How to Choose the Right Subjects in a Cambridge IB School

Students who take the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme in a Cambridge international school have to choose a course from the six categories that include studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts. They must take at least three subjects at the higher level and remaining classes at the standard level (SL).

A prime benefit of the programme is its methodically planned academic content that enables students to develop critical thinking skills, conduct deep research and make oral presentations on what they have learnt through a course.

Choosing their subjects is a critical decision for IB students as it paves their way to a university for further studies and ultimately to their career.

Here are some tips to make this choice simpler:

Talk to the teachers

When a Cambridge school in Noida has low student to faculty ratio, teachers can give more of personalised attention to a class. They also know the strengths and weaknesses of their pupils. Their experience of teaching IB subjects through years gives them the ability to know what exactly is expected of students and how well they are moving up the learning curve in line with IB’s academic goals.

Teachers can therefore offer good advice on what subjects should an individual student take to maximise her/ his score. Students can take their teachers’ opinions when they are struggling to decide upon their streams of studies.

Explore personal interests

Most students join IB programmes when they are 16 or 17 years old and it can be hard to take a decision on a course for university education at that age. Nonetheless, with a stronger focus on their interests and the co-curricular activities they enthusiastically participate in, students can make good decisions on the course to pursue in college and the career to take up later in life. As an example, someone who has always been involved in community development programmes and is keen to work for NGOs later in life can take up subjects such as Social and Cultural Anthropology, Psychology and even Global Politics for a better understanding of communities and countries.

Even if a subject does not exactly line up with someone’s exact career goals but they still want to explore it, the IB programme offers good opportunities to enhance learning in the zone. Therefore, a student who has always loved science but also holds an interest in financial solutions can take up Economics in addition to the science subjects for IB course. That’s the kind of flexibility that a Cambridge international school offers!

Also check the university guidelines

For the students who have already decided the major subject that they wish to pursue in college, it is simpler to choose the subjects for IB exams. However, they should also remember that universities have their own applicant requirements.

For instance, some medical colleges open admissions only for the IB students who pursued biology, chemistry and maths at HL level and there are others who can admit students with these subjects even if they were taken at the SL level.

With some research on the varsities that they are keen to apply in, students can customise their subject choice and be better prepared to get into their dream college or university.

Lastly, students should not be overly influenced by their peers’ choices or the opinions of family and friends. They must pursue the subjects that they have true interest and aptitude for.

Author Bio: Established in the year 2010, Amity Global School Noida is a co-educational institution following the globally recognised IB programmes. The school helps young scholars imbibe the virtues of holistic education with a balanced approach to academics, sports and extra-curricular activities and community services.

Michael harley is a writer at Search Engine.