IB Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield IB facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) is unique in the IB DP because it can fulfill requirements for which two groups simultaneously? → Groups 3 and 4
2. What does virtue ethics emphasize when analyzing an ethical issue in the Reflective Project? → The character traits and moral virtues of the people involved
3. Which Group 4 Sciences subject is most closely associated with the study of matter, energy, and their interactions? → Physics
4. What is absolute zero on the Kelvin temperature scale? → 0 K
5. What is the SI unit of electrical resistance? → Ohm
6. Which literary concept is most central to the 'Intertextuality: connecting texts' area of exploration in IB English Language and Literature? → The way texts reference, echo, or respond to other texts
7. When a student shares their CAS portfolio with peers and explains what they learned, which stage are they primarily in? → Demonstrating
8. In order to induce a non-spontaneous reaction to occur, electrolysis needs energy input. False or true? → True
9. The IB History course at both SL and HL requires study of a minimum of how many Paper 2 world history topics? → Two
10. In IB English Language and Literature Paper 1, students are asked to: → Produce a guided literary analysis of an unseen text
11. What does the area under a velocity–time graph represent? → Displacement
12. When light passes from air into glass, which wave property changes? → Speed and wavelength
13. Which of the following is a prescribed subject option for IB History Paper 1? → Rights and protest
14. A DNA mutation known as a ___________ alters the DNA sequence but does not modify the amino acids in a protein. → Silent mutation
15. How many additional hours of instruction does HL typically require compared to SL in the IB Diploma Programme? → 120 hours
16. What phrase describes a transition from a solid to a gas quickly? → Sublimation
17. Which IB History Paper 2 topic covers the causes, practices, and effects of war? → Topic 2
18. A matrix A = [[2, 1], [5, 3]]. What is det(A)? → 1
19. Which of the following subjects is classified under Group 3: Individuals and societies? → Psychology
20. A supervisor is guiding a student through the Extended Essay. Which of the following actions represents an acceptable level of support from the supervisor? → Giving oral feedback on one complete draft of the essay.
21. A student's career-related study is in culinary arts. Which Reflective Project topic would be MOST appropriately linked to that field? → The ethics of factory farming and its impact on the food industry
22. A student wants to start a recycling initiative at school. Which stage involves researching existing programs and consulting with potential collaborators? → Investigating
23. What is the maximum score achievable in IB History at the Diploma Programme level? → 7
24. In the Natural Sciences area of knowledge, the concept of 'falsifiability' is central because it: → Provides a criterion that distinguishes scientific claims from non-scientific ones
25. At the highest point of a projectile's trajectory, what is true about the velocity? → Only vertical component is zero
26. What is meant by 'risk-taking' in the context of Criterion C of the Reflective Project? → Exploring unconventional approaches, creative formats, or challenging assumptions
27. The IB recommends the Reflective Project be approximately how long? → 3,000–4,000 words
28. What value of gravitational field strength (g) is given in the IB Physics data booklet? → 9.81 m/s²
29. In IB Music, which component distinguishes HL students from SL students in terms of solo performance? → HL students perform for a longer duration than SL students
30. Which type of source would an IB examiner consider LEAST credible for the Reflective Project? → An anonymous blog post with no references or author credentials