Six subjects: one from each of the five subject groups plus the arts or an additional subject; 3 at higher level (HL, 240 hours), the rest at standard level (SL, 150 hours)
Core
Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
Diploma requirement
At least 24 points (maximum 45) and completion of all CAS requirements
Diploma
Students can earn the IB Diploma in addition to the Turkish national high school diploma
Preparation
21 hours of English a week in the high school preparatory year; science and maths taught in English from grade 9
The IB Diploma can be used directly for applications to universities abroad; admission to universities in Turkey is through the national YKS exam. The school's Overseas Education Counselling Office supports IB students with choosing universities and applying.
Start: The IB Diploma Programme begins in grade 11 and lasts two years.
Admission criteria and dates: For current information on grade requirements, English level, application dates, admission of students from other schools and any IB-specific fees, contact the Admissions Office through the Registration page.
Verify authorisation: You can check the school's IB World School authorisation on the International Baccalaureate Organization's official school page.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) offers a holistic education that nurtures both academic excellence and personal development. Designed for students aged 3 to 19, the IB promotes lifelong learning through an inquiry-based and concept-driven approach. Learning goes beyond memorization—students are encouraged to think critically, make ethical choices, and apply their understanding in real-world contexts (International Baccalaureate).
At the heart of IB education is the Learner Profile, which aims to develop students who are inquirers, thinkers, communicators, knowledgeable and principled individuals. IB learners strive to be open-minded, caring, balanced, risk-takers, and reflective, embracing diversity and demonstrating intercultural understanding (International Baccalaureate, IB Learner Profile).
IB programs foster international-mindedness, preparing students to be global citizens who recognize our shared humanity and act with compassion and respect. Through transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary learning, students explore complex global issues and deepen their conceptual understanding (International Baccalaureate, What is an IB Education?).
With a strong emphasis on student agency, approaches to learning (ATL), and approaches to teaching (ATT), the IB equips learners with the skills they need to succeed in an ever-changing world. Core components such as the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE) further encourage independence, creativity, and mostly reflection (International Baccalaureate).
In essence, IB education inspires students not just to succeed academically, but to grow as thoughtful, ethical, and engaged members of their local and global communities.
International Baccalaureate. What Is an IB Education? International Baccalaureate Organization, 2013. www.ibo.org/globalassets/digital-tookit/brochures/what-is-an-ib-education-en.pdf. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
International Baccalaureate. IB Learner Profile. International Baccalaureate Organization, 2013. www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/learnerprofile-en.pdf. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
International Baccalaureate. International Baccalaureate Organization. www.ibo.org. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a challenging, holistic and a balanced educational programme designed for students aged 16 to 19. It incorporates final assessments and aims to prepare learners not only for academic success at the university level but also for meaningful experiences beyond formal education. The curriculum is thoughtfully structured to support students’ cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well- being of the students. Diploma programme is recognized and respected by the world’s top universities (International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme).
Students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme (DP) are required to select one subject from each of five subject groups—studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and an additional subject from either the arts or one of the previous groups. This structure ensures students gain broad and balanced knowledge across a range of disciplines (International Baccalaureate, Diploma Programme Curriculum).
Courses can be pursued at either the standard level (SL) or higher level (HL). Students must take three subjects at HL, involving 240 teaching hours, while the remaining courses are taken at SL, involving 150 hours. SL courses ensure a wide exposure to various subjects, while HL courses allow for more in-depth exploration of subjects’ students are particularly passionate about. Both levels are essential to the DP’s comprehensive educational design. DP students in our school study and be assessed in English.
Beyond subject-specific learning, the DP includes three core components designed to enrich the student experience and foster deeper engagement:
The Extended Essay (EE) encourages independent research through a focused investigation of a specific question tied to a DP subject.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) challenges students to think critically about how knowledge is constructed and understood, helping them make connections across disciplines. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is one of the components of the DP core and is mandatory for all students hence the TOK requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the DP. Through discussions of these and other questions, students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions, as well as developing an appreciation of the diversity and richness of cultural perspectives. Within the two years of the course, TOK aims to make students aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases – whether these biases are retained, revised or rejected. (In that sense, not only the students but also the whole school community mainly benefit from this thought-provoking subject’s outcomes.) The TOK course is assessed through an exhibition and TOK Essay.
The exhibition (950 words paper) requires the students to create an exhibition of three objects that explores how TOK manifests in the world around us. (Year 1)
The TOK Essay (1600 words) focuses on a conceptual issue in TOK. For example, it may ask students to discuss the claim that the methodologies used to produce knowledge depend on the use to which that knowledge will be used based on the published essay title prompts.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) promotes students’ personal growth by engaging them in creative expression, physical activity, and meaningful service within their communities. The CAS programme encourages autonomy, collaboration, and reflection, aligning closely with the values in the IB Learner Profile. The three CAS strands are:
Creativity: developing original ideas or artistic expressions,
Activity: engaging in physical actions that support a healthy lifestyle,
Service: contributing meaningfully to community needs through collaborative work.
Together, these components ensure that IB learners are not only academically prepared, but also personally and ethically developed to face real-world challenges.
International Baccalaureate. Diploma Programme Curriculum. International Baccalaureate Organization, 2023. www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
At the end of the IB Diploma Programme, students sit for written examinations, which are assessed externally by IB-appointed examiners. In addition to these final exams, students complete internal assessment tasks throughout the course. These are either marked by the school’s teachers and then reviewed by IB moderators, or submitted directly to external IB examiners (International Baccalaureate, Assessment and Exams).
Each subject is graded on a scale from 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest achievement. Students can also earn up to three additional points based on their performance in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course and the Extended Essay (EE). To be awarded the full IB diploma, students must accumulate a minimum of 24 points, meet specific performance standards across all programme components, and complete all CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirements satisfactorily.
The maximum score a student can achieve is 45 points. The IB uses a criterion-based assessment system, meaning student work is evaluated based on clear, predefined criteria aligned with the objectives of each subject—rather than being ranked against the performance of other students.
International Baccalaureate. Assessment and Exams. International Baccalaureate Organization, 2023.
What does the IB Diploma count for when entering university in Turkey? Do students still need the YKS exam, and how is the diploma score calculated? A guide for parents planning the IB and the YKS together.
What should a student who wants to study abroad start in each year of high school? Application deadlines for the US, UK, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany, and a plan for grades 9 to 12.
