The CP’s flexible educational framework allows schools to meet the needs, backgrounds and contexts of students. CP students engage with a rigorous study programme that genuinely interests them while gaining transferable and lifelong skills.

The CP provides a comprehensive educational framework that combines highly regarded and internationally recognized courses, from the IB Diploma Programme, with a unique CP core and an approved career-related study.

The CP develops students to be:

• Academically strong
• Skilled in a practical field
• Critical and ethical thinkers
• Self-directed
• Collaborative
• Resilient and determined
• Confident and assured
• Caring and reflective
• Inquirers

Curriculum

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Career-related Programme (CP) is a three-part educational framework.

It consists of:

• complete all components of the CP core to a satisfactory level
• earn a minimum score of 3 in at least two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses
• attempted (between 2 and 4 Standard Level or Higher Level DP courses)
• complete a career-related study to the school’s satisfaction.

Students complete at least two DP courses in any of that programme's subject groups. DP courses provide and enhance the theoretical underpinnings and academic rigour of the CP.

The CP core components give context to the DP courses and the career-related study, drawing all aspects of the framework together. Through the CP core, students develop personal qualities and professional skills, as well as intellectual habits required for lifelong learning.

Each school chooses the career-related study most suited to local conditions and the needs of its students The career-related study must satisfy IB criteria for accreditation, assessment and quality assurance.

The Career-Related Programme Core

A key element of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (CP), the CP core enhances student’s personal and interpersonal development, with an emphasis on experiential learning.

The CP core bridges the IB academic courses and the career-related study and provides students with a combination of academic and practical skills.

Four interrelated components form the core.

Personal and professional skills

Personal and professional skills is designed for students to develop attitudes, skills and strategies to be applied to personal and professional situations and contexts now and in the future.

In this course the emphasis is on skills development for the workplace, as these are transferable and can be applied in a range of situations.

Service learning

Service learning is the development and application of knowledge and skills towards meeting an identified and authentic community need.

In this research-based approach, students often undertake service initiatives related to topics studied previously in their academic disciplines, utilizing skills, understandings and values developed in these studies.

Reflective Project

The reflective project is an in-depth body of work produced over an extended period of time and submitted towards the end of the CP. Through a reflective project students identify, analyse, critically discuss and evaluate an ethical issue arising from their career-related studies.

The reflective project is intended to promote high-level research, writing and extended communication skills, intellectual discovery and creativity.

Language Development

Language development ensures that all students have access to and are exposed to a language programme that will assist and further their understanding of the wider world. The ability to communicate in more than one language is essential to the IB’s concept of an international education.

Language development encourages students to improve their proficiency in a language other than their best language.

Assessment and Exams

International Baccalaureate® (IB) Career-related Programme (CP) students are assessed both internally by the school and externally by the IB.

Exams at the end of each IB course

Diploma Programme (DP) courses within the CP are assessed in accordance with rigorous international standards.

Students take written examinations at the end of their courses, which are marked by external IB examiners. The marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest).

Find out more about assessment in the IB Courses.

Performance within courses and modules

Every CP student must complete the four elements of the CP core; the reflective project, service learning, personal and professional skills, and language development.

The reflective project is assessed by the school and moderated and graded by the IB. They are graded from A to F, with A being the highest.

The school is responsible for confirming with the IB that students have completed the requirements for service learning, personal and professional skills and language development.

These are assessed by the school.