MYP Subject Groups Explained: All 8 Areas of Study
Jamal Lewis
Every MYP student studies across eight subject groups each year, rather than narrowing early the way DP students eventually do. This breadth is deliberate, the MYP is designed to keep options open through ages 11 to 16 while building the skills and knowledge base students will draw on later, whether that's in the DP or elsewhere. Here's what each group actually covers.
Interdisciplinary Units (IDUs): Connecting the Disciplines
While subjects are taught individually, the MYP framework mandates that students engage in at least one formal Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) each year. An IDU combines concepts and methods from two or more distinct subject groups such as merging Design and Science to engineer renewable energy prototypes or combining History and Drama to analyze historical propaganda.
IDUs teach students how real-world problems rarely exist inside a single academic silo. Instead of taking standard subject tests for these units, students are evaluated on their ability to synthesize disciplinary perspectives, communicate integrated ideas, and reflect on how combining subjects creates deeper understanding than studying either discipline in isolation.
How Subject Groups Change Across the Five Years
- In the earlier years of the MYP, students typically study all eight groups every year
- In the final year or sometimes the final two years, IB rules allow schools some flexibility to reduce the number of subjects studied, provided at least one subject remains from each of the required categories
- This flexibility is meant to ease the transition toward the DP's narrower six-subject structure, not to let students specialize early across the board
How MYP Subjects Are Assessed (Criteria A to D and the 1 to 8 Scale)
Unlike traditional percentage or letter-grade systems, every MYP subject group evaluates students across four specific assessment criteria (A, B, C, and D) tailored to that discipline. For example, in Sciences, Criterion A assesses Knowledge and Understanding, Criterion B tests inquiring and Designing, Criterion C evaluates Processing and Evaluating, and Criterion D measures reflecting on the Impacts of Science.
Each criterion is scored on a scale from 1 to 8. At the end of a grading period, teachers combine these four criterion scores (yielding a total out of 32) and convert them using official IB grade boundaries into a final overall subject score from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). This approach ensures that students are judged on practical application, research, and critical thinking skills rather than just rote memorization.
How Subject Groups Connect to the DP
The MYP's eight groups map fairly closely onto the DP's six, Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Sciences, and Mathematics carry through directly, while MYP's Arts, Design, and Physical and Health Education don't have a one-to-one DP equivalent. For the DP-side breakdown, see our guide: What Are IB Classes?
MYP E-Assessment: On-Screen Exams vs. E-Portfolios
In the final year of the programme (MYP Year 5), schools can register students for official IB MYP E-Assessments to earn the formal IB MYP Certificate. These assessments evaluate the subject groups using two distinct formats:
On-Screen Examinations:Delivered digitally on locked computers, these interactive 2-hour exams evaluate analytical and problem-solving skills in Language & Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, Individuals & Societies, and an Interdisciplinary exam.
E-Portfolios: For coursework-heavy and creative subjects like Arts, Design, and Physical & Health Education, students submit curated digital portfolios documenting their planning, execution, and reflection over an extended unit, which are externally moderated by IB examiners.
Service as Action: Building Community Connections
Alongside academic subjects, every MYP student must fulfill Service as Action (SaA) requirements. Similar to the Diploma Programme's CAS component, Service as Action encourages students to apply classroom learning to real-world community needs. Service activities are often embedded directly into subject unit such as applying environmental science knowledge to clean local waterways or using foreign language acquisition skills to create translation guides for community centers. Completing these service learning outcomes is a mandatory requirement for progressing through the MYP framework.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all MYP schools offer every subject group?
All eight groups are required by the IB framework, but the specific courses within each group which language, which art form, whether sciences are integrated or separate vary by school.
Can MYP students choose their own subjects?
Choice is more limited than in the DP, most MYP students study a fixed set of subjects determined by their school, with more flexibility typically appearing only in the final year or two.
How is MYP Sciences different from DP Sciences?
MYP Sciences is often taught in a more integrated way across biology, chemistry, and physics, building foundational skills, while DP Sciences splits into separate, more specialized subjects with a choice of specific courses.
Can a student drop an MYP subject group if they are struggling?
During the first three years of the MYP (Years 1 to 3), students are generally required to take courses in all eight subject groups to maintain a broad foundation. In Years 4 and 5, the IB allows schools limited flexibility to reduce subject numbers, but students must still maintain a balanced portfolio across core groups. If a student struggles in a specific area, schools typically offer differentiated support rather than dropping the subject group entirely.
What is the difference between Integrated Science and Discrete Science in the MYP?
Integrated Science teaches Biology, Chemistry, and Physics simultaneously within broader thematic units across the year. Discrete Science splits these disciplines into separate standalone courses. Both approaches fulfill the MYP Sciences requirement and prepare students for DP Science options, though discrete science courses are more common in Years 4 and 5.
Is the MYP Certificate required to enter the IB Diploma Programme (DP)?
No, earning the formal MYP Certificate is not a prerequisite for entering the DP. Many schools use the MYP framework purely as their internal curriculum without registering students for final Year 5 E-Assessments. Students entering DP from non E-Assessment MYP schools, or from entirely different national curricula, are equally eligible for the Diploma Programme as long as they meet their individual school's academic entry standards.
How do MYP subject choices impact DP subject selection?
Because the MYP mandates breadth across eight groups, students build foundation skills across all major academic disciplines. This ensures that when students reach Year 5, they meet the basic entry requirements for any DP subject group. However, for specialized DP subjects like Higher Level Mathematics Analysis & Approaches or Higher Level Chemistry, schools may require students to demonstrate strong Criterion A and B performance during MYP Year 5.