If your child is preparing for the IB Diploma, he or she is on a path that will open many doors for further learning across the globe. The IB exam is not an easy one and children preparing for it need all the support they can get. Parents play a key role in the preparation process and knowing the system and terminology will help them to understand the preparation their children are doing and give them the help and encouragement they need.
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- The IB Diploma: To receive the diploma students must take 3 Higher Level courses and 3 Standards Level ones – 6 in all. They must also complete the DP Core requirements. The minimum total score must be at least 24 out of the 45 possible points.
- The DP Core: The DP core requires students to complete the core components of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) and the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and an Extended Essay (EE).
- CAS: These are non-curriculum activities outside the classroom that includes community service, sports, etc. The objective is to integrate external influences and actions with the IB syllabus.
- TOK: This requires students to examine and evaluate the types and values of knowledge. An essay on this must be submitted.
- EE: This is a long essay of up to 4000 words on a subject student’s study and research done on their own.
- DP Courses: All Diploma Program (DP) students must take part in these courses which aim to integrate the overall learning experience and create a holistic approach to learning, thinking and creativity.
- Internal Assessment: This is the assessment of a student’s knowledge of a subject done by the teacher who taught the course in school. The teacher’s knowledge of the student may have a positive and useful influence on the evaluation.
- External Assessment: This is the evaluation of a student’s understanding of a subject done by trained examiners who are not part of the school and have no contact with the student, so they are able to evaluate objectively.
- Higher Level (HL): These are subjects that are taught over 2 years and include an in-depth study of the topic. The objective is to enable students to develop a greater interest in the subjects and explore the issues in great depth.
- Standard Level (SL): These are less in-depth than the HL courses and are designed to give students exposure to a wide range of topics and disciplines that they would not otherwise be involved in. These courses are also of a 2 year duration, but the examination is shorter and less rigorous than that of HL courses.
- IB Results: For both HL and SL courses the grading is from 1 to 7 with 1 being the lowest grade and 7 being the highest.
- Predicted Grades: These are the grades that teachers in the school expect students to get in the actual DP examination.
- Learner Profile: This is the list of traits and qualities that IB wants to encourage in students and are based upon creative thinking, being open-minded and having an enquiring mental outlook.