Navigating the IB Diploma Program at an Online School
September 15, 2025
The internationally-recognized International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, offered to students in their junior and senior years of high school, has long been regarded as a highly respected academic pathway for high-achieving students seeking entrance to college or university.
The established, nationally ranked Dwight Global Online School was one of the first schools in the world to partner with the IB to allow students to complete the IB DP online.
Today, students interested in pursuing the IB DP online can enjoy the benefits and scheduling flexibility that come with online learning at Dwight Global, while pursuing a rigorous curriculum that will prepare them for top colleges and universities around the world.
Online International Baccalaureate DP Curriculum
Subject Selection
To stay on track, students should become familiar with the IB diploma program requirements before each school year, and prepare themselves for a full academic workload and exams. Junior year of high school is considered Year 1 of the IBDP. Students can choose within the required subject areas for the classes they find most interesting.
Core IB Program Courses
The IB DP consists of six subject areas, including:
- Language and Literature
- International Languages
- Individuals and Societies
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- The Arts
To complete the two-year IB DP, students must complete one course from each Group 1-Group 5, plus a sixth subject chosen from Group 6, or additional courses from Groups 1-5.
Theory of Knowledge
Once the core program courses are completed, students pursuing the IB DP must complete three major components, starting with the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course.
"The Diploma Programme is really an ideological structure with three components," explained Megan Koepsell, Dean of International Baccalaureate Studies at Dwight Global. “Theory of Knowledge asks: 'How do we know? Why do we know it? Is what I know in history the same as what I know in math?'
The TOK course is assessed using a student exhibition and a 1,600 word essay. Students create an exhibit of three objects that explores how TOK manifests itself in the world.
The Theory of Knowledge course fosters a sense of curiosity and wonder for students. It also boosts critical thinking skills that will support post-academic success.
Extended Essay
The second component of the IBDP is the Extended Essay. This 4,000-word paper is an independent, self-directed project that can help students prepare for undergraduate research work.
"The Extended Essay is a research paper that allows students to choose a topic they feel passionate about,” Koepsell said. “We pair them with an advisor and equip them to conduct scholarly academic research."
CAS
The final component of the IBDP is Creative, Activity, and Service – better known as CAS. These three strands are often interwoven with particular activities, which the IB program classifies as:
- Creativity – Arts, and other experiences that require creative thinking.
- Activity – Physical exertion supporting a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the program.
- Service – An unpaid, volunteer experience that offers a unique learning opportunity for the student.
CAS fosters initiative, perseverance, and valuable skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making.
"This component aims to provide balance for students—developing not only their academic curriculum but also the holistic parts of how they engage with content," Koepsell explained.
"We want students to be creative, active, and to think about how they can take what they’ve learned, and what they’re passionate about, and connect it to their surroundings. It’s about taking their learning outside of books and classrooms and really looking at the world around them," she said.
Classwork and Assessments
Students enrolled in the IB DP undergo a thorough evaluation process. They need a minimum of three Standard Level (SL) and three Higher Level (HL) courses, or two SL and four HL courses. SL and HL courses are determined based on previous coursework and placement assessments.
At Dwight Global, students meet regularly with guidance counselors to help ensure that the necessary requirements are being met each semester. Students are encouraged to try a wide range of courses within the required groups, so they can explore various subjects and find their passions.
The IB governing organization is tremendously involved in its own assessment of the schools they authorize to teach the IB. Each year, the International Baccalaureate Assessment Center provides schools with feedback regarding student and teacher performance. This helps the school to evaluate and celebrate the strengths and address any weaknesses in the program’s delivery. The IB organization also provides periodic reevaluations and ongoing teacher training.
Internal and External Assessments
Dwight Global works with students as a community to foster student growth and establish a global mindset, while preparing young scholars for college-level coursework.
IB DP students can expect to complete internal, external, and written examinations in Year 2 of the program. External assessments are used as the basic assessment for most IB courses, and can include essays, structured problems, short-response questions, and case-study questions.
Teachers conduct internal assessments throughout the courses in the form of oral work in languages, field work in geography, laboratory work in the sciences, artistic performances, and investigations in mathematics. Scores awarded for each IB DP course range from 1- 7, with 7 the highest score.
In addition to online IB classes and the IB DP, Dwight Global Online School also offers a range of challenging Honors and Advanced Placement courses.
For more information on Dwight Global, attend a virtual open house or apply today.