How do I choose the subjects I want to study?
A number of factors need to be considered before making subject choices. What do I want to study at university? What subjects do I enjoy? What subjects am I good at?
The IB Diploma allows students to choose subjects from six subject groupings. This means that every student choses one subject from each of the following groups 1 to 5. Three subjects are studied at Higher (H) Level and three at Standard (S) Level for two years. The three Higher Level courses should be in the subjects you enjoy and which support your career aspirations. These are the subjects you will study in depth. The three Standard Level courses will provide you with an interesting, balanced programme.
St. Clare’s offers an exceptionally wide choice of IB courses.
Choose one subject each from groups 1 to 5 and then a sixth subject from either group 6 or another from groups 1 to 4.
Full details of the IB Diploma subjects on offer can be found in our comprehensive guide.
| Group 1 |
Studies in Language and Literature
First language / native language |
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This is your first or best language. The following Literature courses are offered:
- H and S: English, German, Italian.
- S only: Albanian, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, Icelandic, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Mandarin, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, and other languages on request. Language and Literature is available only in English.
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| Group 2 |
Language Acquisition
Second language |
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This is the language you are learning; most students chose English as this helps with the study of other subjects. Some of our students are bi- or tri-lingual and study another second language.
- H and S: English, French, Spanish and German. Some previous knowledge is necessary.
- S only: Chinese for beginners and Spanish for beginners.
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| Group 3 |
| Individuals and Societies |
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Individual and Societies currently includes:
- H or S: History, Geography, Psychology, Economics.
- H only: Business and Management.
- S only: World Politics.
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| Group 3 or 4 |
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There is only one course in this group - Environmental Systems and Societies. When making a subject choice, Environmental Systems and Societies can be included in either Group 3 or Group 4.
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| Group 4 |
| Science |
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- H or S: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
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| Group 5 |
| Mathematics |
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All students have to take Mathematics and three different courses are offered.
Mathematics at Higher Level is for students who have a strong background and ability in mathematics and either want to study Maths at university or need the subject to pursue a degree, e.g. in Physics or Engineering.
Mathematics Standard also requires a strong background and ability and is designed to help students who want to study subjects at university with a mathematical content, e.g. Chemistry, Economics, Geography or Business Studies.
If you don't need maths in your future studies, Mathematical Studies will provide you with the skills to apply mathematics to real-life situations.
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| Group 6 |
| Arts and Electives |
You can choose to study Music, Theatre or the Visual Arts from this group OR you can choose one of the following:
- another language
- another subject from Individuals and Socieities
- another science
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The Core Elements
The IB Diploma contains three core elements which help provide overview, additional academic specialisation and a recognition of interests outside the classroom. These are the Theory of Knowledge course, the Extended Essay and the CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) programme.