What is the IB Diploma Programme? The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities. The Diploma Programme prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society as they: • develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically acquire breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, studying courses from 6 subject groups, • develop the skills and a positive attitude toward learning that will prepare them for higher education, • study at least two languages and increase understanding of cultures, including their own, • make connections across traditional academic disciplines and explore the nature of knowledge through the programme’s unique theory of knowledge course, • undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more academic disciplines in the extended essay, and • enhance their personal and interpersonal development through creativity, action and service. The Diploma Programme core The extended essay asks students to engage in independent research through an indepth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. Students develop the 4,000-word extended essay independently and are guided through the process by a supervising teacher. Theory of knowledge develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction. The TOK course is taught over three 45-minute lessons per week. Creativity, activity, service (CAS) involves students in a range of experiences alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Activity seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle physically. Service with the community offers a vehicle for a new learning with academic value. Developing CAS activities outside the school and forming links with the local community is a vital aspect of CAS at the FIS. The three strands of CAS enhance students’ personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable journeys of self-discovery. Completing the CAS programme is also a prerequisite for the FIS HS Diploma. The curriculum IB Diploma Programme students must choose one subject from each of five groups (1 to 5), ensuring breadth of knowledge and understanding in their best language, additional language(s), the social sciences, the experimental sciences and mathematics. Students may choose either an arts subject from group 6, or a second subject from groups 1 to 4 if the timetable allows. What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS? Courses can usually be studied at either Higher or Standard level. A Higher level (HL) course at the FIS is taught for four and a half hours per week, Standard level (SL) for three hours per week. Students must take a minimum of three courses at HL. Four HL courses can be taken only if a student has a proven academic record and it is a requirement for admission to particular university course. Differences between SL and HL courses HL courses not only have 50% more class time but other important differences too. HL courses feature differentiated Internal Assessment tasks, additional topics and longer, or additional, examinations. As an example the following table illustrates the differences between the HL and SL courses for A Literature with the italics indicating the differences: Standard Level – three literary genres Higher Level – four literary genres Part 1 Works in translation • Two texts studied • Three texts studied • 1,500 word written assignment • 1,500 word written assignment Part 2 Detailed study • Three texts studied • Two texts studied • Ten-minute oral commentary • Ten-minute oral commentary exam • Ten-minute discussion • Additional assessment criteria Part 3 Genre study • Three texts studied • Four texts studied • 90-minute written examination • 120-minute written examination • Additional assessment criteria Part 4 Free choice • Three texts studied • Three texts studied • 15-minute oral presentation • 15-minute oral presentation Part 5 Unseen commentary exam • 120-minute unseen commentary • 90-minute unseen commentary written examination written examination • No guiding questions • Two guiding questions • Differentiated assessment criteria Assessment Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners. The marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results on theory of knowledge and the extended essay. The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, service requirement. The highest total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points. Assessment is criterion-related, which means student performance is measured against pre-specified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject curriculum, rather than the performance of other students taking the same examinations. The range of scores that students have attained remains statistically stable, and universities value the rigour and consistency of Diploma Programme assessment practice. 2 What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS? Here at the FIS we offer these courses Group 1 – Language A A English Literature A German Literature A English Language & Literature A German Language & Literature On application: school supported self-taught A Literature Group 2 – Second languages B German B English B Spanish Ab Initio German (SL only) Possible offering in 2014: Ab Initio Spanish (SL only) History Business & Management Group 3 – Social sciences Geography Possible offering in 2014: Economics (SL/HL) Group 4 – Sciences Biology Physics Environmental systems & societies (SL only) Chemistry Possible offering in 2014: Sport, health and exercise science (SL only) Group 5 – Mathematics HL Mathematics SL Mathematics Mathematical Studies (SL only) Group 6 – The Arts and electives from groups 2-4 Visual Arts Music Possible offering in 2014: Theatre (SL/HL) 3 What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS? Course choices, placement and prerequisites After consideration of all departmental policies and teacher recommendations placement in IB DP courses will be confirmed in writing by the IBDP Coordinator. General IGCSE and FIS grade prerequisites For study of SL courses the prerequisites are IGCSE grades of C or better and consistent FIS Grades of 4 or better. For study of HL courses the prerequisites are IGCSE grades of B or better and consistent FIS grades of 5 or better. Language A and Group 2 languages It is possible to study two Group 1 languages and qualify for the IB Bilingual Diploma. It is also possible to study three languages if timetable and enrolment in courses permit. Group 2 languages can be skipped if you choose two Group 1 languages. (It is also possible to study two social sciences or two natural sciences too if the timetable allows.) Language A courses are designed for speakers who are able to analyse and critically engage with a range of texts (their competence being on level C1 of the CEFR 1 or above). Students at the FIS who have been studying in native speaker classes will be placed in Group 1 language courses. Language B classes are for students who have several years’ experience in the language but have not mastered the language. Ab Initio language courses are designed for students with little or no prior experience of the language. German For students studying IGCSE in grade 9 onwards (i.e. most German courses) placement suitability will be based on the first semester grade of the IB prep course in grade 10. Group 3 Social sciences There are no course-specific prerequisites for studying a Group 3 course but coming to a course with IGCSE experience will be an obvious advantage. Group 4 Sciences There are no-course specific prerequisites for studying a Group 4 course but coming to a course with IGCSE experience will be an obvious advantage. Group 5 Mathematics The Department of Mathematics at the FIS uses class assessments, teacher observations and an internal IB Mathematics Prerequisite Skills Test to develop a recommendation regarding the placement of students in courses, based on individual skill level. The Mathematics department communicated prerequisite for IB courses in the FIS IB Math Information Letter. Group 6 The Arts There are no IB course-specific requirements for studying a Group 6 Arts subject but music students must have their own instruments, undertake private instrumental/vocal tuition and must be a member of a school ensemble. Probation All students entering G11 are placed on academic probation for the first six months. If a student fails to engage positively with all aspects of their studies including CAS they may be removed from the IB Diploma programme. 1 Common European Framework of Reference for Languages 4 What is the IB DP and how does it work at the FIS? Recognition of the IB Diploma in Germany Guidelines set by the Kultusministerkonferenz recognise a student’s IB Diploma as equivalent to Abitur if it meets a set of strict requirements. These requirements limit the options available to students as the KMK requirements dictate levels in some courses, whether a course must be taken as an elective, or be recognised at all. Students who wish to study an Abitur equivalent IB Diploma must check their course selection with the Zeugnisanerkennungsstelle in Munich before commencing study in G11. The course selection below is an example that illustrates the restrictions: Abitur equivalent and IB compliant: 1. A HL English Literature 1. A SL German Language and literature 3. SL History 4. HL Biology 5. SL Mathematics 6. HL Business and management TOK, CAS and Extended Essay The conditions under which the IB Diploma can be granted Abitur equivalency can be found here http://www.km.bayern.de/download/3477_ib_vereinbarung_stand_31.05.2012.pdf Recognition of the IB Diploma in other countries The IB Diploma is recognised around the world by universities for undergraduate courses. Each country treats recognition in slightly different ways. The IB details recognition policies on its website http://www.ibo.org/country/ Sources: all material related to the nature of the IB DP programme (on pages 1 and 2) is copied from the IB website: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/ 5