IB Individuals and Societies: Where Critical Thinking Meets the Real World

EduretiX
May 14
3 min read

Welcome to the Group 3 maze! This is where economics, history, psychology, geography, and more come together under one umbrella called "IB Individuals and Societies". If you’ve ever wondered how humans think, govern, trade, migrate, or wage wars — this group is for you.

Let’s break it all down in plain English; what subjects fall under Group 3, what they cover, how the assessments work, and why these are some of the most intellectually juicy courses in the IB.

All about Group 3 IB Individuals and Societies. Where economics, history, psychology, geography, and more come together under one umbrella called Individuals and Societies.

What’s in the Group 3 Toolbox?

First, let’s look at your options. Different schools offer different combinations, but here are the core IB-approved subjects in Group 3:

Subject	What It Covers
History	Events, causes, effects, and interpretations of the past
Economics	Micro and macroeconomic theory, global trade, development
Psychology	Biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences on human behavior
Geography	Interactions between humans and their environment, global trends
Global Politics	Power, sovereignty, conflict, peace, human rights
Social and Cultural Anthropology	Cultural norms, beliefs, and human identity
Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)	Technology's impact on people and society
Business Management	Business principles, marketing, operations, strategy

You’ll choose one subject from this group for your diploma — either at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL).

What Do These Subjects Have in Common?

Despite the variety, all Group 3 subjects are united by their inquiry-based approach. You're constantly encouraged to:

Ask big questions
Evaluate multiple perspectives
Interpret evidence
Analyze cause and effect
Make informed arguments

In short: you’re not memorizing facts, you’re investigating the human experience.

Example: A Quick Taste of Each Subject

Let’s say you pick:

🕰️ History

HL might cover authoritarian states like Nazi Germany or Maoist China
Paper 1 focuses on source analysis
You’ll examine political, social, and economic factors behind events

💰 Economics

You’ll learn supply and demand, market failure, development theory
HL includes a deeper dive into theory of the firm
You’ll also write commentaries using real-world news

🧬 Psychology

You’ll explore case studies and research methods
Topics include memory, behavior, conformity, mental health
You’ll apply real studies to theoretical models

These subjects are perfectly designed to connect classroom learning to real-world situations — which is what IB is all about.

How Are You Assessed?

All Group 3 subjects follow the classic Internal + External format:

External Assessment (75–80%)

Typically includes:

Paper 1: Short-response and structured questions based on stimuli (e.g., source analysis)
Paper 2: Extended-response essays
Paper 3 (HL only): In-depth analytical questions on advanced topics

Each paper targets different skills namely factual recall, analysis, evaluation, and synthesis.

Internal Assessment (20–25%)

This is usually a fieldwork, investigation, or commentary, depending on the subject.

Examples:

In History: A 2,200-word historical investigation
In Economics: Three commentaries based on real-world news
In Psychology: A replication of a psychological experiment
In Geography: Fieldwork-based data collection and analysis

This component is done under teacher guidance and counts for a significant part of your final grade.

SL vs HL: What’s the Difference?

Feature	SL	HL
Topics covered	Core topics only	Core + extra units
Papers	Usually 2	3 (Paper 3 is HL only)
Depth of assessment	Strong	Deeper analytical thinking expected
Internal Assessment	Same format	Evaluated to a higher standard

If you're passionate about politics, society, or culture and thinking of a career in law, business, journalism, international relations, or psychology then HL is an amazing foundation.

Why Group 3 Is Incredibly Relevant

In a world full of information (and misinformation), Group 3 teaches you to:

Think critically
Understand societal structures
Question narratives
Form evidence-based opinions

It’s not just about scoring well in the IB. These are life tools.

And universities notice. Whether you're applying to humanities or social science programs, Group 3 subjects are highly respected globally, especially if you've taken HL.