Under the Hood

Built Smart, Engineered for IB

Curious how we match you with university programs? Here's a peek behind the curtain at the technology that powers your personalized recommendations.

Fast, accurate matching
Transparent algorithm
Privacy-first design

Program Database

Thousands of Programs, Instant Results

We maintain a growing database of university programs from around the world, each with detailed IB-specific admission requirements. Search through them all in milliseconds.

Curated Program Data

Every program is manually reviewed for accurate IB requirements — minimum points, required subjects, and grade thresholds.

Blazing Fast Search

Powered by Algolia, the same search infrastructure used by Stripe, Slack, and Medium. Results in under 50 milliseconds.

Typo Tolerance

Misspell "psychology" as "psycology"? No problem. Our search understands what you mean and finds the right programs.

Real-Time Sync

When we add new programs or update requirements, your search results update instantly. Always fresh data.

Matching Engine

Three-Factor Compatibility Scoring

Every program gets a compatibility score from 0 to 100%. We calculate this using a weighted formula that prioritizes what matters most: your academic fit.

How We Score

Academic Match

60%

How well your IB points and subjects meet program requirements

Location Match

30%

Whether the program is in one of your preferred countries

Field Match

10%

Whether the program is in one of your preferred study areas

Match Categories

Based on your score, we put each program in a category so you know what to expect:

SAFETY

Strong chance of admission

MATCH

Good fit for your profile

REACH

Aspirational but achievable

UNLIKELY

Significant gaps exist

What We Check

  • Total IB points vs minimum requirements
  • HL/SL subject matches with grade thresholds
  • Critical subject requirements (must-haves)
  • Near-miss detection for close matches

Filter System

Find Exactly What You're Looking For

Not sure where to start? Use our filters to narrow down programs by location, field of study, and IB requirements. The more specific you are, the better your matches.

30+ Countries

From the UK to Canada, Netherlands to Australia — find programs in your dream destinations.

30+ Fields of Study

Engineering, Medicine, Business, Arts, Sciences — we cover all major academic disciplines.

IB Points Range

Filter by minimum IB points required. Find programs that match your predicted or final scores.

Smart Combinations

All filters work together. Study Medicine in Canada? Engineering in the UK? Just select and search.

Technology Stack

Built with Industry-Leading Tools

We use the same technologies trusted by the world's best companies. This means fast, reliable, and secure experiences for every student.

Next.js 16

Modern React framework for lightning-fast page loads and smooth navigation.

PostgreSQL

Enterprise-grade database trusted by companies like Instagram and Spotify.

Algolia Search

Industry-leading search infrastructure — the same tech behind Stripe and Slack.

Redis Caching

In-memory data store for instant results. Your matches load in milliseconds.

Global Edge Network

Deployed worldwide for low latency. Fast access wherever you are.

GDPR Compliant

Privacy-first design. Your data is encrypted, protected, and never sold.

Your data is encrypted at rest and in transit
f(x) = result

No AI. Just Good Old-Fashioned Math.

While everyone's training LLMs and chasing the AI hype, we're doing something different: math that works. Our matching algorithm is deterministic, transparent, and explainable.

Deterministic Results

Same input always gives the same output. No randomness, no surprises.

Fully Explainable

Every match can be explained step-by-step. See exactly why you got each score.

No Black Boxes

Our algorithm is rules-based, not a neural network. Predictable and trustworthy.

No Hallucinations

AI can make things up. Math doesn't. Your matches are based on real data.

“We believe students deserve to understand why they got matched with a program. Not 'the AI thinks so' — but clear, logical reasons they can verify themselves.”

— The IB Match Team

Ready to Find Your Match?

Now that you know how it works, why not give it a try? Enter your IB profile and discover programs that fit you perfectly.

100% free for students. No credit card required.