IBDP Group 3 Subjects (Individuals and Societies)- A Complete Guide

IB Economics includes economic theories and real-world applications. The emphasis of this subject is on sustainability and a global perspective. Students study micro and macroeconomic concepts under the subject. Students deeply observe the problem of population and the aftereffects of this population. They study the problem of scarcity. IB Economics students of SL and HL deeply examine and study microeconomics and macroeconomics.

Unit 1: Introduction to Economics– This unit is divided into parts, and students study the concept of Economics and how this concept is useful for the world. They study the economist and their role.

Unit 2 Microeconomics– In this unit, students study the demand and supply of material and what are the challenges which affect the demand and supply. They also study the role of government in microeconomics. There are also subtopics like market failure and the market’s inability.

Unit 3 Macroeconomics-This unit covers economic activities and the objective of macroeconomics. There is a discussion of monetary policy, fiscal policy, and supply-side policies as well.

Unit 4 The global economy-This unit highlights the benefits of international trade and types of trade protection. There are many other subtopics like economic integration, exchange rates, balance of payment and sustainable development. This unit also covers development strategies for economic growth and what are the barriers to economic growth.

There are two types of evaluations.

External assessment: There are three different exams.

Paper 1: This question paper has the weightage of 20 marks and questions are extended response type questions full It has a time limit of 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Paper 2: This question paper covers the questions related to data from all the units of the syllabus. It has a weightage of 30 marks, and the time duration is one hour and 45 minutes.

Paper 3: It has questions related to the economic policies. The weightage of this paper is 30 marks, and it has a time duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Internal assessment– Students must prepare a portfolio where they prepare a project of 20 hours of research work. They can prepare their commentaries from the different units except the introductory unit. This internal assessment contains 20 marks.

Career opportunities-Students who opt for economics can make their career in finance, economics, public policy, development studies and business.

    This subject of IB keeps students connected with the 21st-century business challenges. Students study business management theories and how they can apply these theories and techniques in real-world scenarios. They deeply observe business activities from local to international levels. They study the different sectors and their different socio-cultural and economic status. Students get the conceptual knowledge with the real-world examples and case studies, which increase their interest, and they feel concerned at the local and global levels. The IB curriculum promotes sensible and aware global citizens who are well informed and who can think critically.

    Syllabus Outline:

    Unit 1: introduction to business management:-Students study about business and its types. They also study the objectives and different stakeholders. There is a discussion of multinational companies under this unit.

    Unit 2: Human resource management: Students study the introduction of human resource management and the structure of this organisation. There is a discussion of motivation and demotivation, and the role of communication, etc. Students of HL also study orgorganisationallture and industrial relations.

     Unit 3 Finance and Accounts-This unit is about the introduction to finance, which includes sources of finance, cost and revenues, final accounts, cash flow, investment, budgets, etc. Students of HL also study about debt and equity ratio analysis.

    Unit 4 marketing: Students study marketing, marketing planning, sales forecasting (HL only), market research and international marketing (HL only), etc.

    Unit 5: Operations Management This unit has the introduction of operations management, operations methods, lean production and quality management (HL only), location, break-even analysis, production planning (HL only), crisis management (HL), research and development (HL only), management information systems (HL only)

    External assessment: There are three papers.

    • Paper 1 includes the questions based on an unseen case study. This paper contains 25 marks, and the time duration is one hour and 30 minutes.
    • Paper 2 of IB Business Management is based on unseen stimulus material with a quantitative focus. This question paper contains 25 marks, and it has a time duration of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
    • Paper 3 of IB Business Management contains unseen stimulus material about a social enterprise full It also includes the weightage of 25 marks, and the time duration is 1 hour and 15 minutes.

    Internal assessment– Students prepare a business research project where they produce a research work, which they prepare after an investigation of 20 hours. This project work has a weightage of 20 marks.

    There are only two papers for the students of business management standard level (SL)

    • Paper 1 contains a case study related to pre-released statements. It has a weightage of 35 marks, and the time duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    • Paper 2 is based on unseen stimulus material with a quantity focus, and it has the weightage of 35 marks with a time duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes.

    Internal assessment– Students prepare the same type of research project as students of business management at a higher level.

      It is the study of mental processes and behaviour in which students study about human biological, cognitive, socio-cultural and psychological perspectives. This subject is also part of group 3 humanities, and it has a holistic approach to develop and understanding among students about the immense diversity of human behaviour and mental processes.

      Syllabus overview– There are a few core topics which are compulsory for SL and HL both.

      • Biological approach to understanding behaviour
      • Cognitive approach to understanding behaviour
      • Socio-cultural approach to understanding behaviour
      • Approaches to researching behaviour. Few topics are optional for students.
      • Abnormal Psychology
      • Development Psychology
      • Health Psychology
      • Psychology of Human Relationships

        External assessment: There are three papers conducted.

        1. Paper one is based on three short-answer type questions from the core topics, and there is one essay-type question. HL students will have the essay from the additional HL topics.

        2. Paper 2 contains one question out of 3, and students of HL must attempt all to questions of which one will be from the HL topics.

        3. Paper 3 has three short-answer type questions, which are based on research approaches.

        Internal assessment-Students prepare an experiment study. They prepare a report where they show the research work of 20 hours.

          It is a subject which is connected to the real world. The focus of IB geography is on the interactions between people, places and the environment. Students deeply observe global issues like climate change and population growth. This subject is introduced to create an awareness among students through case studies and the discussion of a variety of scales from local to international.

          Syllabus overview-Students of SL must choose two options from the seven, while students of HL must choose three options from the seven.

          1. Freshwater
          2. Oceans and coastal margins
          3. Extreme environment
          4. Jio physical hazards
          5. Ledger tourism and sport
          6. Food and health
          7. Urban environment SL and HL core
          8. Population distribution changing population
          9. Global climate vulnerable and resilience
          10. Global resource consumption and security HL only
          11. Power places and networks
          12. Human development and diversity
          13. Global risk and resilience

          Internal assessment: Students do field work and prepare a written report, which includes questions related to field work and information collection, analysis, with evaluation.

          • Paper 1: The student will answer one extended answer question from the choice of two questions.
          • Paper 2: It contains three structured questions for SL and HL core units full This question paper contains infographics or visuals, and students give answers in extended form.
          • Paper 3 of IB Geography contains three extended answer questions for HL students only.

            History develops a sense of enquiry among students. This subject engages students with multiple perspectives, and they study the past and develop an understanding of the nature of humans in the past and humans of today. The IB history course is about the history of the world, where students study multiple perspectives and observe the historical change, which is also related to many other changes, like economic changes social, and cultural changes.

            Syllabus overview

            1. Military leaders
            2. Conquest and its impact
            3. The move to global war
            4. Rights and protest
            5. Conflict and intervention: Students will prepare two case studies from different regions of the world under these topics. History topics
            6. Society and economy
            7. Causes and effects of war
            8. Dynasties and rulers
            9. Societies in transition
            10. Early modern States
            11. Causes of early modern war
            12. Origin, development, and impact of industrialisation
            13. Independence movement
            14. Emergence and development of democratic States
            15. Authoritarian States
            16. Causes and effects of 20th 20th-century wars
            17. The Cold War superpower tensions and rivalries (20th century)

            There are three papers on IB history.

            • Paper 1 contains source-based questions. It has a time duration of 1 hour, and the weightage is 20 marks.
            • Paper 2 contains essay-based questions from world history topics, and the time duration is one and a half hour. It has a weightage of 25 marks.
            • Paper 3 contains essay-based questions from the four regional options. It has a time duration of two and a half hours and a weightage of 35 minutes.

            Internal assessment– Students prepare an investigation report on the topic of their own choice.