Who Am I?
My name is Gintaras, and I am a 19-year-old IB student in Lithuania. Before joining the IB, I studied under the Lithuanian National Curriculum and was preparing for the 10th grade PUPP exams. At that time, my school had only recently gained IB accreditation, and the second cohort of IB students were getting ready for their May 2023 exams.
Initially, I knew very little about the IB—aside from the fact that it was taught in English. Having lived in the UK for 13 years, English felt more natural to me than Lithuanian, which became a major factor in my decision to join the program. Still, I had no idea just how challenging the IB experience would turn out to be.
In this article, I will share what it’s like to be an IB student in Lithuania, while exploring the differences between the IB and the Lithuanian National Curriculum, and how the IB system operates within the Lithuanian educational context.
Introduction to the IB in Lithuania
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), commonly known as the IB, is a rigorous two-year educational programme offered in over 140 countries worldwide, including Lithuania.
Currently, 17 schools in Lithuania are authorized to offer one or more of the four IB programmes:
- 13 schools offer the Diploma Programme (DP)
- 4 schools offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP)
- 5 schools offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP)
The school I attend currently provides two programmes: the MYP and the DP. However, the limited availability of qualified IB teachers in Lithuania affects the range of subjects offered, which can be more restricted compared to larger IB schools internationally.
For example, the subjects offered at my school include:
| Subject Group | Available Subjects |
| Group 1 (Language and Literature) | English Literature SL/HLLithuanian Literature SL/HL |
| Group 2 (Language Acquisition) | English B HL/SLSpanish ab initio SL |
| Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) | Geography HL/SLEconomics HL/SLHistory HL/SL |
| Group 4 (Experimental Sciences) | Biology HL/SLChemistry HL/SLPhysics HL/SL |
| Group 5 (Mathematics) | Analysis and Approaches HL/SLApplications and Interpretation HL/SL |
| Group 6 (The Arts) | – |
Unfortunately not all of the subjects listed above have been offered each year. A great example of this was the unavailability of Physics for M25 students and Economics for M26 students due to a shortage of teachers.
Subjects that other schools offer across Lithuania are similar. However, some may offer extra subjects including ESS, computer science, visual design, etc. Unfortunately, if a student’s subject of interest is not available at the school, there is no way to take it and should opt for a school which may better fit their needs.
Integral parts of the DP, such as EE, TOK and CAS are offered in my school and obligated to be completed in order to obtain the IB Diploma. This will be further discussed later in the article.
Applying for the IBDP
Two years ago, as I was finishing 10th grade, I was presented with the opportunity to join a program that would challenge me both academically and mentally. Some time ago, my IB coordinator described me as “optimistic”—a word that, looking back, truly captures who I am. It was with that same outlook that I chose to take a chance and apply for the IB Diploma Programme in Lithuania.
The application process was intense. I had to take three exams—Mathematics, English, and Lithuanian—all within a span of three hours. A month before the examination session, we were provided with the topics we were expected to already be familiar with. As someone who had no prior experience with the IB and knew very little about the program at the time, I found the exams particularly challenging. What stood out to me was encountering “IB-style questions” for the first time—a concept I later became familiar with, but at the time, it caught me off guard and affected my performance.
Wanting to transition out of the Lithuanian National Curriculum, I felt an immense amount of pressure throughout the application process. After the exams, the next step was waiting to find out if I would be invited to the second round: a motivational interview with important decision-makers. Having received this invitation, I was asked a range of questions, including what motivated me to choose the IB path, how I believed the program would benefit my future, my aspirations, my subject choices, and more.
From my perspective, the process was rigorous and stressful—especially knowing I was competing with MYP students, who I believed were prioritized over applicants like me from the National Curriculum.
My IB Subjects & Academic Challenges
I chose the following subjects:
| HL | SL |
| English Literature, Biology, Chemistry | Mathematics AA, Geography, Spanish ab initio |
At the time, I was unsure of my future career path. Out of uncertainty, I decided I would pursue medicine, believing it would keep my options open. I always enjoyed biology and believed that with enough effort, I could achieve anything. However, I quickly realized the sheer workload was overwhelming.
Balancing academics, my sport of Track and Field, and extracurriculars took a toll on my self-esteem and mental health. As a perfectionist, I often felt like I was not doing enough, no matter how hard I worked. I loved learning but struggled with the pressure to excel. Over time, after many sleepless nights and countless RedBulls, I have been slowly learning to manage expectations and focus on progress rather than perfection.
Extended Essay & Internal Assessments
For my Extended Essay, I chose Geography, making me the only student in my year group conducting their EE with this subject. This gave me my teacher’s full attention but also added pressure. I wanted my topic to reflect my personal and academic interests, so I explored the relationship between migration and Eurovision televotes. My research question was: “To what extent does the Lithuanian diaspora influence Lithuania’s televote scores in the Eurovision Song Contest (2016-2023)?”
Eurovision has become a hot topic in Lithuania, especially since we were projected to win the contest in 2020—the same year it was cancelled due to the pandemic. Since then, I have noticed growing interest among viewers of all age groups. For my Extended Essay, I collected both primary and secondary data to explore this trend. To better visualize the patterns shown in my secondary sources, I decided to conduct an online survey. I turned to Facebook groups of Lithuanians living abroad and shared my survey across several online communities. While it was a challenging process and drawing reliable conclusions from around 100 responses was difficult, it still allowed me to generate ideas, explore potential explanations, and expand my discussion in the essay.
Internal Assessments (IAs) were another major stressor. At my school, all IA drafts were due in IBDP2, making the start of my final year overwhelming. Thankfully, after seeing our struggles, the school introduced earlier IA deadlines for the current IBDP1 students. Now, rather than the IA first drafts being due in the first term of IBDP2, Group 4 (Experimental sciences) subjects among others for IBDP1 students are all pushed as early as May, in contrast to the previous deadlines scattered throughout September-January.
IB vs Lithuanian National Curriculum
A unique challenge of IB in Lithuania is the divide between IB and the Lithuanian National Curriculum students. In schools where IB is an additional program, IB students are often seen as disconnected and “above everyone else”. Before joining, I had also assumed IB students were simply “the ones with laptops.”
The Lithuanian National Curriculum requires students to complete primary education (Grades 1–4) followed by basic education (Grades 5–10). After this stage, students have the option to either finish their formal education or continue through a professional education program. Typically, most students choose to complete the final two years of high school before applying to universities, colleges, or joining the military—which, starting in 2026, will become mandatory for all recent graduates.
| IB | Lithuanian National Curriculum |
| PYP: Primary Years Program Grades 1-5 MYP: Middle Years Program Grades 6-10 (in my school MYP is offered for grades 9-10 (2 years)), MYP Completion Certificate issued DP: Diploma Program Grades 11-12, IB Diploma issued | Primary education: Grades 1-4 Basic education: Grades 5-10 (Lower basic education: Grades 5-8, Upper basic education: Grades 9-10), General Education Certificate issued Secondary education: Grades 10-12, Full General Education Certificate issued |
The international Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme and the Lithuanian National Curriculum differ significantly in structure, assessment as well as educational philosophy. Below are tables summarizing key differences between the two curricula.
Assessment and Exams
| Aspect | IB | Lithuanian Curriculum |
| Assessment Style | Mix of internal (coursework) and external (final exams) assessments | Primarily external (state exams) |
| Grading System | Scale of 1-7 per subject (total of 45 points) | State exam grades: 1-100 points; School grades: 1-10 |
| Final Exams | IB exams in May or November | Lithuanian state exams (Valstybiniai brandos egzaminai) in June |
Global Recognition
| Aspect | IB | Lithuanian Curriculum |
| Philosophy | International, inquiry-based, focus on global citizenship and critical thinking | National, Knowledge-based, more traditional learning methods |
| Recognition | Accepted globally by universities | Recognized mainly in Lithuania and some EU countries |
| Language of instruction | English (can be bilingual) | Lithuanian |
Subject choice
| Aspect | IB | Lithuanian Curriculum |
| Depth | Balanced (3 HL+ 3 SL subjects) | More depth in fewer subjects depending on chosen track |
| Subject Groups | Must choose from: Languages, individuals and Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts | Students usually take Lithuanian, Foreign Language, Math, electives (based on chosen specialization) |
IB CONVENTIONS
As an IBDP1 student in Lithuania, you are welcomed to participate in IB conventions. I have personally participated in 2 IB conventions. Nearing the end of my IB journey, I am proud to say that I have still maintained these connections from these conventions.
The most recent event marked the 8th edition of the IB Lithuanian School Conventions, hosted by our school. These two-day conventions are held annually, with a different IB school in Lithuania volunteering each year to take on the role of organizer. The primary aim of these conventions is to bring together IB students from across the country and the Baltics, fostering a sense of unity and community among like-minded individuals all experiencing the challenges and opportunities of the International Baccalaureate programme.
While the conventions are designed to be enjoyable and engaging, many participants arrive with certain preconceptions. Many students come expecting a series of formal lectures focused solely on academic topics. Instead of being strictly academic, the conventions are packed with interactive and fun activities specifically created to help students unwind, connect with others, and momentarily step away from the academic intensity of the IB.
Final Exams
In the IBDP, students are required to complete exams in all six of their chosen subjects during the school year. In my country’s case, we take May examinations. The IB exams are known for their intense and tightly packed schedule, making them especially exhausting for many students. Additionally, students receive Predicted Grades which are sent off to universities. The examinations include two to three papers in each subject, an individual oral (speaking exam in at least 2 subjects) alongside an internal assessment (a project which students complete individually and write a research paper on, contributing 20-30% of an individual’s final grade, depending on the subject). On the contrary, students in the Lithuanian National Curriculum take their exams throughout the entire month of June. If a student wants to retake an exam, they can do so in July. However, in the IB, retaking exams are only possible with an additional payment fee. The retake of exams would take place in November, during the November examination sessions.
CAS: A Gateway to Opportunities
CAS stands for Creativity, Activity and Service and is one of the three core components of the IB Diploma Programme alongside Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and the Extended Essay (EE).
The following are the strands of CAS in detail:
| Creativity | Exploring ideas through artistic expression (writing music, participating in art projects) |
| Activity | Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle (dance, hiking, yoga, running or specific fitness goals) |
| Service | Engaging with the community, involving unpaid, voluntary work (tutoring younger students, charity events, helping at an animal shelter) |
CAS is not graded, but all students must reflect on their experiences and show that they have met the seven CAS learning outcomes in order to pass. Similarly, in the Lithuanian curriculum, students are obligated to complete a total of 70 volunteering hours throughout Grades 11 and 12, without which they do not pass.
CAS has allowed me to grow into the well-rounded individual that I am today. IB has encouraged me to take risks, seize opportunities and grow connections with a number of like minded, high achieving individuals. Thanks to CAS, I have been able to grow a community of over 4000 followers on TikTok with over 4 million views and 700k likes in IB content.
If interested further or would like to connect with me, my TikTok is @gixtaras
Final Thoughts
All in all, the Lithuanian National Curriculum differs a lot from the IB program due to differences in subjects, format, exams, overall curriculum and much more. As I near the end of my IB journey, I can confidently say that these two years have been the most challenging yet rewarding of my life. The IB has tested my resilience, but it has also given me lifelong skills, friendships, and experiences and despite the exhaustion, I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything. The IB Diploma Programme in Lithuania has shaped me into a more ambitious, well-rounded individual, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.