In quite a few schools now, students can opt to do the International Baccalaureate during their final two years. It's a diploma that's accepted just about everywhere. For the IB, you take six subjects over two years - three at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). You have to take a mother tongue language, a second language at any level, a maths subject (studies, methods or higher), a science subject, a humanities subject and then you have free choice of a sixth subject which can be an arts, humanities, science, further maths or a third language. In addition, you have to do a 4000 word extended essay on one of your subjects, a 'theory of knowledge' course and obtain 150 hours of 'creativity' (art), 'action' (sport) and 'service' (community service). Each subject counts for 7 marks and you get 3 bonus points from ToK and the Extended essay. The CAS hours are basically a pass/fail criteria. So you get a mark out of 45. Higher level subjects don't count for more, but you are expected to do better in them and are more likely to fail your degree if you a fail a HL subject than if you fail an SL subject. Universities usually ask for a certain score in your HL subjects and a minimum overall score. I did Biology, Chemistry and Maths at HL, and Economics, French B and English A1 at SL.