Top 10 Easiest IB Subjects to Study in 2026

Looking for the easiest IB Diploma Programme (DP) subjects you can study in 2025? 

Choosing the right IB subjects is crucial, and you may be weighing up factors such as workload and exam format to help inform your decision. 

The IB programme is renowned for being academically rigorous, with some considering it to be more difficult than A Levels. 

In this article, we’ll explore the IB subjects that may be considered easier than others. 

Key Takeaways

• "Easy" is subjective. A subject that feels manageable to one student may feel overwhelming to another. 

• Assessment style matters. Subjects with a significant Internal Assessment (IA) component give you more control over your grade throughout the year - rather than putting everything on exam day.

• Suitability beats reputation. Choosing a subject because it's supposedly easy without considering your own strengths is a risky strategy.

What Are The Easiest IB Subjects?

To assess the difficulty of IB subjects, we’ll consider the pass rate of each one. Achieving a grade 4 or above (4 - 7) is considered a pass. 

According to the IBO May 2025 Final Statistical Bulletin (opens in a new tab), the highest-scoring subjects were dominated by languages.

The IB Diploma Programme splits subjects into six different groups. The aim is to give students a well-rounded education and to develop a variety of skills. 

You’ll choose one subject from each of the first five groups. Your sixth choice can either be an Arts subject from the sixth group, or another subject from groups 1-5.

These groups are: 

• Studies in Language and Literature

• Language Acquisition

• Individuals and Societies

• Sciences

• Mathematics

• The Arts

Each group offers a range of subjects that focus on different skills and areas of knowledge.

Based on the IBO May 2025 Final Statistical Bulletin (opens in a new tab), here are the top 10 subjects with the highest number of students earning a passing grade. 

Top 10 Easiest IB Subjects

All data below is taken from the IB DP Final Statistical Bulletin 2025 (opens in a new tab).

1. Russian B HL

Pass rate: 100%

Russian B SL is consistently one of the highest-scoring IB subjects in the world.

In the May 2025 session, Russian B recorded an average grade of 6.7 out of 7.

All Language B courses are designed for students with prior experience of the target language. So, Russian B is designed for students who have prior experience with Russian, either through school or home background. 

It assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking across real-world contexts.

The assessment combines written exams with an Individual Oral component, which rewards students who can communicate naturally in the language. 

It's worth noting that the high average partly reflects the fact that all students choosing Russian B come in with a genuine advantage. If you're starting from scratch, Russian Ab Initio may be the more appropriate route.

2. Kiswahili B HL

Pass rate: 100%

While all students who took the Kiswahili B HL course passed in 2025, it’s considered a niche subject with only 36 having enrolled.

This language is widely spoken in Kenya and Tanzania, with many other African nations having some variant spoken.

Again, this is a Language B subject, so all learners will have experience with the language. This natural or taught aptitude means they have a strong advantage when it comes to picking up the higher grades.

3. Korean B HL

Pass rate: 100%

Over half the students who took Korean B HL in 2025 achieved a grade 7. That has lead to a high mean score achieved of 6.4.

If you speak Korean and want to boost your IB grades, this Language B course is a no-brainer. However, if you still want to take Korean but have very little experience or exposure to the language, consider the Korean Ab Initio equivalent.

4. Hindi B SL

Pass rate: 99.4%

With nearly 1,600 students taking Hindi B SL in 2025, this is one of the larger cohorts of the Language B courses.

As the fastest growing language in India, it’s a wise choice for native or experienced Hindi speakers.

Remember, you have to choose six subjects to form your IB programme. Using a Language B - like Hindi - is a fantastic way to give your overall score a boost.

5. Dutch B HL

Pass rate: 99.3%

Students with experience of Dutch may enjoy looking into the themes of key Dutch texts, while focusing on the nuances of the grammar and syntax of the Dutch language.

Dutch B HL saw a mean average score of 5.8 in 2025, making it a grade-boosting subject. With one of the lowest student cohorts of all the Language B courses, you may need to check that your IB school provides it.

What Does "Easy" Mean When Choosing IB Subjects?

It’s impossible to say that any IB subject is objectively ‘easy’. This completely depends on each student’s own unique strengths and weaknesses. 

While pass rates provide a snapshot of overall performance, they don't capture the whole picture of how difficult a subject is. It's also about how complex the material is, the amount of content to be covered and the ways you're assessed.

Personal Interests & Strengths

You should choose IB subjects that align with your interests. 

It’s no good choosing subjects that you struggle to engage with – this will only make your IB studies harder. 

If you’re looking for a way to keep your studies enjoyable and manageable, choose subjects you feel the most enthusiastic about and excel in. 

With IB, students have a little less freedom when it comes to choosing subjects. You have to choose one subject from each of the subject groups outlined above. 

That being said, you can carefully assess each subject group and consider which courses are most suited to your interests and skills.

Subject Content and Prior Knowledge

Familiarity with a topic before you start the IB can make an enormous difference to how difficult a subject feels.

A student who has studied Russian at GCSE or is a near fluent Russian speaker will find the IB syllabus far less daunting than a student starting from scratch. 

When evaluating your subject options, be honest with yourself about what you already know. Subjects that build directly on prior learning have a lower learning curve in the first year of the Diploma, which is exactly when the pressure is highest.

Assessment Style

How a subject is assessed has a major impact on whether it suits your working style.

Some subjects, like Chemistry HL and Maths AA HL, are almost entirely exam-based. Your entire grade depends on performance over a few hours in the exam hall. If you perform poorly under pressure, these subjects carry a high risk.

Other subjects, like Film SL, have significant Internal Assessment components. Your coursework contributes more to your final grade, meaning you can secure marks throughout the year rather than in a single sitting.

Coursework-heavy subjects reward:

• Organisation

• Sustained effort

• The ability to work independently over extended periods

Exam-heavy subjects reward: 

• Sharp recall

• Time management

• The ability to perform under pressure

Neither style is objectively better, but knowing which suits you is essential information when choosing your subjects.

Workload and Time Commitment

Different IB subjects carry very different demands on your time outside the classroom.

• Sciences with lab requirements (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) demand significant time for practical work, lab reports, and IA write-ups. 

• Economics requires extensive reading and essay practice. 

• Mathematics demands consistent daily practice to keep skills sharp.

When planning your combination, think about the total workload across all six subjects.

How to Choose the Right IB Subjects for You

Choosing your IB subjects shouldn't be about ranking-chasing. It should be about building a combination that sets you up to perform at your best.

Here's a simple framework to guide your decision-making:

1. Start with your university goals. If you want to study Medicine, you'll likely need Biology and Chemistry HL. If you're aiming for Economics, you may need Maths AA. Work backwards from where you want to end up.

2. Be honest about your strengths. Think about which subjects you enjoyed at GCSE or IGCSE, and which ones felt effortless versus draining. 

3. Look at the assessment breakdown. Check the IBO subject guide (opens in a new tab) for each subject you're considering. 

• How much is IA? 

• How many papers? 

• Are any components oral or practical? 

Make sure the format works for you.

4. Balance your combination. Aim for a combination with at least one subject you find really enjoyable - something that keeps you motivated when the rest of the workload gets heavy.

5. Don't go purely on reputation. What worked for a friend may not work for you. Speak to older IB students at your school and, most importantly, your own teachers.

Next step: For more detailed guidance, check out our articles:

• Is the IB Diploma Worth It?

• Hardest IB Subjects

• Best IB Subject Combinations

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Easiest IB Subject to Get a High Grade In?

There's no single answer.

But, based on average grade data from the May 2025 session (opens in a new tab), Russian B HL, Korean B HL and Kiswahili B HL had the highest pass rates of 100%.

However, these subjects attract students who already have a strong linguistic background, which significantly skews the average upward.

Will Choosing Easier IB Subjects Impact My University Application?

It depends on the university and the course you're applying for.

For competitive degree programmes, like Medicine or Economics at top universities, admissions requirements are very specific. You may need Chemistry HL or Maths AA HL, regardless of whether they're considered hard. For example, taking ESS SL instead of Chemistry HL would not satisfy a medical school requirement.

For many other university courses, subject choices matter less than your overall IB score. A strong score in a subject that suits you will almost always outperform a mediocre score in a subject you chose purely for its reputation.

Our advice: research the entry requirements for your target courses early. Then choose subjects that both meet those requirements and give you the best realistic chance of performing well.

Are Coursework-Based Subjects Easier Than Exams?

Not necessarily. They're just demanding in a different way.

The key question to answer is: which style of assessment brings out your best work? 

Which IB Subjects are Right For You?

There's no magic list of easy IB subjects that guarantees you a comfortable ride through the Diploma.

What the data does tell us is that some subjects consistently produce stronger outcomes for students who are well-matched to them.

The best IB combination isn't the one with the lowest reputation for difficulty. It's the one that plays to your genuine strengths, aligns with where you want to go after school, and keeps you motivated enough to put in the work over two demanding years.

At Save My Exams, we have comprehensive revision resources for a huge range of IB subjects. Whatever combination you choose, we're here to help you do your best.

References

IBO May 2025 Final Statistical Bulletin (opens in a new tab)

IBO - DP Curriculum (opens in a new tab)