The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive and challenging pre-university course that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. This sophisticated two-year curriculum covers a wide range of academic subjects and has stood the test of time for over half a million students in 119 countries since 1968. IB Diploma Programme graduates are welcomed by the world's leading universities.

MISSION

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Students are encouraged to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

BENEFITS OF THE IB PROGRAMME

Universities recognize the outstanding qualities of IB Diploma Programme students. Typically, diploma holders are ready to debate real-world issues from an international perspective and to provide leadership and support in the local and global community. They demonstrate a capacity for in-depth study while maintaining a broad perspective of the different subject areas. They are able to ask challenging questions but also know how to research a topic and express their opinion.

IB students develop a strong sense of their own culture and identity, as well as the ability to communicate in two or more languages with people who have a different perspective of the world.  Additionally, most colleges and universities offer advanced placement if students score well on IB examinations.  Students who earn the full diploma may be awarded as much as a full year of college credit.

BROAD SPECTRUM OF COURSES

IB Diploma Programme students are required to study subjects from each of  the six subject areas in the diagram below.

UNIQUE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

The IB Diploma Programme is about more than the six subjects that students study. At its heart are three core requirements that are integral to the curriculum and make the IB Diploma Programme unique.

· Theory of knowledge (TOK) – an internally and externally assessed interdisciplinary component that explores the different concepts of knowledge found in the subject areas. Because IB Diploma Programme students study six subjects simultaneously, TOK teachers can, for example, ask their students to compare a historian's approach to problem solving with that of a scientist or an artist.

· Extended essay – an externally assessed, independent research assignment of 4,000 words in one of the six subject areas. This is one of the ways in which IB Diploma Programme students can specialize in a certain subject area and prepare for university studies.

· Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) – over the two years students are creating a porfolio of experiences in creative, physical and service activities in the local community. The CAS requirement is in place to balance the academic rigor of the diploma program and promote meaningful service.

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDS

The IB Diploma Programme is widely recognized for its high academic standards. Assessment is varied and takes place over two years, with final examinations in each subject. Students' work is assessed by an international board of examiners, who are themselves rigorously trained and monitored by the International Baccalaureate  Organization (IBO).

Subjects are scored on a 1-7 scale with a further three points available for theory of knowledge and the extended essay. Students who display good levels of performance across all six subjects and achieve a minimum of 28 points (out of a possible 45) are awarded the diploma. All others receive a certificate for each of the subjects completed.