FAQ

FAQs

1)

Q: What is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme?

A: The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year program that prepares students for college level course work. The courses are internationally standardized and recommended for academically motivated high school students around the world. It is essential that students take international honors course work in the 9th and 10th grade in order to be prepared for the rigor of the IB courses offered in 11th and 12th grade.

2)

Q: If I apply and am accepted into the program, may I take courses at another high school in Johnston County?

A: No, only Smithfield-Selma High School has been authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

3)

Q: Is the IB program designed for me?

A: The IB program is designed for students who have the motivation to be successful in an internationally based, well-rounded, college preparatory curriculum. Students with high aspirations and strong work ethic will find that working toward an IB diploma can help them achieve their educational goals.

4)

Q: How is IB any different from AP?

A: To begin with, IB courses are taught on an A/B schedule over a two year period. IB diploma and certificate candidates begin the coursework during their junior year, completing various assessments along the way. During their senior year, students complete their assessments which culminate with IB exams in May, a process similar to AP. But unlike AP courses where the final assessment weighs 100% of the course score, the final assessment in IB courses is one of several scores used in finalizing course score. Furthermore, and most importantly, the major difference between AP and IB lies in the diploma itself. To earn an IB diploma, students must take a combination of 7 required IB courses (including Theory of Knowledge), participate in an individual CAS project, and complete an Extended Essay. The IB program offers students the opportunity to link the courses they are studying. IB takes a holistic approach to educating students and developing their understanding and acceptance of the community, state, country and world that they live in.

5)

Q: Why are IB courses designated as SL and HL?

A: The designation allows for students to explore some subjects more in depth and others more broadly. It is inherent that some students are more innately drawn towards certain subjects such as science, math or language. The students are able to delve below the surface in subjects they already have a basis for, while becoming more familiar with subjects that are newer to them. Math-minded students may be challenged by SL foreign language and HL math, where as a natural linguist will be more challenged by SL math and HL foreign language.

6)

Q: What are the benefits of earning an IB Diploma?

A: Each college will award different credits for different IB courses (SL/ HL) just as they do for AP courses. In general, the IB program is aimed towards more than college credit. It is aimed at making life long learners that are able to take their knowledge and benefit the community, nationally and internationally. IB students are equipped with skills that allow them a higher success in higher education and future careers as well as the values and opportunities to better themselves and the world.

7)

Q: What incentives are offered to students choosing the rigor of the IB program over other options at Smithfield-Selma High School?

A: While the benefits of receiving 6 credits for an IB course is beneficial for a studen'ts GPA, the benefits reach far beyond this. The life skills and ability to think internationally will greatly help the students in future endeavors including college courses, international travel, and assimilation into a career. The IB learner is a person who is academically motivated long after high school and thus continues to achieve success.

8)

Q: Are the assessments for IB courses similar to other assessments such as EOGs, EOCs, and AP Exams?

A: IB exams are similar in that they assess the content learned. They differ greatly in the assessment format however. Whereas other examinations test in a multiple choice (either you know the answer or you do not) format, IB examinations are in a written (we want to know what you do know) way. Many students find it more beneficial to be able to explain what they understand rather than to be limited to an answer choice. In an IB examination students are given credit for their process as well as their product which is similar to the new common core standards that all students in North Carolina will be taught from.

9)

Q: Can I earn college credit for IB courses the same way I can earn credit for AP courses?

A: Many institutions of higher learning offer credit for IB courses in the same manner as AP courses, based on the final score in the course. AP offers scores in the range of 1-5 that are based solely on the AP exam offered in May; IB offers scores from 1-7, but the scores come from both internal and external assessments. The amount of credit you earn for the IB courses can depend on the level of course (Standard Level--SL or Higher Level--HL) and the grade in the IB course. Students can find out the credits earned for IB courses by visiting any college or university's website. This information is usually listed under an admissions tab. Look for AP/IB credits earned.

See also this link from Oglethorpe University to understand how some colleges use the IB Diploma Programme to award credits: Oglethorpe IB Credit

Students in the IB Diploma Program can further cement their credits for college by taking AP courses following IB instruction. For instance, students enrolled in IB History of the Americas may take the AP US History exam in May after they have completed the American History component of the course. Students who choose this option are responsible for the cost of the extra exam. Likewise, students in English III and IV can pay to take the AP Language (or Literature) and Composition exams. However, students enrolled in AP courses do not have the option to take equivalent IB exams for credit.

10)

Q: When do students take IB exams?

A: The external portion of the IB exam process occurs in May of their senior year, though other internal exams are completed throughout the two-years in the IB program. The internal exams include papers, oral presentations, portfolios and other exemplars that demonstrate their understanding of the IB material.

11)

Q: Does the IB Diploma replace the state of North Carolina or Johnston County Schools graduation requirements?

A: The courses taken during the IB program will align with the standards required for a high school diploma. Whether the students receives his/ her IB diploma, they will still be eligible for High School graduation if they pass their IB courses. This is similar to AP in that a student need not pass their AP exam in order to pass and receive credit towards graduation.

12)

Q: What prerequisites during middle school must students take if they wish to participate in the IB program and where must they take them? What will they take during their ninth and tenth grade years at Smithfield-Selma High School?

A: During eighth grade, students are encouraged to complete Math I. In the ninth and tenth grades, students will take internationally-minded courses in English, Spanish, and science. To fulfill graduation requirements, ninth graders also must take Health and Physical Education and World History; we recommend AP World History. Electives during the ninth and tenth grade years may include band, visual arts, or other core subject electives.

13)

Q: Is a student able to take only a few of the IB classes and receive credit?

A: Smithfield Selma High School will follow the guidelines of the IB Diploma Program which requires students to participate in all courses and requirements for the IB diploma.

14)

Q: How would an IB student's probable curriculum look?

A: There is not set, rigid path toward an IB Diploma at Smithfield-Selma. However, there are some required courses that a student must take for an IB Diploma. A student's schedule must have clearance through their counselors and the IB Director.