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Which IB Classes Are the Easiest to Take in High School? [2025 Student Guide] | RevisionDojo
Home / Blog / Which IB Classes Are the Easiest to Take in High School? [2025 Student Guide] Which IB Classes Are the Easiest to Take in High School? [2025 Student Guide] RevisionDojo • 7/15/2025 • 6 min read The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme requires students to study six subjects across diverse disciplines, plus complete Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE), and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) .
Students choose subjects from six groups:
Language and Literature Language Acquisition Individuals and Societies Sciences Mathematics The Arts Each subject can be taken at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) . Typically, students choose 3 HL and 3 SL classes. Generally, SL subjects are easier due to reduced content and fewer assessment hours.
Not all students agree on what’s easy. But several factors often define “easier” IB classes:
Lighter workload with fewer assessments or shorter projects.Straightforward grading criteria , such as multiple-choice or essay-based over lab-intensive tasks.Higher average scores globally or within schools.Content overlap with subjects students are already good at or enjoy.Most importantly, a class becomes easier if it aligns with your strengths and interests.
Based on student surveys, exam statistics, and school feedback, here are the most commonly cited easy IB classes:
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Istanbul International School
A Group 3 and 4 interdisciplinary course. Light on math, big on case studies and global themes.
Creative, project-based course with less emphasis on written exams. Students analyze films and create short video projects.
For beginners, ab initio courses in languages like French, Spanish, or Mandarin focus on survival phrases and basic grammar.
Straightforward theories, real-world applications, and accessible textbooks make this a popular choice for non-math students.
Easier than IB Math AA, with practical math applications, statistics, and less abstract theory.
ESS (Environmental Systems and Societies)
Why it’s considered easy : Fewer calculations, more conceptual understandingType of assessments : Case studies, fieldworkWhy it’s considered easy : Focuses on creative projects rather than heavy theoryType of assessments : Film portfolio, written commentaryWhy it’s considered easy : Designed for beginners with basic vocabulary and grammarType of assessments : Listening, reading, and speaking tasksWhy it’s considered easy : Relies on common-sense concepts and real-world scenariosType of assessments : Case analysis, Internal Assessment (IA)Math Applications and Interpretation (SL)
Why it’s considered easy : Focuses on real-world applications over abstract theoryType of assessments : IA project, work with data sets
English Language and Literature SL: Familiar content, analysis-based, no creative writing pressure.
Spanish/French Ab Initio: Tailored for absolute beginners.
Business Management or ESS: Practical, less essay-intensive than History.
ESS (again), or Biology SL: Less data analysis compared to Chemistry or Physics.
Math AI SL: Stats and modeling over calculus-heavy theory.
Film or Visual Arts SL: More subjective grading, project-based.
Stay organized with planners and checklists.Balance your CAS hours so you don’t get overwhelmed later.Don’t shy away from “hard” classes if you love the topic—interest often makes learning easier .
Myth : Easy means no work.Fact : All IB subjects include Internal Assessments and require real effort.Myth : Universities penalize students for taking easier IB subjects.Fact : They look at your full academic profile and course rigor in context.
Play to your strengths —if you're a visual learner, try Film; if you're verbal, go for Language and Literature.Think long-term —some courses are prerequisites for university degrees (e.g., Math AA for Engineering).Balance —don’t load up on “easy” classes and neglect HL subjects that match your goals.
Not if the subject choices align with your intended major and you do well overall.
No. The IB requires at least 3 HL subjects to award the full diploma.
Yes, HL includes additional content and more assessments.
Not necessarily. IB requires breadth, while AP allows specialization. It depends on your study habits.
Usually within the first few weeks, depending on your school’s policies.
Teachers may be more lenient in subjective subjects like Film or Arts—but that’s not guaranteed.
RevisionDojo helps IB students excel in every subject—easy or hard:
Structured guides for ESS, Film, and Business Flashcards and quick-recall notes 1-on-1 tutoring and group revision sessions Get a head start today at RevisionDojo — where IB success begins with smart strategy.
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