 4)
- Mathematics (Group 5)
- The Arts (Group 6) or an additional subject from Groups 1–4
Each subject has its own exam(s), with some subjects featuring multiple papers (e.g., Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3).
Types of IB Exams
- Written Exams: Most subjects have written exams, ranging from essays and short answers to problem-solving questions.
- Oral Exams: Language courses often include oral components assessing speaking skills.
- Practical Exams: Arts and sciences may have practical or performance-based assessments.
- Internal Assessments: Work done during the course (IAs) counts towards the final grade but is separate from the final exams.
Exam Grading and Diploma Award
IB exams are graded on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). The final diploma score combines:
