Considered one of the most rigorous and challenging international programs, the International Baccalaureate, or IB, encourages personal development and challenges students to excel academically. Founded in 1968 by a group of teachers in Switzerland, the IB program is currently taught in 4,775 schools across 153 different countries.

When exploring this program, parents and students often want to know if IB is worth it. However, there are many factors that can influence how well you fit the IB. Your academic performance, how well you cope with large workloads, and what level difficulty classes you want to take are all factors that could influence whether or not IB is right for you.

According to the IB website, “research from leading institutions shows that IB students are more likely than their peers to succeed in higher education.” In addition, the IB aims to “develop inquiring knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed.” While students that have already completed the IB know the workload and stress that comes with taking IB-level classes. Isabelle Abbas, a senior that has finished the IB, says that the program “was really hard, but some of the classes like ToK were interesting.” She adds that the IB can help people get into prestigious colleges; however, she recommends only taking IB-level classes instead of the whole IB program because of how difficult it is.

Although IB can create all-nighter marathons and slightly ruin your social life, some exceptional students can find the IB motivational.

Therefore, the IB program can be worth it if you have the stamina and motivation to succeed in the midst of academic rigor.