IB university support materials
May 2026 exam session: Information on Non-Exam Contingency Measure (NECM) and more
English
- The approach to IB DP/CP awarding for schools in conflict-impacted countries where it is deemed exams cannot be taken safely
- Predicted grade quality assurance – school guidance
- Sample Diploma Programme (DP) Letter of Support
- Sample Middle Years Programme (MYP) Letter of Support
Français
- Approche pour l’attribution des résultats du Programme du diplôme et du POP de l’IB dans les pays touchés par un conflit où les examens ne peuvent être passés en toute sécurité
- Instructions pour les établissements scolaires concernant l’assurance de la qualité des notes finales prévues
- Modèle de lettre de soutien du Programme du diplôme
Español
- Enfoque del IB para la concesión de resultados del PD y el POP en países afectados por conflictos que impiden realizar exámenes de forma segura
- Directrices para colegios sobre el control de calidad de las calificaciones previstas
- Ejemplo de carta de apoyo para el Programa del Diploma (PD)
Subject guides
IB subject guides are subject to copyright and should only be used by universities for the purposes of considering the content for admissions and credit policy development. If other colleagues within your institution require access to these guides, we request that they complete this form too. Universities and their representatives may not distribute, sell, use or reproduce these materials for any other purposes as outlined in Rules for use of IB Intellectual Property.
If you wish to use the guides for any other purpose, please contact [email protected].
How to navigate this page
The subject guides, along with mark schemes and sample exam papers from 2025, are organized by subject below. Mark schemes or sample exam papers from school based syllabi (SBS) or pilots are not available. See more information about SBS and pilots.
Discontinued subjects
If you do not see a guide listed, the subject may no longer be offered. See “Discontinued subjects” on the complete list of Diploma Programme (DP) subjects.
French and Spanish subject guides
For access to versions of the guides in French and Spanish, contact [email protected].
Reference documents
- Grade descriptors—first assessment 2027: A compilation of descriptions of each grade for each group of subjects in the DP.
- Grade descriptors—first assessment 2017
- List of all authorized IB World Schools—updated April 2026 (download only)
- All DP subjects: Language availability 2025-2026
- All DP subjects: Language availability 2023-2024
Studies in language and literature
Language A: literature
The IB conducts courses in exams in Language A: literature in 80 languages. See “Reference documents” above for a full list of DP language subject offerings. Below are three examples of the available languages. If you do not see exams in a language you are looking for, please reach out to [email protected].
Please note that there is no mark scheme for Paper 2 in Language A: literature courses, as Paper 2 contains generic literary questions.
English A: literature
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – English A: literature
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – English A: literature
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – English A: literature
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – English A: literature
French A: literature
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – French A: literature
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – French A: literature
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – French A: literature
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – French A: literature
Spanish A: literature
Language A: language and literature
The IB conducts courses in exams in Language A: language and literature in nearly 20 languages. See “Reference documents” above for a full list of DP language subject offerings. Below are three examples of the available languages. If you do not see exams in a language you are looking for, please reach out to [email protected].
Please note that there is no mark scheme for Paper 2 in Language A: language and literature courses, as Paper 2 contains generic literary questions.
English A: language and literature
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – English A: language and literature
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – English A: language and literature
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – English A: language and literature
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – English A: language and literature
French A: language and literature
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – French A: language and literature
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – French A: language and literature
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – French A: language and literature
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – French A: language and literature
Spanish A: language and literature
Language acquisition
Language Ab initio (SL only)
The IB conducts courses in exams in Language Ab initio in more than 10 languages. See “Reference documents” above for a full list of DP language subject offerings. Below is a sampling of the available languages. If you do not see exams in a language you are looking for, please reach out to [email protected].
English ab initio
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – English ab initio
- Sample exam: Paper 1 – English ab initio
- Mark scheme: Listening comprehension – English ab initio
- Sample exam: Listening comprehension – English ab initio
- Mark scheme: Reading comprehension – English ab initio
- Text booklet: Reading comprehension – English ab initio
- Question booklet: Reading comprehension – English ab initio
French ab initio
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – French ab initio
- Sample exam: Paper 1 – French ab initio
- Mark scheme: Listening comprehension – French ab initio
- Sample exam: Listening comprehension – French ab initio
- Mark scheme: Reading comprehension – French ab initio
- Text booklet: Reading comprehension – French ab initio
- Question booklet: Reading comprehension – French ab initio
German ab initio
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – German ab initio
- Sample exam: Paper 1 – German ab initio
- Mark scheme: Listening comprehension – German ab initio
- Sample exam: Listening comprehension – German ab initio
- Mark scheme: Reading comprehension – German ab initio
- Text booklet: Reading comprehension – German ab initio
- Question booklet: Reading comprehension – German ab initio
Mandarin ab initio
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – Mandarin ab initio
- Sample exam: Paper 1 – Mandarin ab initio
- Mark scheme: Listening comprehension – Mandarin ab initio
- Sample exam: Listening comprehension – Mandarin ab initio
- Mark scheme: Reading comprehension – Mandarin ab initio
- Text booklet: Reading comprehension – Mandarin ab initio
- Question booklet: Reading comprehension – Mandarin ab initio
Spanish ab initio
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – Spanish ab initio
- Sample exam: Paper 1 – Spanish ab initio
- Mark scheme: Listening comprehension – Spanish ab initio
- Sample exam: Listening comprehension – Spanish ab initio
- Mark scheme: Reading comprehension – Spanish ab initio
- Text booklet: Reading comprehension – Spanish ab initio
- Question booklet: Reading comprehension – Spanish ab initio
Language B
The IB conducts courses in exams in Language B in more than 20 languages. See “Reference documents” above for a full list of DP language subject offerings. Below is a sampling of the available languages. If you do not see exams in a language you are looking for, please reach out to [email protected].
Arabic B
Standard level – Arabic B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Arabic B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Arabic B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Arabic B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Arabic B
Higher level – Arabic B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Arabic B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Arabic B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Arabic B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Arabic B
English B
Standard level – English B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – English B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – English B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – English B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – English B
Higher level – English B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – English B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – English B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – English B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – English B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – English B
- HL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – English B
- HL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – English B
Chinese B
Standard level – Chinese B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Chinese B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Chinese B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Cantonese)
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Cantonese)
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Mandarin)
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Mandarin)
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
- SL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
- SL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
Higher level – Chinese B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Chinese B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Chinese B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Cantonese)
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Cantonese)
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Mandarin)
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Chinese B (Mandarin)
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
- HL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
- HL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Chinese B
French B
Standard level – French B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – French B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – French B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – French B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – French B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
- SL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
- SL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
Higher level – French B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – French B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – French B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – French B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – French B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
- HL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
- HL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – French B
German B
Standard level – German B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – German B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – German B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – German B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – German B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
- SL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
- SL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
Higher level – German B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – German B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – German B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – German B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – German B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
- HL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
- HL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – German B
Kiswahili B
Standard level – Kiswahili B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Kiswahili B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Kiswahili B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Kiswahili B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Kiswahili B
Higher level – Kiswahili B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Kiswahili B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Kiswahili B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Kiswahili B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Kiswahili B
Spanish B
Standard level – Spanish B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Spanish B
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Spanish B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Spanish B
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Spanish B
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
- SL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
- SL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
Higher level – Spanish B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Spanish B
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Spanish B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Spanish B
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Listening comprehension – Spanish B
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
- HL text booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
- HL question booklet: Paper 2 – Reading comprehension – Spanish B
Classical languages
Standard level – Classical Greek
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Classical Greek
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Classical Greek
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Classical Greek
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Classical Greek
Higher level – Classical Greek
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Classical Greek
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Classical Greek
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Classical Greek
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Classical Greek
Standard level – Latin
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Latin
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Latin
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 - Latin
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Latin
Higher level – Latin
Individuals and societies
Art history (SBS)
Business management
Standard level – Business management
- SL and HL pre-released statement: Paper 1 – Business management
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Business management
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Business management
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Business management
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Business management
Higher level – Business management
- SL and HL pre-released statement: Paper 1 – Business management
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Business management
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Business management
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Business management
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Business management
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Business management
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – Business management
Brazilian social studies (SBS)
Digital society
Standard level – Digital society
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Digital society
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Digital society
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Digital society
- SL and HL sample resource booklet: Paper 2 - Digital society
- SL and HL sample question booklet: Paper 2 - Digital society
Higher level – Digital society
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Digital society
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Digital society
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Digital society
- SL and HL sample resource booklet: Paper 2 - Digital society
- SL and HL sample question booklet: Paper 2 - Digital society
- HL pre-released statement: Paper 3 – Digital society
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Digital society
- HL sample resource booklet: Paper 3 – Digital society
- HL sample question booklet: Paper 3 – Digital society
Economics
Standard level – Economics
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Economics
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Economics
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Economics
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Economics
Higher level – Economics
Geography
Standard level – Geography
- SL and HL sample resource booklet: Paper 1 – Geography
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 - Geography
- SL sample question booklet: Paper 1 – Geography
- SL and HL resource booklet: Paper 2 – Geography
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Geography
- SL and HL sample question booklet: Paper 2 – Geography
Higher level – Geography
- SL and HL sample resource booklet: Paper 1 – Geography
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 - Geography
- HL sample question booklet: Paper 1 – Geography
- SL and HL resource booklet: Paper 2 – Geography
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Geography
- SL and HL sample question booklet: Paper 2 – Geography
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Geography
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – Geography
Global politics
- Global politics subject guide—first assessment 2026
- Global politics subject guide—first assessment 2017
Standard level – Global politics
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Global Politics
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Global Politics
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Global Politics
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Global Politics
Higher level – Global politics
History
- History subject guide—first assessment 2028
- History subject guide—first assessment 2020
- History guide amendments
All mark schemes and sample exams – History
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – History
- SL and HL resource booklet: Paper 1 – History
- SL and HL question booklet: Paper 1 – History
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – History
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – History
Higher level region-specific mark schemes and exams – History
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – History of Africa and the Middle East
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – History of Africa and the Middle East
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – History of the Americas
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – History of the Americas
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – History of Asia and Oceana
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – History of Asia and Oceana
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – History of Europe
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – History of Europe
Philosophy
Standard level – Philosophy
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Philosophy
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Philosophy
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Philosophy
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Philosophy
Higher level – Philosophy
Psychology
Standard level – Psychology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Psychology
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Psychology
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Psychology
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Psychology
Higher level – Psychology
Social and cultural anthropology
Please note that there is no mark scheme for Paper 2 in social and cultural anthropology. Exam questions in Paper 2 are general inquiry.
Standard level – Social and cultural anthropology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Social and cultural anthropology
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Social and cultural anthropology
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Social and cultural anthropology
Higher level – Social and cultural anthropology
Turkey in the 20th century (SBS)
World religions (SL only)
Sciences
Astronomy (SBS)
Biology
Standard level – Biology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1A – Biology
- SL sample exam: Paper 1A – Biology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1B – Biology
- SL sample exam: Paper 1B – Biology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Biology
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Biology
Higher level – Biology
Chemistry
Standard level – Chemistry
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1A – Chemistry
- SL sample exam: Paper 1A – Chemistry
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1B – Chemistry
- SL sample exam: Paper 1B – Chemistry
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Chemistry
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Chemistry
Higher level – Chemistry
Computer science
- Computer science subject guide—first assessment 2027
- Computer science subject guide—first assessment 2014
Standard level – Computer science
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Computer science
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Computer science
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Computer science
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Computer science
Higher level – Computer science
Design technology
- Design technology subject guide—first assessment 2027
- Design technology subject guide—first assessment 2020
Standard level – Design technology
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Design technology
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Design technology
- SL and HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Design technology
- SL and HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Design technology
Higher level – Design technology
Food science and technology (SBS)
Marine science (SBS)
Physics
Standard level – Physics
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1A – Physics
- SL sample exam: Paper 1A – Physics
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1B – Physics
- SL sample exam: Paper 1B – Physics
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Physics
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Physics
Higher level – Physics
Sports, exercise and health science
Standard level – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Sports, exercise and health science
- SL sample exam: Paper 3 – Sports, exercise and health science
Higher level - Sports, exercise and health science
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Sports, exercise and health science
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Sports, exercise and health science
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Sports, exercise and health science
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Sports, exercise and health science
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Sports, exercise and health science
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – Sports, exercise and health science
Mathematics
Analysis and approaches
Standard level – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
Higher level – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – Mathematics: Analysis and approaches
Applications and interpretation
Standard level – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- SL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- SL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- SL sample exam: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
Higher level – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL mark scheme: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL sample exam: Paper 1 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL mark scheme: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL sample exam: Paper 2 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL mark scheme: Paper 3 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
- HL sample exam: Paper 3 – Mathematics: Applications and interpretation
Arts
Note that subjects in the arts are externally assessed through products, performances and/or portfolios. Please view the arts examiner instructions.
Interdisciplinary subjects
Interdisciplinary subjects enable students to meet the diploma requirements for two groups while studying one subject. Students then select another subject to complete the requirement of six.
Environmental systems and societies
- Environmental systems and societies (SL and HL) subject guide—first assessment 2026
- Environmental systems and societies (SL only) subject guide—first assessment 2017
- Mark scheme: Paper 1 – Environmental systems and societies
- Resource booklet: Paper 1 – Environmental systems and societies
- Question booklet: Paper 1 – Environmental systems and societies
- Mark scheme: Paper 2 - Environmental systems and societies
- Sample exam: Paper 2 - Environmental systems and societies
Language and culture (Pilot)
Literature and performance (SL only)
- Literature and performance subject guide (mark scheme included in subject guide)
- SL sample exam: Paper 1 – Literature and performance
DP core
Examiner instructions and samples of assessed student work are available for the extended essay and theory of knowledge.
CP core
Examiner instructions and grade descriptors are available for the reflective project.
Reflective project
Language and cultural studies (formerly language development)
Community engagement (formerly service learning)
Personal and professional skills
IB resources for universities
For an introduction the IB, and to learn about the IB and why IB students are assets to universities, read our brochure Your university and the IB.
For more resources on IB curriculum, attracting and supporting IB students, recognition recommendations, and IB outcomes research visit our university admissions resources webpage.