Frequently Asked Questions

The IBO does not offer a formal certificate program, only the full diploma program. Students who receive an IB score of 4 or higher in an individual IB course will receive a certified transcript (referred to as a certificate) from IB indicating this result. 

At HF, students enrolled in IB courses are either course candidates (taking individual courses) or diploma candidates (meeting all the requirements of the diploma). 

 Students who are not pursuing the full diploma ("course candidates") are allowed to take as many or as few IB classes as they like. There is no minimum number of IB classes required.  However, in order to be eligible for a PE Waiver students must be pursuing the full diploma and in their junior and/or senior year. 

The IBO requires students be in their final two years of high school to participate in the program.  There is no pre-IB cohort at HF. Students may not begin any IB coursework prior to their junior year, although they are encouraged take the most advanced level of a course available.  

Underclassmen interested in pursuing the full diploma should consult the IB Coordinator and the course catalog to make sure they are fulfilling all of the prerequisites for IB courses.  World Language is required every year to be eligible for the diploma. The IB Coordinator can provide personalized guidance to students with unique situations or challenges in their schedule. 

There are numerous benefits to the IB Diploma, including college credit and scholarships. But one of the main benefits is college preparedness. The Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy recently did a study on the Diploma Programme in Chicago public schools. The study found students who completed the IB programme were 40% more likely to attend a four-year college, 50% more likely to attend a selective four-year college, and significantly more likely to persist in college than their matched peers outside the program.

Click here to read more about the many benefits of the IB Diploma. 

The IB Diploma Programme at HF is open to all eligible students.  

However, the Diploma Programme requires students study a second language, so students must begin learning a second language prior to entering the Diploma Programme. Furthermore, the full Diploma Programme is research and writing intensive. If a student struggles with written work, the full Diploma Programme may not be the best fit.  Student could opt to take some but not all IB classes.

You can read more about what makes a successful IB student here. 

IB is a balanced program of study. Course work is completed over two years and students are assessed multiple times over the two years.

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are taken independently of each other. Course work is completed in one year and there is one assessment per class at the end of the academic year. 

Click here for more about how the two programs compare. 

Most IB students are involved in extracurriculars, play sports, and have part-time jobs. In fact, it's one of the core components - the Creativity, Activity, and Service project! 

But IB is also about developing executive functioning skills. This is a challenging academic program, and students will need to establish solid routines to effectively manage their time and balance competing demands. 

While the IB program is international in scope and is recognized by universities worldwide, it is not limited to students planning to study abroad. Students may choose to pursue it for a variety of reasons including:

• IB offers a holistic and well-rounded education. 

• IB emphasizes an international perspective, helping students understand global issues. 

• The IB Diploma is known for its challenging curriculum, and pushes students to develop a strong work ethic.

• IB fosters personal development, including skills such as time management, research, communication, and collaboration.

IB students have two types of assessments - internal and external. The internal assessments (IAs) are graded by your HF teachers and reviewed by IB.  The external assessments (EAs) are written exams taken at the end of the course and graded by IB examiners. All assessments are criterion-based. 

Student scores for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students must achieve a minimum score of 24 points through their performance on six IB exams in order to earn the IB Diploma. Students may earn up to three additional points for their combined results in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.

At the time, there is no cost for IB students to take the external assessments. 

If IB students opt to take AP exams as well, they will be responsible for those costs. 

IB exams take place every May. IB exams often overlap with AP exams, but there are no make-up dates for IB. Students taking both AP and IB exams will take IB exams on the original date and their AP exams on the make-up dates. 

During the spring of their sophomore year, students should reach out to the IB Coordinator as well as their counselor to be enrolled in the Diploma Programme.

Students and parents are strongly encouraged to contact the IB Coordinator as early as possible to indicate their potential interest in the program - even in middle school! This helps ensure students meet all of the eligibility and prerequisite requirements. 

As a parent, you can support your child by encouraging them to take ownership of their learning experiences and fostering curiosity about the world around them. Ask your students what questions remain after class and walk through how you would go about finding those answers. Incorporate global news and perspectives into daily conversations.