The IB Diploma is awarded to those who complete the entire programme and is what is generally thought of as "the IB". A good way to think of this is as an equivalent to the national university entrance-granting programmes European countries offer. As a result, it has more structure and requirements: 1) a student must follow at least 3 Higher Level courses, 2) a student must fulfil the Creativity, Action and Service requirement, 3) a student must pass the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay components. (See below) This is the course you should take if you want to follow a structured secondary school curriculum or are thinking of applying overseas. It will also impress universities more. The disadvantage, of course, is that it requires more effort.

The IB Certificate is best thought of as an Americanised version of the IB Diploma, similar to the Advanced Placement system. Although the courses taught are the same, the IB Certificates imposes no requirements about what subjects one can or cannot take, the number of Higher and Standard Level courses required, and releases the student from the obligation to fulfil the Creativity, Actions and Service requirement and pass the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay component. It is not a diploma programme; it merely allocates certificates recognising accomplishment in the courses a student has taken. The IB certificate programme is advised for students who tend to have a weaker academic performance or for those who want to follow other systems simultaneously (such as Advanced Placement), because the workload is lower. It can also be an add-on to Diploma students, who need or want to study an extra subject. But, of course, reliance on it will bar entry from the better universities, especially overseas.

The information on Scholar Holler relates to the IB Diploma.

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