Choosing IB subjects

[frozen niche]

I am having difficulty choosing IB subjects, I really enjoyed IGCSE Math but upon taking the ad math course realised that it would be extremely hard to take math at IB.

I don’t know what subjects to pick in order to pursue different sectors.

Can I have advice on what subjects to take for different sectors of work.

[unique plume]

I mean it's compulsory to take math in IB.

IB Math HL (both AA and AI) are hard, however, you will be able to do it if you work hard enough. It also opens up opportunity to practically every course.

IB Math SL (both AA and AI) are very similar to additional maths. In fact, I do questions from there to practice IGCSE Additional Maths. It narrows down the number of things you can do, however, really just depends on what you wanna do.

Lang & Lit SL is one of the most common choice, considering that Lit alone is harder than Lang & Lit, and HL is pretty hard (and you largely only require it for law or literature).

For the languages i.e. Spanish, French, Hindi, Mandarin, etc. I have no idea, that's completely up to you but check out the requirements where you're gonna study. For example (just an example), if I wanna study in Singapore (considering I am a Singapore citizen), they have implemented a law that all citizens and permanent residents must pass the language they've studied till 10th. It's called the mother tongue language rule in Singapore only though

As for the sciences, they broaden your scope to work, different places require different sciences. For example, medicine requires chemistry and sometimes, biology. Similarly, most of the places for Computer Science require Physics and Chemistry (or Computer Science).

Taking at least 1 humanitarian/social science is essential to do better. Economics, business management, environmental sciences, etc, all of them definitely allow you to work in more places. Considering that subjects such as environmental sciences are becoming more prominent in the real world, you should take that.

The only subject which I would say is useless, is Computer Science

[frozen niche]

Wow, thank you. Why is computer science useless? Robots and AI are said to be the future,shouldn’t I take comp sci to pursue a non-replaceable job?

[unique plume]

Nah, Computer Science as a subject in IB is useless

most universities do not require computer science

Like let's say I wanna do computer science in MIT or Caltech or smthn, the requirements are Chemistry/Computer Science and Physics

If you choose chemistry over computer science, it gives you more opportunity such as mechanical engineering or even chemical engineering

[frozen niche]

Oh wow, why do you not need to have a basis in comp sci for university?

[unique plume]

Because they teach eevrything in the university

requirements are like this

[frozen niche]

Alright

Which course for mathematics ib is the most similar to ad maths

[unique plume]

MAA SL is most similar to add math i believe

[frozen niche]

I see

[sour umbra]

hello, would IB subjects apply to a levels? i'm going to take biology and chemistry, but i'm a little unsure on what to take for my third subject. environmental science seems to be the best choice for me i think, as you said having a humanitarian/social science is useful, but my parents argue that maths will be more beneficial for my future. i don't enjoy maths and often struggle on it, so i doubt i will like it in a levels.
in the future i'm interested in going into medicine/medical studies, or biochemistry. something in the science field.
what are your thoughts?

[regal patrol]

Computer science is not useless – especially if you're more or less sure you're gonna go into the field in the future

[unique plume]

useless, as in, rarely a requirmeent by unis

you can learn cs side-by-side yourself using w3schools or smthn

[unique plume]

not really sure about A levels, however, almost everything in the science field requires Math

[regal patrol]

true, but you might as well take it as a subject if you wouldn't rather take any other

[unique plume]

yeah that's if you wouldn't rather take any other

for IB, there's also the restricitoin that one subject has to be a "Individuals and societies"

so if you're taking PCM HL, you can't take CS

[regal patrol]

If you intend to pursue CS in the future, you perhaps don't need chemistry

[unique plume]

yeah but if you're unable to get into CS, keeping chem opens up more opportunities such as mechanical/chemical engineering

[regal patrol]

true

[unique plume]

but if you don't get into CS uni even with CS as a subject, it's gonna be harder to get into other courses

[sour umbra]

yes i heard a lot of colleges require maths to be done alongside sciences

but the college i'm going to gives complementary maths classes for science subjects if you are not taking maths

[unique plume]

yep

[unique plume]

your parents are right, however, if you have your mind set on a specific university/college, show them the requirements for getting into the uni, and try to convince them that you wanna choose some other subject (not math)

[sour umbra]

i will be discussing with the college i'm going to and see what my options are. i just simply don't see maths being mandatory

[unique plume]

yeahyeah fair enough

[sour umbra]

i just don't enjoy maths anymore, it is difficult, and doing an a level you don't enjoy isn't really good.