What does IB stand for? Ask a teacher or counselor and you will hear one answer: International Baccalaureate, an education program used by schools around the world. When an American high school says it offers IB, it usually means juniors and seniors can take the IB Diploma Programme, a two-year set of challenging courses with outside exams.
The organization behind it was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968. Its first aim was to give students who moved between countries a diploma that universities everywhere would accept. Today public, private and charter schools in the United States offer it to local students too.
Quick facts
Stands for (school)
International BaccalaureateType
Initialism, said I BFounded
1968, in Geneva, SwitzerlandBest known program
The IB Diploma Programme, for ages 16 to 19Diploma score
Up to 45 pointsOther meanings
Investment banking, inbound, in businessCompare with
AP, Advanced Placement
What does IB stand for in school?
On course catalogs and report cards, the two letters point to the International Baccalaureate. A baccalaureate is a diploma earned at the end of secondary school, and the word is said "back-uh-LOR-ee-it." Most people skip the long word and just say "I B," which makes the short form an initialism.
You will see the letters used in a few ways: "an IB school" offers the program, "an IB student" is enrolled in it, and "IB English" or "IB Biology" names one of its courses.
The four IB programmes
| Programme | Short form | Ages |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Years Programme | PYP | 3 to 12 |
| Middle Years Programme | MYP | 11 to 16 |
| Diploma Programme | DP | 16 to 19 |
| Career-related Programme | CP | 16 to 19 |
The official names use the British spelling "programme," and you will see it that way on school websites. A school can offer one programme or several.
How the IB Diploma works
Diploma students take six subjects, usually one from each of these groups: their own language and literature, a second language, social studies, sciences, math and the arts. Some swap the arts class for an extra subject. Three or four of the six are taken at Higher Level and the rest at Standard Level.
On top of that sits the core:
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK): a class about how we know what we know.
- Extended Essay (EE): an independent research paper of up to 4,000 words.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): projects in the arts, sports and community service.
Each subject is graded from 1 to 7, and the core can add up to 3 bonus points, for a top score of 45.
From a counselor's email: "Students who want the full IB Diploma should choose three HL courses for junior year." HL means Higher Level, the deeper version of an IB course.
IB compared with AP
Families often weigh IB against AP, or Advanced Placement. AP lets students pick single courses and take one exam per course. IB, at the diploma level, is a connected two-year program with the essay and service work built in. Many colleges give credit or placement for strong scores in either, but each college sets its own rules. Some students take IB courses without seeking the full diploma, and earn a certificate for each subject instead.
Test prep letters such as SAT and PSAT are separate from both. For more classroom letters, browse school acronyms.
Other things IB can mean
| Field | Stands for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | Investment banking or investment banker | "She landed an IB internship." |
| Shipping and call centers | Inbound | "Check the IB dock for the delivery." |
| Texting | I'm back | "ib, what did I miss" |
| Online posts | Inspired by, crediting an idea | "Outfit ib a friend's photo" |
A school newsletter, a course list or a college application nearly always means International Baccalaureate.
Tips for families new to IB
Ask whether your school offers the full Diploma or only some IB classes, how many students finish the Diploma, and how local colleges treat IB scores. Plan for the extra time the Extended Essay and service hours take in junior and senior year. Writing "IB" on a resume or application is fine once you have spelled out International Baccalaureate the first time.
Questions people ask
Is IB the same at every high school?
Yes. Any high school offering IB means International Baccalaureate. It usually refers to the two-year IB Diploma Programme for 11th and 12th graders.
Is IB harder than AP?
Many students find IB more demanding overall because of the essay, the service projects and the linked courses. Single AP classes can be just as hard, so it depends on the subjects and the student.
What is a good IB score?
The Diploma is scored out of 45, and a total of 24 or more, with some other conditions met, earns the diploma. Scores in the high 30s and above are seen as strong.
What does IB mean in text?
In a text, ib often means "I'm back." In some posts it means "inspired by."
How do you say International Baccalaureate?
Say it in-ter-NASH-uh-nul back-uh-LOR-ee-it. Most people just say "I B."