When students complete the IB Diploma Programme, they take written examinations corrected by external IB examiners. These examinations take place at the school and the type of assessment is called external assessment. The resulting mark represents approximately 70% of the final mark. On the other hand, students also complete assessment tasks which are assessed by their teachers and then reviewed by IB moderators. This type of assessment is called internal assessment and represents approximately 30% of the final mark.
The External evaluation
In most subjects, written examinations form the basis of assessment. This ensures high levels of objectivity and reliability. External written examinations are held in May, except for the three core components which have different deadlines, type of assessment and marking than written examinations.
Written tests can be: essays, structured problems, short answer, data response, text response, case study and multiple choice questions.
The results of the May written tests are published on the 5th July.
The Internal evaluation
In all subjects, students also carry out assessment tasks at the school. This in-school assessment is carried out by teachers at the school and moderated by external IB examiners.
There are different types of internal assessment, depending on the subject: oral language papers, laboratory work in science, investigations in mathematics, and case studies in global politics and in business and management, for example.
Internal assessment tests are usually taken in the second term of the second year.
HOW IS THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME EVALUATED?
In the Diploma Programme, students are awarded a grade from 1 to 7 (the highest) for each subject.
The student's final score combines the scores for all subjects. The diploma is awarded to students who score at least 24 points and is subject to certain minimum levels of performance, including successful completion of the three core components.
THE CORE COMPONENTS OF THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
Individual marks are awarded for Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and the Monograph and, taken together, can contribute up to three additional points to the final Diploma Programme mark.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), another core component of the programme, does not contribute to the point total, but verified participation in this component is a requirement for the Diploma.