Other DP subjects offered by the IB

School-based syllabuses

A school-based syllabus (SBS) is a Diploma Programme (DP) subject that has been proposed and developed, in close collaboration with the IB, by an IB World School. An SBS provides an opportunity for a school to develop a subject that is not otherwise offered by the IB and that meets the needs of their students.  

An SBS must be officially approved by the IB before it may be offered by a school. An SBS can be developed to be offered in Individuals and Societies, the Sciences or the Arts only. These subjects are examined at the same standard as mainstream subjects, with the same assessment conditions.  

Read the current school-based syllabuses below. 

Arts

• Literary arts 

Individuals and societies

• Art history 
• Brazilian social studies 
• Classical Greek and Roman studies 
• Modern history of Kazakhstan
• World arts and cultures

Sciences 

• Astronomy 
• Food science and technology 
• Marine science

Pilot subjects 

The IB is constantly looking to innovate its curriculum and one method of doing this is through piloting subjects. A pilot subject is designed and developed to the same standard as our mainstream subjects, and is undergoing evaluation in practice with a limited number of schools. Pending successful evaluation, the subject will then become a mainstream offering for all schools. Only schools authorized by the IB are permitted to offer a pilot subject. The pilot subject is examined at the same standard as mainstream subjects, with the same assessment conditions.  

Current pilot subjects:

• Language and culture

Subject guides

Universities and governments who would like a copy of the full subject guide for any subject, including SBS subjects, should contact us. 

Subjects that are no longer offered 

Below is a list of subjects which are no longer offered by the IB. This list is provided to support graduates of the IB whose transcripts may include these historic courses. 

Subject	HL/SL	Year	Type	Comments
Text and performance	SL	2012	Pilot	This subject was updated and renamed to a mainstream subject: Literature and Performance
Language A1 (eg. English A1)	HL & SL	2012		This subject was updated and renamed to Language A : Literature
Language A2 (eg. English A2)	HL & SL	2012		This subject was updated and renamed to Language A : Language and Literature
Electronics	SL	2013	SBS	Discontinued
Chinese studies	SL	2014	SBS	Discontinued
Business and management	HL & SL	2015		This subject was updated and renamed to Business Management
Human rights	SL	2016	SBS	This subject was replaced with a new subject: Global Politics
Peace and conflict studies	SL	2016	SBS	This subject was replaced with a new subject: Global Politics
World politics	SL	2016	SBS	This subject was replaced with a new subject: Global Politics
Science, technology and society	SL	2017	SBS	Discontinued
Chile and Pacific basin	SL	2019	SBS	Discontinued
Further mathematics	HL & SL	2020		Discontinued
Mathematics	HL & SL	2020		This subject was replaced with two new Mathematics subjects
Mathematical studies	SL	2020		This subject was replaced with two new Mathematics subjects
Information technology in global society	HL & SL	2023		This subject was replaced with a new subject: Digital Society
Political thought	SL	2023	SBS	Discontinued