IB Higher Level vs Standard Level
5 min read ยท updated 2026-10-03
Every Diploma student takes three or four subjects at Higher Level (HL) and the rest at Standard Level (SL). The choice affects workload, the papers sat and university options.
The differences
- โ Teaching time: 240 recommended hours at HL, 150 at SL
- โ Content: HL adds extra topics and depth
- โ Exams: HL papers are usually longer, and some subjects add an HL-only paper (such as Paper 3 in Maths AA and AI)
- โ Grading: both are graded 1 to 7 and count equally towards the 45-point total
- โ Diploma conditions: at least 12 points are needed from HL subjects and 9 from SL
Choosing HL subjects
Choose HL subjects that university courses require and that the student enjoys. Many competitive courses specify HL subjects and grades, for example HL Maths for engineering or HL Chemistry for medicine.
FAQs
How many HL subjects do IB students take?๏ผ
Three or four.
Do HL grades count more than SL?๏ผ
No, both are graded 1 to 7, but universities often set requirements on HL subjects.
How many hours is HL?๏ผ
240 recommended teaching hours, against 150 for SL.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these official sources on 2026-10-03.
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