Subjects

Core

These subjects and activities are mandatory for each student:

Extended Essay (EE): A major written work (4000 words) from a single, clearly identified IB subject from groups 1 to 6. The choice of topic and subject is up to each student. However, students are advised to do the Extended essay from a subject they have been studying in IB. Each essay has the form of an academic publication, in which the student presents their own research on the topic.

Theory of Knowledge (ToK): This unique subject introduces students to the nature and limits of our knowledge. It combines key concepts not only from psychology and philosophy, but also from natural sciences and history. Employing and developing critical thinking, it focuses on questions such as: Where do we get our knowledge from? How much can we rely on our knowledge? How can we categorise and analyse it?

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS): This part of IBD breaks down the border between home and school. It encourages students in their personal growth, self-reflection and in taking up intellectual, physical and creative challenges. Service aims at contributing to and helping society and the community by, for instance, tutoring, leading school clubs or volunteering for the Red Cross. CAS increases the prudence and awareness of young people, and supports activities leading them towards being active and responsible members of the community. You can find more about CAS on its own page.

Writing (PDF): Introduces the specifics of various forms of written communication in English. The acquired knowledge and skills are directly employable in Group 3 subjects (social sciences), but they are a good help in all written assignments in English, including applications to universities, where a personal statement is a standard requirement (in the case of UK and U.S. universities).

Optional part – subject groups 1 to 6

IB acknowledges a vast number of subjects within the programme. However, each school only offers a certain portion of them. Below, you will find the list of subjects offered by our IB World school, along with the offered study levels of each subject. SL means Standard level, HL higher level. SL and HL of the same subject differ by the time allocation (usually, SL subjects are taught in three lessons per week and HL subjects five lessons per week). However, they also differ by the subject specific curriculum and the nature of internally and externally assessed assignments.

Each student chooses at least one subject from each group. The student is obliged to choose three HL and three SL subjects, or alternatively four HL and two SL subjects. The final exams are taken from six subjects, out of which three or four must be HL.

Group 1 – First language

A study of literature, usually in the mother tongue. A majority of students choose Slovak A. English A is for those that do not speak Slovak or whose knowledge of English is at a very high level.

Group 2 – Second language

These subjects require some previously attained knowledge of the language. Even SL is not suitable for beginners. For students that chose Slovak from group 1, English B at HL is a compulsory subject from Group 2, because the rest of subjects is taught in English and its knowledge is necessary.

Group 3 – Social sciences
Group 4 – Experimental sciences
Group 5 – Mathematics
Group 6 – Visual Arts or Free choice

The sixth subject is freely chosen by each student either as Visual Arts, or from groups 1 to 4.