What is the IB Diploma Programme?

What is the IB Diploma Programme?
The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically challenging and balanced
programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 16 to
19, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the
intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme has
gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities.
The Diploma Programme prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly
evolving and increasingly global society as they:
• develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically acquire breadth and depth
of knowledge and understanding, studying courses from 6 subject groups,
• develop the skills and a positive attitude toward learning that will prepare them for
higher education,
• study at least two languages and increase understanding of cultures, including their
own,
• make connections across traditional academic disciplines and explore the nature of
knowledge through the programme’s unique theory of knowledge course,
• undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more
academic disciplines in the extended essay, and
• enhance their personal and interpersonal development through creativity, action and
service.
The Diploma Programme core
The extended essay asks students to engage in independent research through an indepth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. Students
develop the 4,000-word extended essay independently and are guided through the process
by a supervising teacher.
Theory of knowledge
develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the
academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of
knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction. The TOK
course is taught over three 45-minute lessons per week.
Creativity, activity, service (CAS)
involves students in a range of experiences
alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages
students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Activity seeks to develop a healthy
lifestyle physically. Service with the community offers a vehicle for a new learning with
academic value. Developing CAS activities outside the school and forming links with the
local community is a vital aspect of CAS at the FIS. The three strands of CAS enhance
students’ personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable
journeys of self-discovery. Completing the CAS programme is also a prerequisite for the FIS
HS Diploma.
The curriculum
IB Diploma Programme students must choose one subject from each of five groups
(1 to 5), ensuring breadth of knowledge and understanding in their best language, additional
language(s), the social sciences, the experimental sciences and mathematics. Students may
choose either an arts subject from group 6, or a second subject from groups 1 to 4 if the
timetable allows.
What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS?
Courses can usually be studied at either Higher or Standard level. A Higher level
(HL) course at the FIS is taught for four and a half hours per week, Standard level (SL) for
three hours per week. Students must take a minimum of three courses at HL. Four HL
courses can be taken only if a student has a proven academic record and it is a requirement
for admission to particular university course.
Differences between SL and HL courses
HL courses not only have 50% more class time but other important differences too.
HL courses feature differentiated Internal Assessment tasks, additional topics and longer, or
additional, examinations. As an example the following table illustrates the differences
between the HL and SL courses for A Literature with the italics indicating the differences:
Standard Level – three literary genres
Higher Level – four literary genres
Part 1 Works in translation
• Two texts studied
• Three texts studied
• 1,500 word written assignment
• 1,500 word written assignment
Part 2 Detailed study
• Three texts studied
• Two texts studied
• Ten-minute oral commentary
• Ten-minute oral commentary
exam
• Ten-minute discussion
• Additional assessment criteria
Part 3 Genre study
• Three texts studied
• Four texts studied
• 90-minute written examination
• 120-minute written examination
• Additional assessment criteria
Part 4 Free choice
• Three texts studied
• Three texts studied
• 15-minute oral presentation
• 15-minute oral presentation
Part 5 Unseen commentary exam
• 120-minute unseen commentary
• 90-minute unseen commentary
written examination
written examination
• No guiding questions
• Two guiding questions
• Differentiated assessment criteria
Assessment
Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked
by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are
either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent
directly to external examiners.
The marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students
can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results on theory of
knowledge and the extended essay. The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least
24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme
and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, service requirement. The highest
total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points.
Assessment is criterion-related, which means student performance is measured
against pre-specified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject
curriculum, rather than the performance of other students taking the same examinations.
The range of scores that students have attained remains statistically stable, and universities
value the rigour and consistency of Diploma Programme assessment practice.
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What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS?
Here at the FIS we offer these courses
Group 1 – Language A
A English Literature
A German Literature
A English Language &
Literature
A German Language &
Literature
On application: school
supported self-taught A
Literature
Group 2 – Second languages
B German
B English
B Spanish
Ab Initio German (SL
only)
Possible offering in 2014:
Ab Initio Spanish (SL
only)
History
Business &
Management
Group 3 – Social sciences
Geography
Possible offering in 2014:
Economics (SL/HL)
Group 4 – Sciences
Biology
Physics
Environmental systems
& societies (SL only)
Chemistry
Possible offering in 2014:
Sport, health and
exercise science (SL
only)
Group 5 – Mathematics
HL Mathematics
SL Mathematics
Mathematical Studies
(SL only)
Group 6 – The Arts and electives from groups 2-4
Visual Arts
Music
Possible offering in 2014:
Theatre (SL/HL)
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What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS?
Course choices, placement and prerequisites
After consideration of all departmental policies and teacher recommendations
placement in IB DP courses will be confirmed in writing by the IBDP Coordinator.
General IGCSE and FIS grade prerequisites
For study of SL courses the prerequisites are IGCSE grades of C or better and
consistent FIS Grades of 4 or better.
For study of HL courses the prerequisites are IGCSE grades of B or better and
consistent FIS grades of 5 or better.
Language A and Group 2 languages
It is possible to study two Group 1 languages and qualify for the IB Bilingual Diploma.
It is also possible to study three languages if timetable and enrolment in courses permit.
Group 2 languages can be skipped if you choose two Group 1 languages. (It is also possible
to study two social sciences or two natural sciences too if the timetable allows.)
Language A courses are designed for speakers who are able to analyse and critically
engage with a range of texts (their competence being on level C1 of the CEFR 1 or above).
Students at the FIS who have been studying in native speaker classes will be placed in
Group 1 language courses.
Language B classes are for students who have several years’ experience in the
language but have not mastered the language.
Ab Initio language courses are designed for students with little or no prior experience
of the language.
German
For students studying IGCSE in grade 9 onwards (i.e. most German courses)
placement suitability will be based on the first semester grade of the IB prep course in grade
10.
Group 3 Social sciences
There are no course-specific prerequisites for studying a Group 3 course but coming
to a course with IGCSE experience will be an obvious advantage.
Group 4 Sciences
There are no-course specific prerequisites for studying a Group 4 course but coming
to a course with IGCSE experience will be an obvious advantage.
Group 5 Mathematics
The Department of Mathematics at the FIS uses class assessments, teacher
observations and an internal IB Mathematics Prerequisite Skills Test to develop a
recommendation regarding the placement of students in courses, based on individual skill
level. The Mathematics department communicated prerequisite for IB courses in the FIS IB
Math Information Letter.
Group 6 The Arts
There are no IB course-specific requirements for studying a Group 6 Arts subject but
music students must have their own instruments, undertake private instrumental/vocal tuition
and must be a member of a school ensemble.
Probation
All students entering G11 are placed on academic probation for the first six months. If
a student fails to engage positively with all aspects of their studies including CAS they may
be removed from the IB Diploma programme.
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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
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What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS?
Recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany
Guidelines set by the Kultusministerkonferenz recognise a student’s IB Diploma as
equivalent to Abitur if it meets a set of strict requirements. These requirements limit the
options available to students as the KMK requirements dictate levels in some
courses, whether a course must be taken as an elective, or be recognised at all.
Students who wish to study an Abitur equivalent IB Diploma must check their course
selection with the Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle in Munich before commencing study in G11.
The course selection below is an example that illustrates the restrictions:
Abitur equivalent and IB compliant:
1. A HL English Literature
1. A SL German Language and literature
3. SL History
4. HL Biology
5. SL Mathematics
6. HL Business and management
TOK, CAS and Extended Essay
The conditions under which the IB Diploma can be granted Abitur equivalency can be
found here
http://www.km.bayern.de/download/3477_ib_vereinbarung_stand_31.05.2012.pdf
Recognition of the IB Diploma in other countries
The IB Diploma is recognised around the world by universities for undergraduate
courses. Each country treats recognition in slightly different ways. The IB details recognition
policies on its website
http://www.ibo.org/country/
Sources: all material related to the nature of the IB DP programme (on pages 1 and 2) is copied from
the IB website: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/
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