Question 1

What is IB Global Politics about and what are the main topics covered?

Accepted Answer

IB Global Politics is a Diploma Programme subject that explores political concepts, global issues, and political behavior through analysis and engagement. The course is built around four central concepts: power, sovereignty, legitimacy, and interdependence. Main topics include Understanding Power and Global Politics, Human Rights, Development and Sustainability, and Peace and Conflict. Students also complete an engagement activity where they investigate a real political issue personally relevant to them. HL students additionally study global political challenges such as environment, poverty, health, identity, borders, and security.

Question 2

Are there any prerequisites for taking IB Global Politics?

Accepted Answer

There are no formal prerequisites for IB Global Politics. However, students benefit from having a strong interest in politics, current events, and critical analysis. The course demands analytical skills and consistent study habits. Students should be comfortable with research, argumentation, and engaging with complex global issues. A background in social sciences or humanities can be helpful but is not required.

Question 3

How difficult is IB Global Politics compared to other IB subjects?

Accepted Answer

IB Global Politics is considered moderate to challenging in difficulty, largely depending on the student's interest and analytical skills. The average IB scores show HL students typically achieve around 5.0 out of 7, while SL students average around 4.8. The difficulty stems from the need to analyze complex political concepts, stay current with global events, and produce high-quality research. HL is more demanding due to additional content, case studies, and deeper research expectations, but students with strong interest in politics often find it engaging rather than overwhelming.

Question 4

What is the assessment structure and how are students evaluated?

Accepted Answer

Assessment varies between SL and HL. For SL: Paper 1 (30%) covers source-based questions on Understanding Power and Global Politics, Paper 2 (40%) involves extended essays on thematic studies, and Internal Assessment (30%) is the engagement activity report. For HL: Paper 1 (20%), Paper 2 (30%), Paper 3 (30%) covers stimulus-based questions on global political challenges, and Internal Assessment (20%). The engagement activity is a 2,000-word report based on experiential learning where students actively engage with a political issue through interviews, volunteering, or attending events, then analyze it using political concepts.

Question 5

What career opportunities does IB Global Politics prepare students for?

Accepted Answer

IB Global Politics provides excellent preparation for careers in international relations and diplomacy, political science and governmental roles, law and human rights advocacy, journalism and political media, NGOs and policy development, and academia/research in political studies. The course develops critical thinking, political analysis, research skills, and argument construction abilities that are valuable across many fields. Taking HL provides deeper preparation and may strengthen university applications for degrees in political science, international relations, law, and social sciences.

Question 6

What are some effective study strategies and engagement activity ideas for success?

Accepted Answer

Effective study strategies include developing a structured year-long study plan covering each core theme systematically, actively engaging with official IB materials and past papers, staying updated on current global events to link theory with real-world issues, practicing timed essay writing and stimulus analysis, and joining study groups for broader perspectives. For the engagement activity, choose a political issue of personal interest, conduct field research through interviews or volunteering, document experiences through reflection journals, and connect theoretical concepts to practical observations. HL students should focus on detailed case studies and prepare oral presentations on global political challenges.

Assessment	Format	SL	HL	Weighting
Paper 1	Source-based structured questions	1h 15m	1h 15m	SL: 30% / HL: 20%
Paper 2	Extended response essays on thematic studies	1h 45m	1h 45m	SL: 40% / HL: 30%
Paper 3	Stimulus-based essay on global political challenges	N/A	1h 30m	HL: 30%
Political Engagement Project	Independent research and engagement	25 hours	30 hours	SL: 30% / HL: 20%

Assessment	Format	SL	HL	Weighting
Paper 1	Source-based structured questions	1h 15m	1h 15m	SL: 30% / HL: 20%
Paper 2	Extended response essays on thematic studies	1h 45m	1h 45m	SL: 40% / HL: 30%
Paper 3	Stimulus-based essay on global political challenges	N/A	1h 30m	HL: 30%
Political Engagement Project	Independent research and engagement	25 hours	30 hours	SL: 30% / HL: 20%

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is IB Global Politics about and what are the main topics covered?

Are there any prerequisites for taking IB Global Politics?

How difficult is IB Global Politics compared to other IB subjects?

What is the assessment structure and how are students evaluated?

What career opportunities does IB Global Politics prepare students for?

What are some effective study strategies and engagement activity ideas for success?

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Course Aims & Skills

Frequently Asked Questions

What is IB Global Politics about and what are the main topics covered?

Are there any prerequisites for taking IB Global Politics?

How difficult is IB Global Politics compared to other IB subjects?

What is the assessment structure and how are students evaluated?

What career opportunities does IB Global Politics prepare students for?

What are some effective study strategies and engagement activity ideas for success?

Still have a question?

Ready to start studying?

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Assessment at a Glance

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