The IB Diploma offers a balanced and challenging curriculum to foster high academic standards, international understanding and responsible citizenship. The IB curriculum is depicted as a hexagon representing the six academic areas from which students choose their academic courses, and the hexagon's centre containing the three compulsory elements of the IB that foster inter-disciplinary study and thought, individual research and co-curricular involvement.

Students must study one subject from each of the academic groups listed below. Subjects are (in most cases) offered at either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Students must study three subjects at HL (in exceptional circumstances, four at HL). While The Friends' School intends to offer the specific subjects listed in each group below, the school reserves the right to withdraw a subject if it is undersubscribed, if staffing becomes unavailable or for timetabling reasons.

•  Language A - English including a study of World Literature (or the student's first language, if not English, in certain circumstances)
• Language B - continuing study of a second modern language (Chinese, French, German or Japanese) - or Language ab initio - a second language studied from the start (normally French)
•  Individuals & Societies - History, Economics, Psychology, Philosophy, Information Technology in a Global Society, Ecosystems and Societies (can cover both Groups 3 and 4)
• Experimental Sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Ecosystems and Societies
•  Mathematics - Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL, Mathematical Studies SL, Computer Science (only as a second subject in this group)
  
• Arts and electives - Visual Art, Music, Theatre Arts or a second choice from any of Groups 2, 3 or 4.