A Thorough Guide on The IB Curriculum and Diploma Course
For high-achieving high school students, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a two-year course of study. It is one of four IB programs—two are for younger pupils and one is for those who want to prepare for careers. The IB Diploma Programme is the IB program that is most frequently provided in the United States. The IB diploma program may be used and taught in 945 high schools. Only 107 schools, in contrast, provide the IB Career-Related Programme. Students whose high schools take part in the Diploma Programme can choose IB courses or the full curriculum. Students must pass an exam to obtain credit for each subject. Students who complete the IB curriculum may receive college credit.
What does International Baccalaureate mean?
The International Baccalaureate Organisation was established in 1968, and Geneva, Switzerland serves as its administrative center. The organization's inaugural program was the IB Diploma Programme for seniors in high school. The Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16 and the Primary Years Programme for children aged 3 to 12 were the next three. The fourth and final IB program, the Career-Related Programme, made its debut in 2012. This program is intended for high school pupils, just like the IB Diploma Programme. However, this article will only cover the IB Diploma Programme since there aren't many high schools in the United States that offer it.
Why should you take into account the IB Programme?
Programs for the International Baccalaureate are available and respected all around the world. The plan is for high school pupils to study the same material across a range of nations. Colleges and universities will be able to tell exactly what a student's high school course of study was when it comes time for them to apply. They will also be aware that the student satisfies the standards for college admission.
The IB courses that pupils completed in high school are recognized by more than 1,600 universities in the US alone. In some universities, passing scores on IB tests are sufficient to grant college credit, whereas in other institutions, passing scores on IB exams may not do so but may nevertheless permit students to go through introductory-level programs.
How can I sign up for the IB Programme?
In the United States, more than 900 high schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Juniors and seniors who qualify can participate in this two-year program. Typically, high schools only allow students who have completed particular prerequisite courses as freshmen and sophomores and have a certain grade point average to participate in the program. Here you can look out for high schools that provide the IB Diploma Programme. Once you've confirmed that your high school offers it, make careful to research any particular requirements your school might have by visiting its website or speaking with a guidance counselor.
What courses do you enroll in if you chose the IB Programme?
Students must complete a range of lessons in six academic areas to get an IB Diploma: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Science, Math, and the Arts.
There are two levels of instruction available: standard level (150 hours) and higher level (240 hours). Students must enroll in three to four upper-level classes and the rest must be at the standard level each year. Although the courses generally cover the same material, higher-level courses may go into greater detail about some of the subjects covered or address subjects that are outside the purview of a standard-level course. For instance, the normal level of literature studies ten literary works, while the higher-level studies.
The following three prerequisites must also be met by students in addition to the six classes from the above list:
- In the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, students are asked to consider what learning entails, how humans learn, and how we come to know what we know. A spoken presentation and a 1,600-word essay serve as its climax.
- A 4,000-word essay on a self-directed research project is the Extended Essay. As long as it relates to one of the six basic subject areas, students are allowed to select a topic of interest.
- Although not graded, creativity, activity, and service are expected. Students work on a range of assignments requiring original thought, physical exertion, and/or community involvement. The IB curriculum aims to foster a student's growth both within and outside of the classroom.
IB classes can be taken without signing up for the IB Programme.
If a student satisfies the requirements for their chosen classes, they may be permitted to enroll in several IB courses without pursuing an IB diploma. Students can take the IB exams alongside their peers after the classes are over to perhaps receive college credit. A student must have taken the IB course to take the exam.
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How are IB exams scored and what are they like?
Students are exposed to an exam period at the end of the school year, during which they are assessed on all they have studied in each of their IB classes.
Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 7, and exam scores from related classes are averaged, giving students a final exam score for each of the six subjects that ranges from 1 to 7. The sum of these results in the IB score overall. A student's overall score may increase by a total of 3 points as a result of the TOK and Extended Essay.
Students who obtain at least 24 points, don't have any failing grades, finish the entire program, and adhere to all other qualifying requirements are awarded an IB diploma, even though the maximum attainable score for the diploma is 45. Students who receive a 1 in any subject will not receive an IB diploma because it is a failing grade.
Can You take an IB exam if you haven't enrolled in the IB program but have taken an IB course?
Yes, regardless of whether you have enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme, students who take IB classes are eligible to sit for the related IB exam. Even high school students who simply enroll in a few IB courses will receive individual exam scores, just like diploma-seeking students. Their results, though, won't be averaged to determine topic scores; instead, they'll stand alone. These results might be provided by students to potential colleges to find out if they will receive any college credit.
Ask your college if it accepts IB exam results and gives credit for high scores. The IB curriculum is internationally recognized, and completing IB classes and performing well on the accompanying tests increases a student's competitiveness on their college applications even if their school does not grant credit for IB exams.
Can you take an IB exam without having taken the corresponding IB class?
IB exams cannot be taken by students who do not enroll in IB courses. If your school does not provide IB courses, it might provide AP courses or another challenging curriculum that will help you stand out as a college applicant.
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