The Three-Pathways Approach

Grade 10 students and their parents engage in a course selection process that runs from February to April in the calendar year the students will enter Grade 11. The process consists of written information such as this website, presentations to the grade, a G11-12 course fair, math and science teachers course recommendations, and individual guidance sessions with the University Counselor and the IB Coordinator.

In selecting their courses, students have to be mindful of both the subjects they choose and the level (SL/HL). In order to ensure that students are matched to courses in which they can be successful in Grades 11 and 12, each level has prerequisites, i.e. conditions that must be met before the student is allowed to take that subject at that level.

Higher Level (HL) Course Prerequisites

To be eligible to enter HL courses unconditionally, by the end of Grade 10 students should have:

• A grade of 5, 6 or 7 in the Knowledge & Understanding criterion of the subject or in the most closely related subject, i.e. another subject from the same IBDP subject group;

Students will be permitted to enter HL courses on a conditional status if by the end of Grade 10:

• if they have attained a grade of 4 in the Knowledge & Understanding criterion of the subject or in the most closely related subject, i.e. another subject from the same IBDP subject group;

In order for the conditional status to be converted to full HL status, by the Winter Break of Grade 11 the student must have achieved and maintained their achievement grade of 5 into the DP.

Standard Level (SL) Course Prerequisites

To be eligible to enter SL courses unconditionally, by the end of Grade 10 students should have:

• A grade of at least a 4 in the Knowledge & Understanding criterion of the subject or in the most closely related subject, i.e. another subject from the same IBDP subject group;

Students will be permitted to enter SL courses on a conditional status if by the end of Grade 10:

• if they have attained a grade of 3 in the Knowledge & Understanding criterion of the subject or in the most closely related subject, i.e. another subject from the same IBDP subject group;

In order for the conditional status to be converted to full SL status, by the Winter Break of Grade 11 the student must have raised their achievement grade to a 4.

Failure to Meet Prerequisites

The situation of students who are failing to meeting course prerequisites by the Winter Break of Grade 11 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis: GWA reserves the right at any point in the Diploma Program to withhold access to IB Diploma examinations, to move students from HL to SL, etc. if it is felt that the student is not sufficiently engaged and is not making a serious attempt to be successful. In determining this, the school will take account of factors such as attendance, tardiness, assignment submission/non-submission data, engagement in class, etc.