Do MYP students have to study all eight subject groups?

Students normally receive a broad education across all eight MYP subject groups, particularly in the earlier years of the programme. The IB requires at least 50 teaching hours for every subject group offered in a given year. In MYP Years 4 and 5, schools can use defined flexibility that permits study across at least six groups. This arrangement must follow IB conditions and any national or local education requirements. Students therefore cannot assume that they may independently drop any two subjects, and they should check the options published by their school.

Are the MYP subjects the same at every school?

The eight official subject groups are consistent, but the courses taught within them can differ substantially. One school may offer integrated science, while another provides separate biology, chemistry, and physics classes. Available languages, arts disciplines, design courses, and humanities subjects also depend on staffing, facilities, and local requirements. Schools select units and content while following the MYP framework and subject-group objectives. Parents should compare schools using their current course handbooks rather than relying only on the label “MYP school.”

Is language acquisition compulsory in the MYP?

Language learning is a central part of the MYP's broad curriculum, and schools must meet the IB's language-study requirements. Most students take language acquisition to develop an additional language through listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Placement usually reflects the student's existing proficiency, so beginners and experienced speakers should not be expected to complete identical work. Under permitted arrangements, a second language and literature course may fulfil the language component for some students. The school's MYP coordinator can explain available languages, placement procedures, and any approved exemptions or alternatives.

Do MYP students choose Standard Level or Higher Level subjects?

No, Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) are Diploma Programme categories, not MYP subject levels. An MYP school may nevertheless create pathways such as standard mathematics and extended mathematics to match students' readiness. Those pathway names and their content are determined within the school's MYP programme and local curriculum. They should not be treated as direct equivalents of DP Mathematics SL or HL courses. Students planning to enter the Diploma Programme should ask which MYP pathway best prepares them for their intended DP choices.

Are MYP subjects assessed through final examinations?

Most MYP assessment is school-based and uses subject-specific criteria applied to work completed during the course. Tasks may include investigations, essays, performances, presentations, practical work, designs, and tests. Some schools also participate in optional MYP eAssessment in the final year, which can involve on-screen examinations and externally marked or moderated portfolios. Participation in eAssessment is not the same at every MYP school. Families should ask whether the school offers eAssessment, which subjects are included, and how classroom results are reported.

What is the difference between an MYP subject and the personal project?

An MYP subject belongs to one of the eight groups and is taught through scheduled classes with subject-specific objectives. The personal project is a sustained, independent project completed by students finishing the programme in MYP Year 5. It allows students to pursue a personally meaningful goal while applying research, communication, thinking, and self-management skills. A supervisor provides guidance, but the student remains responsible for planning, creating an outcome, and reflecting on the process. The project connects learning from across the programme rather than functioning as a ninth subject group.

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What Subjects Are Taught in MYP? The 8 Groups

MYP Getting Started Study Guides

• 11 Sept 2026•8

What Subjects Are Taught in MYP? The 8 Groups

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What Subjects Are Taught in MYP? The 8 Groups | RevisionDojo

Back to all posts

What Subjects Are Taught in MYP? The 8 Groups

MYP Getting Started Study Guides

• 11 Sept 2026•8

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) includes eight subject groups: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. Students generally study all eight, although schools may provide greater flexibility in MYP Years 4 and 5.

Designed for students aged 11 to 16, the MYP is usually delivered over five years. It provides a shared curriculum framework and assessment structure, but schools select course content that meets national requirements and local needs.

The eight MYP subject groups

The official MYP curriculum overview organizes learning into these groups.

MYP subject group	What students typically study
Language and literature	Literary and non-literary texts, analysis, language use, and communication for different audiences
Language acquisition	Listening, reading, speaking, and writing in an additional language
Individuals and societies	History, geography, economics, politics, sociology, and related humanities disciplines
Sciences	Biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or integrated science
Mathematics	Number, algebra, geometry, statistics, probability, patterns, and mathematical modelling
Arts	Visual art, music, drama, dance, film, media, or other creative disciplines
Physical and health education	Movement, teamwork, fitness, performance, health, and personal well-being
Design	Product, digital, or systems design developed through the design cycle

What each subject group involves

Language and literature is normally taught in a student's strongest academic language. Students interpret novels, poetry, speeches, advertisements, films, and news reports while developing analytical and creative communication. RevisionDojo's MYP English Language and Literature resources illustrate this type of study.

Language acquisition develops proficiency in an additional language, such as French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, or English. Placement usually reflects existing proficiency, so beginners and experienced learners may complete different work.

Individuals and societies examines people, environments, institutions, and historical change. Schools may teach an integrated humanities course or separate subjects such as history and geography. Students practise evaluating sources, investigating questions, and constructing evidence-based arguments, as reflected in MYP Individuals and Societies resources.

Sciences combines scientific knowledge with experimentation, data analysis, and evaluation. A school may provide integrated science or separate biology, chemistry, and physics classes. Course titles can therefore differ even when students follow the same MYP subject-group framework; MYP Biology resources support one common course arrangement.

Mathematics develops understanding, communication, pattern investigation, and application in real contexts. Some schools use standard and extended pathways, but these are not the Diploma Programme's Standard Level and Higher Level categories. Students should verify their pathway before using resources such as MYP Standard Mathematics materials.

Arts may include visual art, music, theatre, dance, film, or media arts. Physical and health education connects physical activity with planning, teamwork, fitness, health, and reflection. Design requires students to investigate a need, plan and create a solution, test it, and evaluate its effectiveness.

Does every MYP school teach identical subjects?

No. The MYP defines eight subject groups, not a universal list of course titles, textbooks, or compulsory units. One school might teach integrated science, while another separates biology, chemistry, and physics.

Available languages, arts disciplines, and design courses depend on staffing, facilities, national standards, and community priorities. Families should examine the school's current handbook and timetable rather than assuming that every MYP programme is identical. The MYP syllabus and subject directory can help students match school course names with available resources.

How much teaching time does each group receive?

The IB requires at least 50 teaching hours per subject group in each year in which that group is offered. Schools may allocate more time where necessary for sustained learning and assessment.

In MYP Years 4 and 5, approved flexibility can allow students to study courses from at least six of the eight groups. This does not mean every student may independently drop any two subjects. Choices depend on IB conditions, the school's timetable, language provision, and local graduation requirements.

What connects the MYP subjects?

MYP learning is connected through concepts, global contexts, and approaches to learning (ATL) skills, including communication, research, self-management, social, and thinking skills. The IB's explanation of how the MYP works also emphasizes interdisciplinary learning.

Students participate in at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit involving at least two subject groups each year. For example, science and design might combine in a water-filtration project, while literature and history could connect through wartime narratives.

Projects also integrate learning across subjects. Students completing MYP Year 5 undertake the personal project, while students ending the programme in Year 3 or 4 complete the community project, as explained in the IB's MYP projects guidance.

Choosing and preparing for MYP subjects

Before enrolment or subject selection, ask which courses represent each group, which languages and arts are available, whether sciences are integrated, and whether mathematics has different pathways. Students entering Years 4 and 5 should also request the school's exact subject-choice rules.

Preparation should follow the school's taught units and assessment criteria rather than a generic topic list. The RevisionDojo MYP resource hub provides notes, questions, flashcards, and lessons for supported courses, but students should confirm that each resource matches their class.

Conclusion

The MYP provides a broad education through eight subject groups, but course names and content vary between schools. Most students study all eight, with controlled flexibility possible in Years 4 and 5. Once students confirm their school's courses, RevisionDojo Study Notes, Questionbank, Flashcards, and Jojo AI can support focused practice.