Syllabus

The syllabus (called a "specification" in UK A-Level terminology, a "course and exam description" in AP, and a "subject guide" in the IB) is the foundational document for any examined course. It represents the contract between the examination body, the school, the teacher, and the student about what will be taught and tested.

In the IB Diploma Programme, subject guides are published for each subject and level (HL/SL). They detail the aims, assessment objectives, syllabus content by topic, internal assessment requirements, and the assessment criteria used for marking. IB subject guides are typically updated on a cycle of approximately seven years, with new syllabi introduced in phases. Students and teachers should always verify that they are working from the correct guide for their examination session.

For A-Levels and IGCSEs, each exam board publishes its own specification for each subject. The specification includes the content that students must learn, the assessment objectives (skills tested), the structure and format of each exam paper, the command words used in questions, and any practical or coursework requirements. Specifications are available for free on each exam board's website and are the single most important document for any student or tutor to consult.

In the AP system, the College Board publishes a Course and Exam Description (CED) for each AP course. The CED organizes the course into units and topics, specifies learning objectives and essential knowledge, and provides a detailed breakdown of the exam format including question types, timing, and scoring. AP teachers design their courses around the CED, and students should reference it when planning their exam preparation.

Regardless of the qualification system, the syllabus should be the starting point for all study planning. Effective students use it as a checklist to ensure complete coverage, identify areas requiring additional attention, and understand exactly what is expected in each assessment component.