IB Subject Choice: HL/SL Without Regret
"What should I take at HL? Is it safe to load up on 'easy' subjects?" Your IB subject choices shape your university options for years. Here's how to choose without regret, starting from what your target degree actually requires.
Choosing your IB Diploma subjects is the first real strategic decision you make. It shapes not only your workload for two years but also which university courses you'll be eligible to apply to afterwards. What should you take at HL? Is it safe to fill your timetable with "easy" subjects? Let's work through the common doubts, starting with how to choose.
How is the IB structured?
The IB Diploma is built from six subject groups, and you choose a subject from each:
- Group 1: Studies in Language & Literature — literature in your first language
- Group 2: Language Acquisition — a second/foreign language
- Group 3: Individuals & Societies — history, economics, geography, psychology and more
- Group 4: Sciences — physics, chemistry, biology and more
- Group 5: Mathematics — AA or AI
- Group 6: The Arts — visual arts, music, theatre and more
You normally take one subject from each group, six in total. The Arts group can be substituted with another subject from a different group. Of your six subjects, you typically take three at HL (Higher Level) and three at SL (Standard Level).
What should decide your HL and SL?
The biggest driver isn't preference or reputation — it's your target university's and degree's subject requirements.
| Consideration | How to choose for HL | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Put the subjects your degree requires at HL | STEM often requires HL Maths/sciences |
| Interest & strength | Subjects you can sustain in depth | Don't pick on "easy" reputation alone |
| Workload | HL is broader and takes more time | Budget the total load of three HLs realistically |
| University check | Always verify the official requirements | They vary by university, course and year |
For STEM paths (engineering, sciences, medicine and similar), many universities require HL Maths and/or HL sciences, and missing them can make you ineligible to apply at all. In fields with looser requirements, you have more room to follow your interests. Either way, requirements differ by university, course and year, so always check each university's official requirements.
When you're stuck, the order is simple: (1) look up your target courses' requirements, (2) list the HL options that satisfy them, (3) narrow those down to what you can genuinely sustain. Decide in that order and you'll have fewer regrets.
How do you balance interest and workload?
Once requirements are met, the next thing that matters is whether you can sustain the course for two years. HL is broader and deeper than SL, and naturally demands more study time. A timetable where all three HLs are heavy tends to bite later, when internal assessments (IAs) and coursework pile up and your final score strategy suffers.
- Include at least one subject you genuinely enjoy. Motivation is your biggest fuel over two years.
- Build your HL "spine" around a strength. Three HLs all in your weak areas will grind you down.
- Look at the total load, not just individual difficulty. Weigh three HLs plus IAs and CAS together.
Should you aim for the bilingual diploma?
The IB offers a bilingual diploma for students who meet certain conditions — for example, studying and being assessed in two languages. It's appealing if you want your multilingual learning recognised. However, the exact conditions and eligible subjects vary by school and year, so if you're aiming for it, confirm the details with your IB coordinator early.
Summary: how to choose without regret
- Research your target universities' and courses' subject requirements first. This is the starting point for everything.
- Check which subjects your own school actually offers. Your choices are limited to what's available.
- From the HL options that meet the requirements, narrow down by interest and strength.
- Don't decide on "easy" alone. Fit and requirements beat reputation.
- If you're going to change, change early. Late switches are hard to recover from.
Subject choice is partly an information game, and on your own it's hard to see exactly which combination your target courses really need. A single conversation with someone who's actually done the IB can quickly clarify how to read the requirements and put together a realistic, regret-free combination.
