IB World Religions Topics: Full List

The IB Diploma Programme SL World Religions course covers a wide range of material designed to allow you to study the beliefs and practices of some of the world’s main living religions, gaining a sense of how religions shape identity, belief, and action in the lives of their followers. You’ll benefit from introductory studies that explore various faiths and delve deeper into a detailed analysis of themes such as ritual, ethics, and sacred texts. 

Having a clear overview of the IB World Religions topics helps you see how the syllabus fits together and what you’ll be expected to learn.

Key Takeaways

• The IB World Religions course is split into three parts: an Introductory Unit, an In-Depth Study, and an Investigative Study.

• You’ll start by looking at five religions, selected from a table of nine.

• Later, you’ll focus more closely on two of those religions in greater depth.

• Themes like rituals, texts, doctrines, experience, and ethics are central to the course.

• Everything is shaped by three guiding questions: “What is the human condition?” “Where are we going?” “How do we get there?”

Understanding the Structure of the IB World Religions Course

The IB World Religions course is part of the IB Diploma Programme. If you’d like to know more, our guide to the IB Diploma Programme can help. This course is designed to balance breadth with depth. You’ll start by building a foundation of knowledge across several different religious traditions, then focus in on a smaller number for closer study. Finally, you’ll carry out your own independent research.

Introductory Unit (Part 1)

In this first stage, you’ll study five religions chosen from the official IB list of nine, as listed in the table below. The rule is that you must include at least one religion from each of the three IB columns (A, B, and C). 

At this level, you’ll focus on origins, core beliefs, practices, and how each religion answers the course’s guiding questions.

In-Depth Study (Part 2)

Next, you’ll choose two religions from the six designated for in-depth study. Your school will decide which of these to offer, and you must select them from different columns. 

You’ll study in greater depth the following themes:

• Rituals

• Sacred texts

• Doctrines and beliefs

• Religious experience

• Ethics and moral conduct

Here, the aim is analysis. You’ll learn to compare and evaluate how different traditions approach each theme.

Investigative Study (Internal Assessment)

Finally, you’ll complete an independent research project worth 25% of your final grade. Called the Investigative Study, this is your chance to explore a question or issue that interests you, from a particular ritual or belief to a comparison between traditions.

Full List of IB World Religions Topics & Themes

The IB sets out a clear framework of religions and themes. This ensures you gain knowledge of a wide variety of religious traditions before moving into detailed analysis.

Candidate Religions by Column

When choosing your five religions for the introductory unit, you must include at least one from each of the three columns:

Key Topics: Introductory Unit

For each religion you study in the introductory unit, you’ll cover:

• Foundational beliefs and worldview

• Historical development and origins

• Core practices and rituals

• Key figures or founders

• How each religion responds to the three guiding questions: “What is the human condition?” “Where are we going?” “How do we get there?”

Key Topics: In-Depth Study

For the two religions you focus on in detail, you’ll explore five central themes:

• Rituals: For example, prayer, pilgrimage, or life-cycle rites

• Sacred texts: How scripture is interpreted and used

• Doctrines and beliefs: Key teachings and theological ideas

• Religious experience: Personal devotion, mysticism, or conversion

• Ethics and moral conduct: Principles for behaviour and how they apply to modern issues

Concepts, Comparative Study & Contemporary Issues

Alongside these topics, you’ll also return to:

• The three guiding questions of the course

• Key concepts such as revelation, faith, community, and authority

• Comparisons within and between religions, including similarities, differences, and tensions

• The role of religion in today’s world, including conflict, pluralism, migration, and global ethics

Optional Choices & Flexibility

One of the distinctive features of the IB World Religions course is the flexibility built into it.

• Introductory Unit: Schools select which five of the nine candidate religions to offer, but they must follow the rule of choosing at least one from each column.

• In-Depth Study: From the six religions available for this part of the course, you’ll choose two, again making sure they come from different columns.

• Themes: The five themes (rituals, texts, doctrines, experience, ethics) are compulsory, but your teachers may highlight certain subtopics more than others, depending on the school’s focus or expertise.

• No prior study needed: You don’t need a background in religious studies to take this course. It’s designed so everyone can start fresh. The IB also emphasises an analytical and empathetic approach, encouraging students to study religions objectively while respecting different perspectives.

This flexible structure means that no two schools teach the course in exactly the same way; however, the overall framework remains the same. No matter which combination of religions you study, you’ll gain an insight into the diversity of beliefs and practices that are present within and between religions. It’s all part of the IB’s goal of equipping you to live as a responsible and informed global citizen.

Assessment & Format

Your final grade in IB World Religions comes from a mix of external exams and internal assessment.

• External assessment (75%)

  • Paper 1 (30%): Stimulus-response questions based on the five religions you studied in the introductory unit. You’ll need to draw on at least three of them in your answers.

  • Paper 2 (45%): Essay questions on the guiding themes, where you’ll compare and evaluate ideas across your two in-depth religions.

• Internal assessment (25%)

  • The Investigative Study is a written project where you research a religious topic of your choice. 

This combination rewards both broad knowledge and in-depth analysis, while also giving you the freedom to explore a topic that genuinely interests you.

To see how your IB World Religions grade fits into your overall score, consult our guide to IB grades.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many religions do I have to study?

You’ll study five religions in the introductory unit, then choose two of them for in-depth study.

Can I choose any religion I like for in-depth?

Not quite. You select from the six religions your school offers for this part, and you must pick them from different columns.

Do I have to compare religions?

Yes. Comparison is central to the course. In both exams and essays, you’ll need to weigh up similarities and differences between religions and how they respond to the guiding questions.

Final Thoughts

The IB World Religions topics are designed to give you both breadth and depth: you’ll explore several different traditions, then dive into a closer study of two. Along the way, you’ll tackle universal questions about human existence, analyse themes like ritual and ethics, and consider the role of religion in today’s world.

If you keep the structure in mind: introductory, in-depth, and investigative, it makes the course much easier to navigate. Think of this list of topics as your checklist for planning, revision, and making sure you’ve covered everything you need. For more help with your IB studies, use Save My Exams’ IB study resources.

References:

Studying world religions - International Baccalaureate® (opens in a new tab)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Subject Brief - Individuals and societies: World religions (opens in a new tab)