| The IB tries to provide a balanced cosmopolitan education to its candidates. The basic requirements are 6 courses 3 higher level and 3 subsidiary level or standard level for the more politically correct. This is the minimum. No more than four Higher Level and 2 sub. level subjects can be taken, and no more than three Higher Level and 4 subs can be taken(I'm doing that). The minimum courses are 1 A1(Native Language), one A2/B/AB (secondary Language), one Human science, one Natural Science, one Math and one optional, which can be any of the available. The only limitations are your school's scheduling.
Natural Sciences and Math work such that everyone must do the core requirements, and then options are chosen. The options can be done as self study is one wishes to extend his or her own knowledge. Math works similarly. Internal Assessments(IA's) must be completed in each subject. For sciences these are laboratory works, for math it is just a bunch of random projects.
Language A1 works that you have several oral presentations, graded externally, World Literature Paper(1500 words, 2 papers for HL), and the exam(1 prose/poetry commentary and one essay for SL)
Language A2 is similar to A1 just a little easier, B is roughly equal to a 5th+ year high school foreign language course. Language AB is for slackers.
Human Sciences(That is History, I haven't any experience w/ others). A 3500 IA(Its fun really), on any historical subject of your choosing. It doesn't even have to be an essay; it could be a dramatic presentation or a documentary, it just has present some historical analysis. The course can be chosen as 3 out of 6 possible areas of concentration, such as the rise and rule of single party states, the cold war, etc. All IB history is 20th century, HL can go into some 19th century.
In addition to the basic academic requirements, the student must take an Epistemology course, which entails a presentation and a 1600 word essay; and the student must also write a maximum of 4000 words on a subject of his or her choosing, as long as it is taught in the IB and a supervisor is available. The last aspect of the IB is CAS or Creativity Action and Service, which is basically to get geeky academically oriented intellectuals to actually do something. (I'm thinking about claiming drunkenness as CAS(what it's creative)). 50 hours of each field must be completed for the CAS requirement.
The classes are graded on a scale from one to seven. In order to pass you must get at least 24 points. If, however you get below a 4 on one of your HL's you must get a 5 or above in one of your SL's. Your total score is a measure of how well you do. In addition to the total, you are awarded up to three points for your TOK and your Extended Essay.
The most important thing in the IB is to learn how to Earn your bullshit. In the words of this years graduating class(2001), "IB therefore I B.S.!" | 
