DP Course Requirements

Assessment of Student Performance

Responsibility for all academic judgments about the quality of candidates’ work rests with more than 5,000 examiners worldwide, led by chief examiners with international authority. Conventional external examination techniques are chosen from a range of options: oral and written, long and short responses, data-based questions, essays and multiple choice questions. These are complemented by internal assessment of course work by the Holy Cross Catholic Academy teachers responsible for evaluating students over the two-year period.

The grading system is criterion-referenced. Each student’s performance is measured against well-defined and widely accepted levels of achievement. Top grades reflect attainment of knowledge and skills to set international standards, equally applied to all schools and all IB candidates.

  • IB subjects are graded on a scale from 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum).

    • Grade of 7 – excellent

    • Grade of 6 – very good

    • Grade of 5 – good

    • Grade of 4 – satisfactory

    • Grade of 3 – mediocre

    • Grade of 2 – poor

    • Grade of 1 – very poor

  • A minimum of 24 points is required to earn the IB diploma as well as meeting the IB conditions for the award of the diploma.

  • Based on six subjects in the diploma, a maximum of 45 points are available (6 subjects x 7 points = 42 + up to 3 diploma points).

  • Up to 3 diploma points may be awarded depending on student performance on the TOK and Extended Essay components.

  • Because students will be awarded the OSSD, IB candidates receive an estimate of predicted grades in OSSD equivalent subjects, as well as their IB predicted grade, when grades are submitted for university applications.

Grade Descriptors

Grade 7 Excellent performance

Demonstrates: excellent knowledge and understanding of works and tasks; very strong and detailed appreciation of the effects of technique and style; very strong evidence of independent and/or original perspectives on the works studied, where appropriate; consistently focused, carefully developed and persuasive presentation of ideas or argument; use of language that is varied, clear, concise, precise and convincingly adapted to tasks.

Grade 6 Very good performance

Demonstrates: very good knowledge and understanding of works and tasks; strong and detailed appreciation of the effects of technique and style; strong evidence of a personal engagement with the works studied, where appropriate; clearly focused, well-developed and purposeful presentation of ideas or argument; use of language that is varied, clear, concise and effectively adapted to tasks.

Grade 5 Good performance

Demonstrates: sound knowledge and understanding of works and tasks; good appreciation of the effects of technique and style; good evidence of a relevant personal response to the works studied, where appropriate; clearly focused and effective presentation of ideas or argument; use of language that is clear, concise and appropriately adapted to tasks.

Grade 4 Satisfactory performance

Demonstrates: adequate knowledge and understanding of works and tasks; adequate awareness of the effects of technique and style; adequate evidence of a relevant personal response to the works studied. where appropriate; generally focused and satisfactory development/presentation of ideas or argument: use of language that is generally clear, accurate, fluent and appropriate to tasks.

Grade 3 Mediocre performance

Demonstrates: some knowledge but superficial understanding of works and tasks: some awareness of the effects of technique and style; some evidence of a relevant personal response to the works studied, where appropriate: some evidence of a focus but ideas are neither appropriately developed nor presented; use of language that is limited in clarity. accuracy, fluency and appropriateness to tasks.

Grade 2 Poor performance

Demonstrates: basic knowledge and/or understanding of works and tasks; basic awareness of the elements of technique and style; basic structure to the presentation of ideas; use of language that is lacking in clarity. accuracy and coherence.

Grade 1 Very poor performance

Demonstrates: rudimentary knowledge and/or understanding of works and tasks: presentation without clarity or