The International Baccalaureate Program

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a comprehensive two-year international curriculum, designed to equip students in the 16 to 19 years age group with the skills, knowledge and attitude necessary for success in higher education in the 21st century. This program combines breadth with depth, and includes interdisciplinary components to give students a holistic education. Courses are completed over a two-year period, leading to examinations in May of each year. The program was consciously designed to not follow any one national education system, thus making it accessible to more students, globally.

The Diploma Program requires students to complete one course from each of the six subject areas or groups. In addition to these courses, diploma candidates are required to complete the elements of the CORE which include a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, an Extended Essay (EE), and a minimum of 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS). These requirements are best depicted in the IB Hexagon.

The International Baccalaureate program was established in 1968 to provide an international syllabus that would allow access to students from all over the world. The program has since grown to include more than 2100 IB World Schools in 139 countries. The program’s mission is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” More information on the program may be had at www.ibo.org.

A student who wishes to take the IB Diploma is required to select 6 academic subjects – three or four offered at the Higher Level (HL) and two or three offered at the Standard level (SL). Points are awarded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum) for each course. These 6 subjects together with the Core elements make up a program that provides a well-rounded education to its candidates

The program is assessed so as to ensure transparency at all stages. Each subject has Internal Assessment (IA) and External Assessment (EA) components, the ratio of the percentage of grades for each differing by subject. IA grades are subject to moderation by external moderators, so as to ensure fairness in grade allocation.

Teachers in the IB Diploma program are offered several opportunities for professional development by the International Baccalaureate organization. Every 5 years the manner of delivering the program at each school is monitored through a detailed program evaluation using a self-study questionnaire.