← All IB Flashcard Decks

Diploma Programme Subject Groups Flashcards

6 cards from real IB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 6 Diploma Programme Subject Groups flashcards as text
  1. A student is planning their IB Diploma Programme. Which of the following represents a valid subject selection according to the standard IB requirements?

    Answer: Three Higher Level (HL) subjects and three Standard Level (SL) subjects, with one subject from each of the six groups.

    To earn the IB Diploma, a student must take six subjects. A minimum of three (and a maximum of four) must be at Higher Level (HL), with the rest at Standard Level (SL). The standard structure requires selecting one subject from each of the six groups, although a student may opt to take an additional science, individuals and societies, or language subject instead of a subject from Group 6 (The Arts).

  2. Which of the following subjects is classified under Group 3: Individuals and societies?

    Answer: Psychology

    Psychology is a subject within Group 3: Individuals and societies, which focuses on the study of human experience, behavior, and societies. Visual Arts is in Group 6, Physics is in Group 4, and Language A: Literature is in Group 1.

  3. A student with no prior experience in Spanish wishes to learn the language as part of their IB Diploma. Which Group 2: Language Acquisition course is specifically designed for beginners?

    Answer: Spanish ab initio SL

    The Language ab initio course is designed for students with little to no previous experience in the target language. It is offered at the Standard Level (SL) within Group 2. Language B courses are for students who have some previous experience with the language, and Language A courses are for fluent speakers.

  4. A student has a strong interest in environmental science and wants their subject choices to reflect this. Which interdisciplinary subject can satisfy the requirement for BOTH Group 3 (Individuals and societies) AND Group 4 (Sciences)?

    Answer: Environmental Systems and Societies SL/HL

    Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) is a transdisciplinary subject that can fulfill the Diploma requirements for either Group 3 or Group 4. This allows students flexibility in their other subject choices. Biology and Chemistry are exclusively Group 4 subjects, and Geography is exclusively a Group 3 subject.

  5. An IB Diploma candidate must take a specific number of subjects at Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL). Which of the following combinations is NOT a permissible structure for the six required subjects?

    Answer: 2 HL and 4 SL

    IB Diploma candidates must take a minimum of three subjects at Higher Level (HL) and may take a maximum of four HL subjects. Therefore, a combination of two HL and four SL subjects does not meet the minimum requirement for HL courses and is not permitted.

  6. A student is building their subject package with a focus on a future in medicine. Which subject from Group 4: Sciences would be the MOST common and recommended choice for this career path?

    Answer: Biology

    While all Group 4 subjects are valuable, Biology is a foundational science for medicine, as it provides an in-depth study of living organisms, life processes, genetics, and human physiology. Along with Chemistry, it is almost always a prerequisite for pre-medical university programs. The other options are less directly applicable to the core requirements of a medical degree.

How this page was made: written with AI tools and published by Nathan Beja, founder of Practice Test Geeks, who is responsible for its content. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

  1. gov.uk — Passing score · verified Oct 2026
  2. ibo.org — Score release, retake fee, retake policy, passing score, eligibility, test delivery · verified Oct 2026