The main emphasis of IB Diploma program is critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and preparing Global citizens who are sensible towards the environment and the planet. This program offers two courses, and students have a choice between them.
The new students always seek guidance and want to know the level of workload and the possible opportunities they will get after completing their course. In this article, we have covered all the essential aspects to give you an overview of these two courses of the IB Diploma program. You can make the right decision based on your interests and academic strength. Let us explore with our IB Tutors.
What is Higher Level and Standard Level (HL VS SL)
The IB Diploma program offers six subject groups from which students must select three at a higher level and three at the standard level. This means students choose the subjects at the higher level in which they want to make their career and are more interested in than the other subjects they are choosing at the standard level. Students can select a maximum of four subjects at HL and a minimum of two subjects at SL. Students at the higher level (HL) have 240 hours of classes, and students at the standard level (SL) have 150 hours. Higher levels require deep study, and the level of study is more complicated and extended than at the standard level. The following points help us understand the difference between HL and SL.
Difference in Curriculum: HL vs SL
HL has a few additional topics students must explore more deeply in HL courses. Here is a brief description of the subjects of SL and HL.
- Mathematics HL-: The Mathematics of HL includes complicated topics like differential equations, advanced calculus, and mathematical proof techniques.
- Mathematics SL-: This level includes topics like differential equations, advanced calculus, and mathematical proof techniques.
- Biology/Chemistry/Physics HL VS SL-:The HL level includes detailed theory and extended experiments. Compared to SL, it requires more practice and additional practical assessments.
Difference in Assessment Pattern
The assessment pattern of HL and SL subjects is also different. Question papers of HL are usually longer and require additional practice. You can understand this with the help of an example from HL history. There are three papers for HL history and two papers for SL history, which is the level of science question paper. More topics are included in HL science. The time duration of solving the question paper is also different. More assignments and practical experiments are included at the HL level. So, it is better to choose the subject of HL very wisely. Selecting a topic that will keep your interest in the subjects alive is better.
Important points to remember while choosing the subjects of HL VS SL
1. Interest and passion: Staying motivated and excited while studying a subject is very important. So, you should be very careful and choose the subjects you are interested in. The level of HL is quite challenging, and if you select the topic of your choice, you will enjoy the challenges. You can take the example of a child interested in reading historical text. Such a child should opt for HL History because this subject might be an ice-scoring subject.
2. Academic strength: Check the record of your previous classes and then try to understand your academic strength in a particular subject. If you are weak in a subject in your past performances, you should not choose that subject at HL. It’s better to choose that subject at SL.
3. Future University and career plans: you should be well aware of career opportunities and future universities where you are planning to take admission after completing your diploma program. If you want to join engineering College, you should opt for mathematics and physics at the HL level. Whether you plan to study medicine, choose chemistry and Biology at the HL level. If you are interested in business, opt for economics and mathematics at 11. If your interest is in arts or humanities, opting for HL English or history is better. These are a few examples.
4. School support and resources: Not all schools offer the same subjects at the HL level, so you should keep detailed information about your school and the subjects offered in the diploma program. This will help you make a wise decision.
5. Time management and workload: It is very challenging for a student to choose four subjects at the HL level. It is possible only when students are highly motivated and well-organized. So, it’s better to choose three subjects at HL where you want to make your future career and three subjects at SL where you will study the main topics, but the pressure of SL subjects will be lighter than the HL subjects. You should also remember that there are additional components like TOK, EE, and CAS.
Common misconceptions
Misconception 1– Students and parents often misunderstand SL subjects as less informative and lacking depth. However, mathematics and science in SL are deeply involved with topics taught at the college level in many Universities.
Misconception 2- It is also a misconception that HL subjects will decide your admission to a new college. Your grades, internal assessment performance, and performance in your HL subjects are equally important.
Misconception 3- Sometimes, students choose four subjects at HL because they believe it will help them get admission to a university of their choice. However, you should remember that it will increase your load, affecting your performance.
Final Tips To Make The Right Decision
1. Research University requirements: if you have already decided on your future goal and you want to achieve that goal by choosing the subjects as per your career goal, you should stay connected with the university’s websites. You will check all the updates about university demands for a particular course.
2. Talk to teachers and alumni: deciding is not always easy. It’s better to get guidance from the teachers or the students who have completed their diploma program and performed well.
3. Self-assessment: you should also check your strengths or weaknesses. Consider the subjects and reflect on your confident attitude towards that subject. It will help you to make a wise decision.
4. Try the subject first: Some schools also allow students to take a trial for HL subjects for a few days. You can use this opportunity to make a better decision.
5. Keep a balanced mix: carefully combining HL and SL subjects is also essential.
Conclusion
It’s essential to have a balanced selection of subjects to go through the IB journey successfully. You should choose the subjects you want to make your future career and where you feel you are interested. Choose the subjects of SL according to your comfort, and do not take the unnecessary load of choosing them for your future goals. You should never forget that scoring high points is not so important. Becoming a deep learner and a good Global citizen is very important. Book a free consultation with our expert IB Online Tutors.
