Official IB news that matters to Diploma students and their parents, summarised in plain words with a link to the source. Each item says what it means for a student. IB maths statistics, university requirements and admissions tests have their own guides.
Updated regularlyLast updated 19 October 2026
This guide is updated whenever new official data comes out. Bookmark it and check back.
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In March 2026 the IB shared draft AI Design Principles for its schools. After feedback it has revised them: the first principle is now 'Caring and protective', and the IB is preparing guidance to help schools set up AI councils with students and teachers.
What it means This is about principles and support for schools, not a change to exam or coursework rules. When students use AI, their school's academic integrity policy still applies.
The IB's 2025 impact report says 24 pilot students sat formal assessment in Systems Transformation, a new transdisciplinary DP course, for the first time. The course is 300 hours and counts as two of the six DP courses. UWCSEA in Singapore was one of the four pilot schools.
What it means Few schools can offer it before 2030, but families looking at schools, UWCSEA in particular, may hear about it.
In 2025, 327,438 candidates registered for IB exams, 117,106 of them full Diploma Programme candidates. By the end of 2025 there were 6,123 IB World Schools.
What it means It gives the size of the worldwide Diploma cohort.
209,607 students received Diploma and Career-related Programme results for May 2026, 3.7% more than a year earlier. The global average Diploma score was 30.88 points. Schools received results from 8 p.m. Singapore time on 5 July, and students could see them on the IB candidate website from 8 p.m. on 6 July.
What it means The average is a reference point for any May 2026 Diploma score. Maths results are covered in the IB Mathematics guide.
Course and assessment changes the IB has already announced, soonest first.
Students sitting their exams from May 2027 write the EE under the new model: two research pathways (interdisciplinary or subject-focused) and five criteria worth 30 marks: framework 6, knowledge and understanding 6, analysis and line of argument 6, discussion and evaluation 8, reflection 4.
Students who started the DP in August 2026 follow the new History course. In the internal assessment they can use at most seven sources.
For students starting the DP in August 2027 (Grade 10 now at August-start schools): Language B and ab initio get revised guides with the same assessment model, Dance gets a redesigned assessment, and Religion and society replaces World religions. The new maths courses follow the same timeline.
The new transdisciplinary course (300 hours, counting as two of the six DP courses) moves to about 20 more pilot schools in 2028, with a global offering planned for 2030. UWCSEA in Singapore was one of the four first pilot schools.
Only official sources are used: IB pages, university pages, and Singapore government or school pages. News reports are used only to find the official page.
Checked on official IB pages on 19 October 2026.
In the IB Pathway Diagnostic (90 minutes, S$500), we look at subject choices and target universities and plan the Diploma years with these changes in mind.
This page is an independent summary by Math with Alex of official IB and other official information. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Baccalaureate. Check the IB's own pages and your school for the rules that apply to you.
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