International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognized, pre-university program of study devoted to preparing learners for life, not an exam. 

At Purcell Marian, students in 11th & 12th grade have the opportunity to take a variety of IB classes -- from History of the Americas to Environmental Systems and Societies. These two-year courses are designed to create lifelong learners, with an approach to teaching and learning that goes beyond memorizing facts and formulas. Our IB classes are lively, challenging, and student-centered, a place for Cavaliers to pursue their own interests and take pride in hard work.

Students who enroll in the full IB course load as juniors are eligible to pursue the IB Diploma, a diploma issued directly by the International Baccalaureate Organization and highly regarded by university admissions officers around the world. At the Castle, IB is also inclusive, offering a rigorous, holistic education to all Cavaliers. Starting with the class of 2026, all Purcell Marian students will graduate with at least one IB course: IB Language and Literature. This course will replace all existing PM English courses at the 11th and 12th grade level and ensure that every student benefits from an IB education.

We offer six two-year IB courses, which are offered at Standard Level (SL), higher-level (HL), or both.

• • Language and Literature (SL & HL)

    • Dr. Emily Erken, eerken@purcellmarian.org

    • IB Subject Brief: Language and Literature

• • Spanish (SL)

    • Ms. Andrea Heile, aheile@purcellmarian.org

    • Prerequisite: 2 years of Spanish

    • IB Subject Brief: SL Spanish

• • Mathematics: analysis and approaches (SL & HL)

    • Mr. Joey Isakson (Year 1), jisakson@purcellmarian.org

    • Mr. Kyle Nobbe (Year 2), knobbe@purcellmarian.org 

    • Prerequisite: Algebra II

    • IB Subject Brief: SL/HL Mathematics

• • Environmental Systems and Societies (SL)

    • Mr. Wade Barbour, wbarbour@purcellmarian.org 

    • IB Subject Brief: SL ESS

• • History (SL & HL)

    • Mr. Matthew Photides, mphotides@purcellmarian.org 

    • IB Subject Brief: SL History

    • IB Subject Brief: HL History of the Americas

• • Visual Art (HL)

    • Mr. Joey Versoza, jversoza@purcellmarian.org 

    • IB Subject Brief: HL Visual Art

Please see descriptions of the IB Core, including the one-year course Theory of Knowledge, in the IB Diploma section below.

Starting Early: Considerations for 9th & 10th Graders

Although all students will enroll in IB Language and Literature starting with the Class of 2026, 9th and 10th graders interested in other IB courses or pursuing the Diploma, are encouraged to start planning their path to IB early. The following are some considerations for underclassmen:

• Students need a minimum of two years of Honors Spanish to enroll in IB Spanish, so students interested in the Diploma must enroll in Spanish as freshmen.

• Likewise, the IB Math course requires that students have completed Algebra II. For some students, this can only be accomplished by doubling up on math courses during 9th or 10th grade.

• The Honors track offers the best preparation for the IB Diploma. Students who are not placed in Honors courses at the start of their freshmen year should make it a point to work towards Honors placement. This can be done, in part, through self-advocacy. Email Barret Bell, Director of International Baccalaureate at Purcell Marian, to express your interest and learn more about IB. Also, let your teachers know you want to work towards Honors coursework and ask them what you can do to prepare for such a move. 

Enrolling in IB Classes

During scheduling, which happens in the spring semester for the following year, students are invited to indicate which IB classes they are interested in. At the same time, departments develop their recommendations for student placement. The counseling team then works with students and teachers to develop student schedules.

Students are not initially recommended for the course can appeal the decision by completing the IB Course Appeal Form.

Inclusive Access Arrangements

IB believes in an inclusive approach to education that is designed to remove or reduce barriers so that every student can fully participate in, and develop through, IB programs. Our IB teachers work with our CS3 Intervention Specialists to ensure that IB classes are inclusive. Likewise, the IB Coordinator works closely with CS3 to request inclusive access arrangements from IB for internal and external assessments. Families of students enrolled in our CS3 program will be asked to fill out a Consent to Release Form in addition to the IB Student Registration Form (see IB Assessment, Registration, & Scores below), which ensures that relevant documentation can be shared with IB. Read the full IB Access & Inclusion Policy here.

Assessment in IB

Each IB course is anchored by several meaningful assessments, which are revisited and revised by IB every five years as a part of their course review cycle. Assessments fall into two categories: internal and external.

• Internal Assessments: IAs are assessed internally, by the instructor, with scores submitted to (and moderated by) IB. IAs include laboratory work in the sciences, mathematical investigations, artistic performances, and oral analysis of literary texts.

• External Assessments: EAs are assessed exclusively by IB. Most EAs are given during the May examination period at the end of senior year. EAs may include essays, case-study questions, or textual analysis questions. Multiple choice is rarely a part of these assessments.

For each IB course, students receive a grade ranging from 7 to 1, with 7 being highest. This score reflects their performance on the internal and external assessments for the course. 

IB Registration Fee Policy

All senior IB students must be formally registered with International Baccalaureate in October of senior year. This ensures that all course assessments are evaluated by an international team of educators. The registration fee is $119 per class. Purcell Marian pays this fee for any senior enrolled in year 2 of an IB course. However, if a student fails to sit for an IB exam or otherwise does not complete the required internal and external assessments for a course, the student's family will be responsible for reimbursing Purcell Marian for the fee(s). A letter explaining this policy, along with the IB Student Registration Form, is sent home at the start of the school year. It must be signed and returned before a student will be registered.

Scores

For individual courses, IB regards 4 as a passing score. Diploma-seeking students receiving passing scores on all six subjects, and adequately completing all components of the IB Core, will be awarded the IB Diploma. Additional pathways to the IB Diploma are outlined in the IB Diploma section.

Release of Scores

• • Results are released in early July, following May exams.

  • Families will receive an unofficial score report from PM within a week of the scores being released.

  • The IB Coordinator can request an official score report be sent to one university or college per student. This is requested in late May, following the 3E Signing Day when seniors declare their post-graduation plans and specify a school for enrollment.

  • If a student needs to reorder an official score report, they must do so through IB at this link: Requesting Official Exam Results from IB.

The IB Core

Diploma-seeking students begin “the IB Core” in January of their junior year, when they enroll in Theory of Knowledge (TOK). This is a one-year course, which goes through the fall semester of senior year. Because TOK is the only core requirement delivered as a course, occasionally class time will be used to monitor students' progress on the other core requirements (Extended Essay and CAS). Students receive their EE & CAS handbooks during "core orientation" in the first days of TOK.

• • Theory of Knowledge: TOK invites students to ask, “How do we know what we know?” To explore this and other knowledge questions, students draw on both personal experience and content from their IB classes. Run as a socratic seminar, the course encourages students to engage in dialogue and be curious about alternate perspectives. Students complete an internal assessment at the end of their junior year and an external assessment in December of the senior year. TOK is a PASS/FAIL class at Purcell Marian, but it can contribute points towards the IB Diploma.

    • IB Subject Brief: Theory of Knowledge

• • Creativity, Activity, and Service: CAS provides students with opportunities outside of the classroom for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. In this way, it ensures that IB Diploma candidates are well-rounded students, engaged with a range of experiences beyond the scope of individual classes and academic endeavors. Students must log 75 CAS hours over the course of their junior and senior years, and propose, develop, and complete a CAS project. More details on requirements can be found in the Purcell Marian CAS Handbook.

    • IB Subject Brief: Creativity Activity, & Service

• • Extended Essay: The extended essay is a unique opportunity for students to explore a topic and academic area in which they have a personal interest, ultimately producing an independently written research paper of 4000 words. The EE is completed in consultation with a faculty supervisor over the course of a year (January of junior year to January of senior year), with much of the research and writing taking place during the summer between junior and senior years. Learn more about how the EE process is structured for students in our Purcell Marian Extended Essay Handbook.

    • IB Subject Brief: Extended Essay

Earning the IB Diploma

• The IB diploma is awarded based on performance across all parts of the DP.

• Students can earn up to seven points for each of the six subjects, for a total of 42 possible points from subject areas.

• TOK and the EE are graded A–E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined using the TOK/EE matrix (below) to contribute between 0 and 3 points to the total.

• CAS is not assessed but must be completed in order to earn the diploma.

• The minimum threshold for the award of the diploma is 24 points. If a candidate scores less than 24 points, the diploma is not awarded.

Additional Requirements

• There is no “N” awarded for TOK, the EE or for a contributing subject.

• There is no grade E awarded for TOK and/or the EE.

• There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

• There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (SL or HL).

• There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (SL or HL).

• The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects. (For candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count.)

• The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects. (Candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL.)

Example Pathways to the IB Diploma

There is no singular way to earn the Diploma. Below are three examples of possible pathways.

What do college admissions officers think of International Baccalaureate?

“I consider full IB diploma students as the ones who are best prepared for college work in our applicant pool. The intentional, thoughtful work they are asked to do means that students who are in IB programs are sure bets when they start college. I can say with certainty that IB really is the worldwide standard. When I travel to recruit around the globe at the best schools, they almost all offer an IB curriculum.”

- Annie Murphy, Coordinator of International Admission, Centre College

IB College Recruitment

• While universities around the world prize IB students, this list highlights colleges that actively recruit and reward IB students. 

• This IB Blog post, "From the admissions office: Practical advice for university essays and applications" features a series of interviews with Admissions Officers from University of Rochester and DePaul University that illuminate how IB students can effectively translate their IB experiences to winning college applications.

Earning Credit for IB Coursework

Universities around the world offer college credit for IB Coursework. The amount of college credit students are eligible to receive depends on both the colleges and universities the student is applying to as well as the scores the student earns for various subjects.

College Credit in Ohio: Ohio recently passed legislation that requires all public universities in the state adopt a common policy for rewarding college credit for IB courses by 2025. This will put IB coursework on equal footing as Advanced Placement & College Credit Plus.

IB Recognition Database: IB recently launched a tool for finding universities that recognize IB programs. To use it, simply follow the link below and be sure to check the boxes next to "Diploma Programme" and "Diploma Programme," as shown below.

recognition.ibo.org

Barret Bell

Director of the International Baccalaureate Program

Phone: 513.751.1230 x209.  |  Email: bbell@purcellmarian.org  |  Office: The Research Center