What Is the IB Learner Profile? A Guide for Parents and Teachers

The IB Learner Profile defines core traits that shape students into globally minded, responsible individuals. The Learner Profile applies across all IB programs, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP), and guides school curriculum, classroom culture, and student growth. For parents and teachers, it offers a shared way to understand student development beyond academic performance.

What Is the IB Learner Profile?

The IB Learner Profile describes ten attributes that IB schools aim to develop in all students. These attributes reflect IB’s mission to create learners who are intellectually curious, ethically grounded, and prepared to engage with an interconnected world.

The Learner Profile is not a grading rubric and not a checklist. Instead, it is a long-term developmental framework. Students grow into these attributes progressively through learning experiences, reflection, and real-world application.

What the IB Learner Profile is (and is not)

• It is: a shared language for long-term student development across IB programmes.
• It is not: a scorecard used to “grade” personality traits.
• It works best when: schools and families use it for reflection, goal-setting, and feedback.

IB educators use the Learner Profile to guide teaching practices, student reflection, and program design. Parents use it to better understand how IB education supports character development alongside academic achievement.

IB Learner Profile Examples for Parents and Teachers

Knowing the definitions is helpful, but the Learner Profile becomes meaningful when adults can recognize what each attribute looks like in daily learning and behavior.

What these attributes can look like at school

• Inquirers / Thinkers: Students form questions, test ideas, and explain their reasoning (not just the answer).
• Communicators: Students listen actively, build on others’ ideas, and adapt to different audiences.
• Principled / Caring: Students take responsibility, repair mistakes, and show empathy through actions.
• Balanced / Reflective: Students manage workload, notice stress, and adjust strategies after feedback.

Simple reflection prompts (home or classroom)

• Inquirers: “What question are you curious about right now, and how could you investigate it?”
• Open-minded: “What’s a viewpoint you disagree with, and what might be true about it?”
• Risk-takers: “What’s one uncomfortable (but safe) challenge you could try this week?”
• Reflective: “What did you do well, and what will you do differently next time?”

How Experiential Learning Supports the IB Learner Profile

Experiential learning supports the IB Learner Profile by extending learning beyond the classroom into real-world situations that require collaboration, ethical decision-making, and reflection.

In authentic contexts—service projects, cultural exchange, leadership roles, and problem-solving—students move from “knowing the definition” to demonstrating the attribute through action.

Practical link: When experiences include structured reflection (journals, guided discussion, goal-setting), students can name which IB Learner Profile attributes they practiced and how they plan to grow next.

IB Diploma: CAS Travel and the Learner Profile (DP)

Note: This section is most relevant for IB Diploma Programme (DP) students completing CAS. If you’re here for the IB Learner Profile definition and attributes, jump back to Traits & Attributes.

How Does CAS Travel Support IB Diploma Requirements?

CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) is a core component of the IB Diploma Programme, designed to develop well-rounded, globally aware students. CAS travel programs support IB Diploma requirements by fulfilling all three core CAS strands:

• Creativity: Students innovate and problem-solve in real-world projects, such as designing sustainable solutions for local communities.
• Activity: Physical challenges like trekking in the Himalayas or leading conservation work develop resilience, teamwork, and leadership.
• Service: Meaningful engagement with communities fosters empathy, ethical responsibility, and global citizenship.

How CAS Travel Aligns with IB Requirements

1. Encourages Personal Growth:
   • CAS requires students to demonstrate initiative, perseverance, and collaborative skills. Travel-based programs provide real-world settings where students apply these traits in dynamic environments.
2. Develops Global Awareness:
   • The IB Learner Profile emphasizes international-mindedness. CAS travel allows students to engage with diverse cultures, understand global issues, and work on sustainable solutions.
3. Provides Reflective Learning Opportunities:
   • IB students must document and reflect on their CAS experiences. Structured journals, digital storytelling, and group discussions in CAS travel programs fulfill this requirement.
4. Applies Classroom Knowledge to Real-World Challenges:
   • IB students develop research, communication, and critical thinking skills. CAS travel integrates these skills into service projects, cultural immersion, and environmental conservation efforts.

Example: CAS Travel & IB Core Elements

Next Step: Explore CAS travel programs that align with your personal growth goals and IB Diploma needs.