The International Baccalaureate Diploma
The IB Diploma is a very well established and widely respected two-year programme of study for preuniversity students. The Diploma qualification is recognised by universities around the world, and indeed, a strong performance in the Diploma can gain a student access to some of the very best universities in the world. The IB Diploma is an academically rigorous and demanding programme. It is also a holistic and wide-ranging course of study that encourages activity, community involvement and internationalism. It requires and helps to develop effective approaches to learning. The nature of the coursework and examinations at the end of the course encourage inquiring, independent and skills-based learning. The IB Diploma therefore offers the opportunity of a first class education in the widest sense. What does the Diploma entail?
1. A central core comprising: A 4,000 word Extended Essay on a research subject of the student’s own choice
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Theory of Knowledge, a course designed to encourage students to evaluate and question how they know what they know
Participation in “CAS”, comprising Creativity (e.g. involvement in performances, exhibitions, concerts), Activity (e.g. involvement in sports teams, learning new sports, expeditions) and Service (e.g. involvement in local and overseas community service projects). Six academic subjects, one selected from each of the following six groups: Group 1 - Studies in Language and Literature Group 2 - Language Acquisition Group 3 - Individuals and Societies Group 4 - Sciences Group 5 - Mathematics Group 6 – The Arts (or another subject selected from groups 1 to 5)
Three of the six subjects must be taken at HL and three at SL. All six subjects consist of a “theory” component that follows a prescribed syllabus, and a coursework component that allows the opportunity for both teacher and student input to the course of study.
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