The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a qualification pathway that enables students to gain University Entrance (UE). IB students attend over 5,000 IB World Schools in 153 countries. In 2013, Takapuna Grammar School became the first public school in New Zealand accredited to offer the Diploma Programme.

IB students study a broad range of subjects. They choose one subject each from Literature, Foreign Languages, Social Sciences, Maths, Science and Art, and also have the option to choose an additional science instead of an arts subject. Students identify their three strongest subjects to extend their learning at Higher Level, the other three subjects are taken at Standard Level.

In the IB Diploma Programme, students study six subjects; 3 at higher level (HL) and 3 at standard level (SL). Students must choose one subject from each of Groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of learning in Language and Literature, Languages, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics. Students can study an Art in Group 6, or take another Science instead.

The subjects are:

• Language and Literature

  • English - HL/SL

  • Chinese - HL/SL

• Languages

  • English - HL/SL

  • Spanish - SL only

  • French - SL only

  • Japanese - SL only

  • Chinese - SL only

Note: If students haven't studied a Foreign Language in Year 11 NCEA, they should take Spanish Ab Initio which is for students with no or little prior knowledge of Spanish.

• Social Sciences

  • Economics - HL/SL 

  • Geography - HL/SL 

  • History - HL/SL

  • Psychology - HL/SL

• Science

  • Biology - HL/SL

  • Chemistry - HL/SL

  • Physics - HL/SL

  • Sports, Exercise, Health Science - HL only 

• Mathematics

  • Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation - SL only

  • Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches - HL/SL

• The Arts

  • *Students can do two Science subjects or two Social Science subjects instead of taking an Arts subject.

  • Music - HL/SL

  • Visual Arts - HL/SL

In addition, all students participate in all three components of the Core: The Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and Creativity, Activity and Service. These are central to the philosophy of the Diploma and the Learner Profile.