LCC International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Viewbook 2024-2025

LOWER CANADA COLLEGE & THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The only English high school in Montreal offering the IB Diploma Programme: A two-year optional programme for students in Grade 11 and Pre-University year.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to acknowledge that LCC is located on unceded, ancestral territory of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Gan-ien-ge-haga) Nation. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today.

Tiohtià:ke (Jo-Ja-Gay), or Montreal, historically served as a hub for Indigenous trade and diplomacy. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

ABOUT THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The International Baccalaureate (IB) currently works with over 5,600 schools in nearly 160 countries to develop and offer four challenging programmes—Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-Related Programme (CP)—to almost two million students aged 3 to 19 years.

The DP is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepare students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and beyond. The programme is taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

In April 2013, LCC was recognized as an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering the Diploma Programme for students in grades 11 and Pre-University: Grade 12. Although other schools in Montreal offer the IB PYP or MYP, LCC is currently the only English high school in Quebec offering both the Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme .

IB MISSION

“The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

—International Baccalaureate (for more information visit ibo.org)

“McGill has enthusiastically recruited IB students for over two decades. Even today, when reviewing an application from an IB Diploma candidate... our admissions officers can be assured of the candidate's strong and broadbased academic preparation… IB students embrace the rigorous academic challenges of university life and perform well in their McGill programs.”

DEBBIE EPERJESI Associate Director of Admissions

The IB Diploma Programme at LCC

WHY DOES LCC

OFFER THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME? PREPARING FOR THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME AT LCC

The IB mission and philosophy are entirely in line with LCC’s mission of fully developing students in mind, body, and heart, and preparing them for success and leadership in a sustainable global society. In addition, the IB Diploma Programme further enhances our existing Pre-University: Grade 12 program and its reputation for outstanding university preparation.

Students who gain the requisite IB Diploma grades have direct access to universities worldwide, including Quebec, and may be eligible for advanced standing or credit for some courses at the university level.

Given the demanding nature of the IB Diploma Programme, students have the opportunity to develop their academic skills through our Middle Years Programme (grades 7–10) to be best prepared for the challenge. At LCC, the Middle School focus on literacy and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills lays the foundation for academic success. Through grades 9 and 10, students are further exposed to critical thinking, information literacy and research skills. This focus on interdisciplinary competencies—together with options in math, sciences, French, and the humanities— means that LCC students are ready for the IB Diploma Programme.

ENROLMENT

All students in grade 11 start the IB Diploma Programme. Should they continue in the Pre-University: Grade 12 program students may choose to complete the IBDP or take a hybrid of grade 12 and IB courses.

Meet Philippe Miller ’17, Pre-U ’18

STUDENT PROFILE IBDP CURRICULUM

Students entering the programme should be academically motivated and committed to their studies. They should be able to demonstrate the ability to think critically and show evidence of good research skills and proactive commitment to the CAS component of the Diploma (Creativity, Activity and Service). It is worth noting that there are academic cutoffs for some classes (e.g., HL sciences and math) and, in certain cases, students will consult with the academic advisors to establish the suitability of the full programme for them, as well as plan their course selection.

IB Diploma candidates should strive to exemplify the elements of the IB Learner Profile.

The IB curriculum comprises a ‘core’ and six subject groups. Students select one course from each of the subject groups below. Three Higher and Standard level courses (HL and SL) are required to obtain the Diploma. Students may select an additional subject from another group instead of an option in group 6. Even though these courses run over the two-year period, the IB curriculum gels with the Quebec curriculum, and all students fulfill their high school leaving requirements after grade 11. Students who complete individual IBDP courses but not the full Diploma requirements can also earn recognition for their completed IB courses.

SUBJECT GROUPS

› GROUP 1: LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

English A Language & Literature: SL & HL

French A Language & Literature: SL & HL

BALANCED

KNOWLEDGEABLE

CARING INQUIRERS

OPEN-MINDED

School-supported self-taught language (SSST) courses and online language courses may be available for SL only. Consult with the Admissions Office Additional costs apply.

› GROUP 2: LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

French B SL & HL

French Ab Initio SL

› GROUP 3: INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES

› GROUP 4: SCIENCES

Chemistry SL & HL

Physics SL & HL

Biology SL & HL

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Design Technology SL

› GROUP 5:

MATHEMATICS

Analysis & Approaches SL & HL

Applications & Interpretations SL

› GROUP 6: THE ARTS

Visual Arts SL & HL

RISK-TAKERS

COMMUNICATORS

REFLECTIVE PRINCIPLED

THINKERS

History SL & HL

Economics SL & HL

Global Politics SL & HL

Psychology SL & HL

Business Management SL & HL

Environmental Systems & Societies SL

Digital Society (Online*) SL & HL

* Additional costs apply

Film SL & HL (Or an additional subject from another group)

THE CORE

In addition to the six subjects, the IB Diploma involves completing three elements of the core:

Students follow a course in Theory of Knowledge, where they are provided with an opportunity to explore and reflect on the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing.

IB Diploma students must complete a 4,000-word Extended Essay, requiring independent research through an in-depth study of a research question related to one of the subjects they are following.

1 2 3

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.

UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

According to the International Baccalaureate Organization, the data show that universities regard IB Diploma students as being more prepared for university than their peers. Data also show that they are higher performing in all realms of school life and have a higher university acceptance rate than non-IB students.

EARNING THE IB

DIPLOMA

To earn the diploma, students must follow six courses in a minimum of five subject areas and the three elements of the core for two years. There are externally-set and assessed exams at the end of the two-year course in most subject areas. This external assessment determines the score students receive.

Students who are enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme but choose to leave after grade 11 will not earn

“The IBDP prepared me well for university life. The workload in IB was similar to the demands of being a first-year university student, which eased my transition to undergraduate study.”

SAVINI GOEL ’21, PRE-U ’22

an IB Diploma. However, all students will receive all credits that they require for high school graduation in Quebec and will be very well prepared for CEGEP studies if that is the path they choose.

RESULTS: IBDP

(LCC'S FIRST COHORT OF GRADUATES WAS IN 2015)

(out of a possible score of 45)

BALANCED

IB is regarded as a rigorous academic programme that provides excellent preparation for university. As with all students at LCC, those who are following the IB Programme will be expected to keep up with their studies and complete all homework assignments and reading.

Students who are taking the IB Diploma will be encouraged to take part in the co-curricular life of the school. Fulfilling their “CAS” requirements will ensure that students are involved in and reflect on their Creativity and Activity in co-curriculars as well as Service.

FACULTY

All faculty teaching IB courses are required to take part in subject-specific training. In addition, they gain access to IB resources and a virtual community where they can share ideas and discuss pedagogy with colleagues from around the world.

"At UCL we welcome applicants offering the IB Diploma and value the breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding that they bring. The challenge of the IB curriculum is good preparation for undergraduate studies and for the rigour of the UCL education."

JO TURNER Liaison & Recruitment Manager, University College London

Meet Maggie Owen, Academic Advising Coordinator

UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS SINCE 2015

The following is the list of colleges and universities that LCC IBDP graduates have attended. These schools are a reflection of the students’ own personal interests and objectives. They have also been admitted to many other educational institutions, too numerous to include here.

CANADA

Bishop’s University

Brock University

Concordia University

Dalhousie University

HEC Montréal

McGill University

Queen’s University

St. Francis Xavier University

Toronto Metropolitan University

Université de Montréal

University of British Columbia

University of Calgary

University of King’s College

University of Toronto

University of Waterloo

Western University

USA

Babson College

Barnard College

Bates College

Boston College

Boston University

Brown University

Carnegie Mellon University

Claremont McKenna College

Clarkson University

Colgate University

Columbia University

Cornell University

Dartmouth College

Davidson College

Duke University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Emory University

George Washington University

Harvard University

Howard University

Indiana University

New York University

Northeastern University

Northwestern University

Pace University

Parsons School of Design

Pennsylvania State University

Purdue University

Rhode Island School of Design

Savannah College of Art & Design

St. Lawrence University

St. Michael's University

Syracuse

Tufts University

Tulane University

University of California –

Los Angeles

University of California –San Diego

University of Chicago

University of Hawaii – Manoa

University of Indiana Bloomington

University of Miami

University of Michigan

University of Pennsylvania

University of Southern California

University of Utah

University of Vermont

Vanderbilt University

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest University

Wellesley College

Yale University

AUSTRALIA

University of New South

Wales Sydney BELGIUM

FRANCE

EDHEC Business School

Sciences Po

IRELAND

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI)

NORWAY

BI Norwegian Business School

SPAIN

IE University

THE NETHERLANDS

Amsterdam University College

Fontys University

University of Amsterdam

UK

Birmingham City University

Coventry University

King's College London

Swansea University

University College London

University of Edinburgh

University of Exeter

University of Plymouth

University of St. Andrew’s

Ontario Universities Tour