How IB PYP and MYP Classrooms Work

This article is for parents considering an IB school, especially those who wonder how primary and middle-years classrooms differ. It draws on the International Baccalaureate Organization's official guidance (as of 2026-10-29). How lessons actually run can differ from school to school.

PYP: ages 3-12, learning through inquiry

The PYP is the IB programme for ages 3 to 12. Its heart is inquiry that crosses subject boundaries. Children focus on understanding concepts rather than memorising facts.

The broad frame is six transdisciplinary themes of global significance. Content from several subjects is explored together under one theme.

Another central principle is student agency, meaning the learner takes ownership of learning. Assessment is mainly ongoing during lessons, with feedback, rather than formal tests.

MYP: ages 11-16, eight subject groups

The MYP covers ages 11 to 16. Students study these eight subject groups:

1. Language acquisition
2. Language and literature
3. Individuals and societies
4. Sciences
5. Mathematics
6. Arts
7. Physical and health education
8. Design

Each group gets at least 50 hours per year. The structure encourages broad study rather than a narrow focus.

There is also a long-term project on a topic the student chooses. A community project serves as 'service as action'. The final-year eAssessment is optional. Students who take external assessment can earn the MYP Certificate.

How the two differ

• Framework: The PYP works across subjects under six themes. The MYP is built on eight subject groups.
• Assessment: The PYP relies on ongoing assessment and feedback. The MYP has an optional final-year external assessment (eAssessment).
• Student role: The PYP puts student agency at its centre. The MYP leads on to a self-chosen long-term project.
• Service: The MYP includes a community project.

What comes next, and look-alike programmes

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) has a required three-part core besides subjects: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), a 4,000-word Extended Essay, and CAS (creativity, activity, service). Asking questions and investigating in the PYP and MYP may connect with this later stage. That link is this article's interpretation, not something the official notes state.

Some programmes have similar names. According to Nord Anglia, a school group, the IMYC is an international middle-years curriculum for ages 11-14, with units built around Big Ideas that link subjects. The early-years IEYC and primary IPC belong to the same family. It is separate from the IB, so check which one a school's brochure means.

Checklist

• I have checked whether my child's age falls in the PYP (3-12) or MYP (11-16) range.
• I have thought about whether ongoing assessment and feedback, rather than score-focused testing, suits my child.
• I have looked at the eight MYP subject groups and noted any my child has not studied before.
• I am ready to ask the school what the long-term project and community project look like.
• I can tell whether a school's brochure describes the IB (PYP, MYP, DP) or a different programme such as the IMYC or IPC.
• I know the final-year eAssessment is optional and will check the school's approach.
• These notes are as of 2026-10-29, so I will re-check current details with the IBO and the school.

Ask the school

• Does the school run both the PYP and the MYP, and in which grade does the programme change? The official age ranges overlap.
• How are the six themes turned into actual units, and how does feedback reach families?
• Can students choose whether to take the final-year MYP eAssessment, and how does the school guide this choice?
• What are the timelines, preparation steps and family roles for the long-term project and the community project?
• IB offerings vary by school. Read the programme overview on the IBO website and confirm the school's current status directly. For the middle years, see the MYP overview.