IB Diploma Programme

What is the IB Diploma Programme?

The diagram on the left shows the IB Diploma Programme model.

Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of the six subject groups. Usually, three subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL).

In addition, all students complete the ‘core’:

  • Theory of Knowledge

  • Creativity, Activity & Service

  • Extended Essay

http://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/

A Summary of the Diploma Programme

Assessment

A variety of assessment methods are used to value both the content and process of academic achievement and to take into account different learning styles and cultural patterns. Assessment includes internally assessed coursework with teachers being responsible for evaluating work carried out during the course, which is then moderated by external examiners (samples sent to IB to ensure criteria are met).

Examinations

Internal end of year examinations (May/June of Grade 11) and ‘mock’ examinations (January of Grade 12) take place, along with final external examinations taking place during May of the final year of the programme. These external examinations are marked by external IB examiners.

Award of the Diploma

Each subject in the six groups is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The maximum score of 45 points includes the maximum of three additional points that can be awarded for the level of performance in the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.

Students must complete all assessments in three HL courses and three SL courses, plus satisfactorily complete TOK, the Extended Essay and the CAS programme in order to receive an IB Diploma. Students who do not complete all components will get an ‘IB Certificate’ which details their achievement in the components that they did complete.

Full requirements for the IB Diploma are available upon request, but here are a few of the most important points. A candidate can only receive the overall diploma certificate if none of the following nine conditions below applies.

  • CAS requirements have not been met.

  • Candidate’s total points are fewer than 24.

  • An N (no grade awarded) has been given for TOK, EE or for a contributing subject.

  • A grade E has been awarded for one or both of TOK and the EE

  • There is a grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

  • Grade 2 has been awarded three or more times (HL or SL).

  • Grade 3 or below has been awarded four or more times (HL or SL).

  • Candidate has gained fewer than 12 points on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).

  • Candidate has gained fewer than 9 points on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).

Bilingual Diploma

As an alternative to the standard diploma certificate, a “bilingual diploma certificate” can be awarded to a candidate who:

1) completes two languages selected from group 1 with the award of a grade 3 or higher in both

or

2) completes one of the subjects from group 3 or group 4 in a language that is not the same as the candidate's nominated group 1 language. The candidate must attain a grade 3 or higher in both the group 1 language and the subject from group 3 or 4.