IB Board vs CBSE: Which Board is the right choice for your child?

IB Board vs CBSE: Which Board is the right choice for your child?

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CBSE Class 12th Exam Date:17 Feb' 26 - 17 Feb' 26

Mallika ThaledderUpdated on 12 Aug 2025, 02:08 PM IST

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) are both counted among the most prestigious boards in India. CBSE, being the national-level education board, has a large number of schools compared to the IB board. So, it provides more flexibility for the students whose parents are transferred frequently, as they can find CBSE schools in any city in India.

This Story also Contains

  1. IB Board vs CBSE
  2. IB Board Curriculum vs CBSE Syllabus
  3. Pros and Cons of IB Board and CBSE
IB Board vs CBSE: Which Board is the right choice for your child?
IB Board vs CBSE

If we talk about the curriculum of CBSE vs IB Board, the curriculum of both boards is widely recognised. Most of the students find the CBSE board syllabus easy as compared to the IB Board. The IB Schools are more expensive as compared to CBSE. The annual tuition fees for IB board are in lakhs for most of the schools, while CBSE is more affordable with lower annual tuition and exam fees.

Students can choose schools with any board since each board’s approach is different in serving students to help them reach their goals. Below, we have provided information on the difference between the IB board and CBSE.

IB Board vs CBSE

CBSE Board

IB Board

National level board

International board

Ministry of Education

Governed by a board of governors representing cultural and geographical diversity

Headquarters in New Delhi

Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland

Divided into three stages: Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary stages

Divided into four programs: PYP. MYP, DP and CP

CBSE schools in India are both private and government.

IB board schools are mostly private.

The medium of language is English and Hindi.

The medium of language is English, Spanish and French.

As per the latest update, i.e., 2022, there are a total of 28,402 CBSE schools in total. Out of which 28,135 are India-based and 267 are outside India.

As of June 2024, over 8,000 programmes were offered across over 5,800 schools in over 160 countries.

IB Board Curriculum vs CBSE Syllabus

Both the IB board and CBSE have the curriculum that they follow. The IB board offers four types of programmes for students to help them with personal and academic development. Whereas, CBSE provides education up to the senior secondary level. Check out the list of IB programs and CBSE syllabus below:

IB Subjects vs CBSE subjects

IB Program:

  • Primary Years Programme: The Primary Years Programme (PYP) offers this programme to students from the ages of 3 to 12 years old. Subjects include: Language, Social studies, Maths, Science, Arts, Personal and physical education

  • Middle Years Programme: The Middle Years Programme (MYP) is a 5-year programme for students from the age group of 11 to 16 years. Subjects include: 1st language, 2nd language, Humanities, Maths, Science, Arts, Physical education, Computers

  • Diploma Programme: The Diploma Programme (DP) is for students aged 16 to 19 years old. Subjects include: Group No. 1: First Language (English), Group No. 2: Second Language (French, Hindi, etc), Group No. 3: Individuals, and Societies (History, Management, Economics, and Business, etc), Group No. 4: Sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Environmental System, Group No. 5: Mathematics and Computer Science, Group No. 6: Electives-Visual Arts/the second subject from Groups 3, 4 or 5

  • Career-Related Programme: The Career-related Programme (CP) students can take a minimum of two IB Diploma Programme courses. This programme was first introduced to students in 2012 for 16 to 19-year-old students.

CBSE Subjects

The CBSE students have the option to study the following subjects:

  • Class 1 to 5: English, Hindi, other language subjects, Maths, Environmental Science, Languages

  • Class 6 to 8: English, Hindi, other language subjects, Maths, Science, Social Science and other subjects

  • Class 9-10: English, Hindi/Sanskrit, Maths, Science, Social Science and other subjects

  • Class 11-12: English, Maths/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Commerce stream subjects, Humanities stream subjects, Optional subjects

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Candidates are required to check out the CBSE board exam date sheet 2025 to prepare for the exams from classes 1 to 12, depending on their respective subjects.

Pros and Cons of IB Board and CBSE

Every board has its advantages and disadvantages. No board is perfect and might lack in some fields while it focuses on other things to help its students. Similarly, both the IB board and CBSE have their pros and cons. Read the table below to learn about the pros and cons of Ithe B board and CBSE.

CBSE vs IB Board: Advantages

Pros of CBSE

Pros of IB Board

The CBSE board is easily accessible in India.

Internationally acknowledged board

It uses Hindi and English as the medium of instruction.

IB curriculum is well-balanced and focuses on preparing students to be self-reliant.

CBSE curriculum also prepares students for competitive exams like NEET, etc.

It is a gateway programme to some of the world’s best universities.

CBSE vs IB Board: Disadvantages

Cons of CBSE

Cons of IB Board

Answering patterns based on textbooks.

In India, the IB programme has a few schools compared to the CBSE.

There is no emphasis on research.

It is expensive compared to the Indian board.

Which board is better?

Both CBSE and IB boards are good in their own way. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Students can choose any board according to their interest. If a student wants to clear competitive exams like JEE mains, NEET, etc, then CBSE is better than the IB board. However, if a student is interested in studying abroad later, then the IB board is a better option for them as compared to CBSE.

IB Board vs CBSE Conclusion

If a student is confused about which board is better, then they need to know what they are aspiring for. CBSE offers a nationally focused curriculum, while the IB board has a more global and holistic approach towards learning. Both boards have their unique strengths, and they both cater to different styles of teaching. In the end, it depends on the students which side they would like to choose and why. It is an independent choice and preference for the students.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Mention one key difference between the IB board and CBSE.
A:

The IB board emphasises skill-based learning however, CBSE emphasises theoretical knowledge and academic progress.

Q: Which board is better, IB or CBSE?
A:

It depends on the student's choice. They can choose what suits them the best as per their interest. We have provided the differences, pros and cons of both boards in this article.

Q: Some IB board schools in India
A:

There are many best IB schools in India such as Dhirubhai Ambani International School, The Bombay International School, Mumbai etc.

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Questions related to CBSE Class 12th

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CBSE Class 12th ?

Hello,

The date of 12 exam is depends on which board you belongs to . You should check the exact date of your exam by visiting the official website of your respective board.

Hope this information is useful to you.

Hello,

Class 12 biology questions papers 2023-2025 are available on cbseacademic.nic.in , and other educational website. You can download PDFs of questions papers with solution for practice. For state boards, visit the official board site or trusted education portal.

Hope this information is useful to you.

Hello Pruthvi,

Taking a drop year to reappear for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) is a well-defined process. As a repeater, you are fully eligible to take the exam again to improve your score and secure a better rank for admissions.

The main procedure involves submitting a new application for the KCET through the official Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) website when registrations open for the next academic session. You must pay the required application fee and complete all formalities just like any other candidate. A significant advantage for you is that you do not need to retake your 12th board exams. Your previously secured board marks in the qualifying subjects will be used again. Your new KCET rank will be calculated by combining these existing board marks with your new score from the KCET exam. Therefore, your entire focus during this year should be on preparing thoroughly for the KCET to achieve a higher score.

For more details about the KCET Exam preparation, CLICK HERE.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Yes, you can switch from Science in Karnataka State Board to Commerce in CBSE for 12th. You will need a Transfer Certificate from your current school and meet the CBSE school’s admission requirements. Since you haven’t studied Commerce subjects like Accountancy, Economics, and Business Studies, you may need to catch up before or during 12th. Not all CBSE schools accept direct admission to 12th from another board, so some may ask you to join Class 11 first. Make sure to check the school’s rules and plan your subject preparation.



Hello

For the 12th CBSE Hindi Medium board exam, important questions usually come from core chapters like “Madhushala”, “Jhansi ki Rani”, and “Bharat ki Khoj”.
Questions often include essay writing, letter writing, and comprehension passages. Grammar topics like Tenses, Voice Change, and Direct-Indirect Speech are frequently asked.
Students should practice poetry questions on themes and meanings. Important questions also cover summary writing and translation from Hindi to English or vice versa.
Previous years’ question papers help identify commonly asked questions.
Focus on writing practice to improve handwriting and presentation. Time management during exams is key to answering all questions effectively.