There are 21 world schools in New Zealand offering one or more of three IB programmes. Developed in Geneva, the IB is designed to provide an internationally accepted qualification for entry to higher education. IB is a two-year qualification spread over years 12 and 13. Students complete assessments in six subjects, including at least two languages, as well as a unifying Theory of Knowledge. Subjects are assessed using both internal and external assessments.

Courses finish with an externally assessed series of examinations, usually involving two or three written examinations