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Wondering which IB Diploma Programme (DP) subjects are the hardest to study in 2026?
The IB programme is known for being challenging, but this should by no means discourage you from studying certain subjects.
A subject that one student finds easy, another will find tough. It all depends on your unique strengths and weaknesses.
The difficulty of a subject also shouldn’t be the only factor that you take into account when making your IB choices.
That being said, if you want to discover some of the hardest IB subjects, here’s our roundup.
Key Takeaways
"Hard" is subjective. Difficulty is relative to your strengths, interests and preparation.
HL subjects are almost always more demanding than SL. They cover greater depth, include additional topics, and are assessed more rigorously.
The right subject for you is the one that matches your skills and goals. Choosing a hard subject you're passionate about will nearly always produce better results than choosing an easy one you find dull.
What Are The Hardest IB Subjects?
We’ll look at the subjects with the lowest pass rates to highlight the hardest IB subjects.
The IB subjects with the lowest pass rates include:
Marine Science SL
Sports, Exercise and Health Science SL
Dance SL
Astronomy SL
With IB, subjects are split into six different groups.
Students must choose one subject from each of the first five groups. Your sixth choice can either be an Arts subject from group 6, or another subject from groups 1-5.
The IB DP subject 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.
Next step: Check out our guide to the IB Diploma Programme to find out more about this qualification.
Based on the IB DP Final Statistical Bulletin 2025 (opens in a new tab), here are the top 10 subjects with the fewest students earning a passing grade. With IB, you need to achieve 24 points out of a possible 45 to pass (opens in a new tab). As such, we consider a ‘pass’ in a subject to be a grade 4 or above:
Subject | Pass rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 48.5% |
| 52.4% |
| 55% |
| 56.6% |
| 57.4% |
| 61.3% |
| 62.2% |
| 62.4% |
| 62.5% |
| 64% |
Top 5 Hardest IB Subjects
All data below is taken from the IB DP Final Statistical Bulletin 2025 (opens in a new tab).
1. Marine Science SL
Pass rate: 48.5%
With a mean grade of just 3.8, Marine Science is the hardest IB subject to achieve a grade 4 or above in.
It’s a unique subject that covers core science methodologies from biology, physics, and chemistry while also touching on the social sciences of geography and economics.
Only 429 students took Marine Science as part of their IB diploma, suggesting that the subject is niche and not taught widely, because of its specialist nature.
You may want to consider taking Marine Science if:
Marine science is your career focus.
You want the challenge of a multidisciplinary subject.
Your IB school offers the subject.
2. Sports, Exercise and Health Science SL
Pass rate: 52.4%
Sports, Exercise and Health Science SL is a challenging subject that encompasses physiology, biomechanics, and psychology. It’s a hands-on subject with plenty of opportunities for collaboration and scientific investigation.
With a focus on human health and biology, it’s a solid subject choice for students who:
Want to study something less traditional than Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
Have career aspirations in the physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or sports science fields.
Are interested in the human body and mind.
3. Dance SL
Pass rate: 55%
The hardest IB subject in the Arts group is Dance. It’s a highly practical subject, and you’ll be assessed on your dance performance (either solo or duet).
The curriculum focuses on world dance, composition, analysis, and dance skills. While practical, there is a heavy element of critical analysis, which makes the subject challenging.
Consider studying Dance if you:
Enjoy performing and have an understanding of dance styles.
Want a practical and artistic subject to complement your other subject choices.
Are keen to understand dance as an important part of a society’s culture and traditions.
4. Astronomy SL
Pass rate: 56.6%
This highly niche science subject (with only 53 students taking the course in 2025) is exciting for those students who are keen to understand more about space and the universe.
In Astronomy, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about galaxies, stars, the planets, and cosmology. There is a solid mix of maths and physics study, alongside critical thinking as you consider some important theoretical questions.
Astronomy is a good choice if you:
Want to study astronomy or astrophysics at university.
Don’t want to opt for Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
Want to study something new, fresh, and exciting.
5. Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation SL
Pass rate: 57.4%
Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation focuses on using maths in real-life contexts. This means applying complex maths concepts, like calculus and statistics, to problems that may crop up in the digital or business world.
Understanding a maths concept and applying it to a problem are two very different skills, which makes this IB diploma subject incredibly challenging.
Consider this subject if you:
Are interested in mathematical ideas and find the idea of learning about maths in real-world contexts really interesting.
Want to study statistics and calculus.
Have an aptitude for Maths and want to challenge yourself.
You either take this subject or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (Maths AA). The SL variation of Maths AA has a pass rate of 73.8%, so if Maths is a little shaky for you, this might be your better option.
What Does "Hard" Mean When Choosing IB Subjects?
Difficulty is always personal. A subject that feels impossibly hard to one student might be really enjoyable and manageable for another.
Before avoiding any subject on this list, it is worth asking: "Is this subject hard for me?"
Personal Interests & Strengths
One of the biggest mistakes students make when choosing IB subjects is selecting a course based on difficulty rather than interest.
Even if a subject is statistically difficult, students who enjoy and excel in it will likely find it more manageable. On the other hand, forcing yourself into a subject that doesn’t align with your strengths can make IB even more stressful.
Within each subject group, you should choose the course that best suits your skills and interests.
Subject Content and Prior Knowledge
Familiarity with a subject from previous study makes a significant difference to perceived difficulty. A student with strong GCSE Chemistry, for example, will find the early stages of IB Chemistry HL far less overwhelming than someone approaching it fresh.
And, students choosing Latin or a language they have never studied before face a much steeper initial learning curve, even if the subject itself is not actually harder.
Where possible, choose IB subjects that build on what you have already studied. The transition will be smoother, and you will spend less time catching up on foundational knowledge.
It’s important to note that new subjects can build on prior knowledge. Astronomy might seem totally new, but it will build on your Physics and Maths learning from previous study.
Assessment Style
Different IB subjects are assessed in very different ways. Some are almost entirely exam-based; others are largely or entirely coursework.
Exam-heavy subjects (like Maths AA HL) reward consistency in revision and strong performance under timed conditions.
Coursework-heavy subjects (like Visual Arts SL) require sustained motivation and excellent time management across the full two years.
Neither model is easier than the other. They’re just different. Students who perform well under exam conditions may find coursework-heavy subjects unexpectedly difficult, and vice versa.
Workload and Time Commitment
The IB Diploma is demanding across the board, but some subjects carry a noticeably heavier workload than others.
Geography HL requires students to read, annotate and write extensively throughout the course - not just in the run-up to exams.
Biology HL demands large amounts of content memorisation alongside regular practice with data analysis.
Visual Arts SL (opens in a new tab) requires ongoing creative production for the full two years.
When choosing your subjects, think honestly about your time.
Six subjects, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS, is already a significant commitment.
Adding multiple high-workload HL subjects can tip the balance from challenging but manageable into unsustainable.
How to Choose the Right IB Subjects for You
Rather than avoiding the subjects on this list, use the following questions to guide your decision-making:
What do you genuinely enjoy?
Start with your interests.
You will work harder and perform better in subjects that engage you.
What do your university or career options require?
Check entry requirements for courses you're interested in.
Some degrees (Medicine, Engineering, Economics) have specific subject requirements that may make certain difficult HL subjects non-negotiable.
What are your academic strengths?
Be honest about whether your skill set suits the assessment style.
If extended writing under pressure is difficult for you, choosing three essay-heavy HL subjects may not serve you well.
What does your combination look like overall?
A balanced combination, perhaps one STEM HL, one humanities HL, and one language HL, can spread the workload more sustainably than stacking subjects from a single group.
For more detailed guidance, explore our IB subject choice guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which IB Subjects Have The Lowest Grades?
Based on the IB DP Final Statistical Bulletin 2025 (opens in a new tab), the subjects with the lowest mean grades include:
Sports, Exercise and Health Science SL: mean grade 3.8
Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation SL: mean grade 3.9
Visual Arts SL: mean grade 4.0
Design and Technology SL: mean grade 4.1
Dance SL: mean grade 4.1
Will Choosing Harder IB Subjects Impact My University Application?
Choosing difficult IB subjects can have an impact on your university applications and career options to an extent. While harder subjects may challenge you, they can also provide advantages if chosen wisely.
Here are some things to take into account:
Many universities have specific entry requirements for certain degrees, particularly in STEM. You should check this before choosing your IB subjects.
IB subjects that frequently have lower average grades are harder to score well in. Taking too many challenging subjects without considering your strengths could result in a lower total IB score.
Next step: Explore our guide to applying to university when studying the IB.
Choosing The IB Subjects That Are Right for You
No IB subject is easy. But the subjects on this list are not harder because they require more work. They’re harder because they demand different kinds of thinking that you might not be used to:
Abstract reasoning
Analytical writing
Experimental design
Creative thinking
The most important thing to remember is that difficulty is personal. The "easiest" IB subjects are the ones that match your strengths, suit your preferred assessment style, connect with your interests, and align with where you want to go next.
And whatever IB subjects make your list, Save My Exams is here with you every step of the way. You’ll find a huge bank of examiner-written IB study resources all in one place to support your revision.
References
IBO - Final Statistical Bulletin 2025 (opens in a new tab)
IBO - DP Passing Criteria (opens in a new tab)
IBO - Visual Arts (opens in a new tab)
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