@TiggerDad, I am, in general, a big fan of IB. I apologize for going somewhat off topic, but it’s well past the time for IB to wake up and smell the coffee when it come to STEM students. IB math is too elementary for math-y kids, and they really should allow alternatives or provide their own. DS was in a situation similar to your son. He wanted to just skip the IB diploma, but the IB coordinator wanted to pimp the program, so he wouldn’t allow him to just take IB ala carte, and DS had the additional friction of taking the course with a teacher who didn’t really understand the material.
Btw, my comment that “less is more” wasn’t directed at you.