- About the IB
- Where can I take the IB?
- The importance of your subject / level choices
- Bilingual diplomas
- IB Maths options
- Additional tests you may need to take
- Typical offers
- IB students at Christ's
- Further information
About the IB
The International Baccalaureate Diploma, or IB, is a full-time taught programme that takes two years to complete. You take six subjects, each chosen from a group and the normal structure is to take three subjects at Higher Level and three subjects at Standard Level, though it is possible to take four subjects at Higher Level (not needed, but sometimes useful if you're torn about Higher Level choices). Students also complete a Theory of Knowledge course and write an Extended Essay.
The Exam board for the IB is the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organisation) and please see the IBO Diploma website for full details including the curriculum, benefits for students and university admission.
You can see Dr Emily Tomlinson (our Director of Admissions at Christ's) talking about the IB on this page (you'll need to scroll down)!
Where can I take the IB?
Go to this page to find the list of IB World Schools in your country. You will need to go to a school that offers the Diploma Programme.
The importance of your subject / level choices
The IBO website has detailed subject information. Before choosing which subjects you will take in the IB and whether to take them at Standard Level or at Higher Level, please read:
- The Christ's subject page
(these have a section on applying with details of any subject requirements/guidance) - The Cambridge admissions course information
When you click on the relevant subject, go to the entry requirements tab and ensure that you read the whole page (the box at the bottom with stats on the A level profile of recent successful applicants should also be useful as a guide to choosing Higher Level subjects in the IB).
If the information is expressed in terms of A levels in any of the information you look at, note that Higher Level subjects will satisfy A Level subject requirements (Standard Level subjects will satisfy AS Level subject requirements only).
We have a regular webinar for students who are choosing subjects. This is aimed at students aged 14-16 but you can join us even if you are older than that.
Bilingual Diplomas
A small number of students take a bilingual diploma, either by taking more than one of the language and literature options, or by completing an individuals and societies or sciences subject in a different language to their language and literature option. This is fine with us as long as you are clear in your application about what subjects you are taking and which languages they are taught in. Please see the IBO website for information about bilingual diplomas.
IB Career- Related Programme
If you are taking the IB Career-Related Programme with three Higher Level Diploma subjects, please contact us at admissions@christs.cam.ac.uk stating the subjects you are currently taking and the degree course you are interested in.
IB Maths options
This is very important: If the course you are applying for requires or suggests A level Mathematics, please take IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level.
Exceptions:
- For Medicine, you will see in the entry requirements tab that you would still be considered if you take IB Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations, however IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches remains the recommended option. IB applicants applying for Medicine would normally take Chemistry, Biology & Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher level, though it is possible to swap the Biology for Physics if you prefer.
If the course you are applying for requires A level Mathematics and A level Further Mathematics (Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Maths) then please be assured that IB Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches at Higher Level is fine.
There is a free online STEP Support Programme if you are applying for Maths at Cambridge.
Additional tests you may need to take
When reading this page, note that in addition to the International Baccaalureate, in most cases we would normally expect to see:
- STEP papers II and III if you are applying for Mathematics
See the STEP information on the Maths page. STEP is not needed if you are applying for a subject other than maths. - an Admissions Test, if this is required for your course at Cambridge
Please check the applying information on the relevant subject page and be careful as some tests require registration by a deadline in mid-September.
In all cases it is essential to read the relevant Christ's subject page for details of what is needed for the course you are applying for.
Typical offers
We define the terms of each offer individually, but the typical conditional IB offer at Christ's requires 42 points overall (i.e including bonus points), with 7,7,6 in your Higher Level subjects. In reality many of our students arrive with at least one grade above that (we advise you to be academically ambitious!). See the subject requirements and offer information on the relevant Christ's subject page for any further information.
IB students at Christ's
It is not at all unusual to apply to Christ's with the IB, whether you're taking it inside or outside the UK. We are fully familiar with the IB and happy to consider students for all courses with it.
Student writers who took the IB include Oliwia (Psychologial & Behavioual Sciences), Pascual (Geography), Emma (Law), Stratis (Natural Sciences / Engineering) Diana (HSPS), Elise (Geography), Oscar (Psychological & Behavioural Sciences), Jack (HSPS), Belinda (Geography) and Mira (Education).
Is it too stressful to apply to Cambridge whilst you're studying for the IB?
This is a question that one of our prospective IB students asked, and we can reassure you that applying to Cambridge doesn't have to be stressful - we have lots of applicants who apply to Christ's whilst they are studying for the IB: the organisational skills needed are very similar to the organisational skills you need as a current Cambridge student, so we suggest that you look on it as practice!
It is worth being aware that the Cambridge application process is quite involved. As well as juggling your six IB subjects, Extended Essay and CAS requirements, the Cambridge process has quite a few elements including application forms, a possible admissions test, interviews etc. All of this is entirely possible to manage as long as you don't leave things to the last minute, so read the information about applying in advance, use the UK or international additional support pages as the application period approaches, and then pay attention to the chronological stages set out in the current applicants section once it is published on 20 Sept - between the website and our emails to applicants, we will help you through the process!
Further information
If you are taking the International Baccalaureate, please also read the IB information on the Cambridge Admissions website here. Scroll down and click on International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB).
Subjects at Christ's / How to apply / Exploring Courses / Subject resources
