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

Theory of Knowledge, acourse 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, concertActivitys),(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 1to 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.

How is it assessed?

At the end of the two-year course, in nearly all of the six subjects, students take examinations that are externally marked. For those subjects without final exams (Visual Art, Theatre), students are assessed using additional coursework. The coursework component for all subjects is marked by teachers and moderated by IB Diploma moderators. As a result of the exam performance and coursework, the student will be awarded a numerical grade for each subject ranging from 7 (excellent) down to 1. Therefore, the six subjects yield a possible maximum of 42 points.

In addition, the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge together contribute acombined score of up to three extra Core points.

Thus, the maximum Diploma score is 45 points. A total score of below 24 points means that a student will not be awarded the Diploma as 24 points is the minimum to be awarded an IB Diploma. Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) are not awarded points, but a satisfactory performance in these areas must be e v i d e n c e d a n d recorded in order for the Diploma to be awarded.