WHAT IS THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?
The IB Diploma is an International education programme
in English, which is recognized as the standard University
entrance requirement throughout many parts of the
world. The IB Diploma Programme is portrayed in
the shape of a hexagon with the six academic areas
around a core. Diploma students are required to do
a minimum of six subjects, one subject from each of
the six subject groups represented on the hexagon.
Students choose one subject from each of subject
groups 1 to 5, thereby ensuring breadth of experience in
Languages, Humanities, the Experimental Sciences and
Mathematics.
Group 6 represents the Arts subjects but in recognition
that some specialization will be needed for certain
university courses, it is possible to elect to take a further
subject from Groups 2, 3 or 4 instead of taking the Arts.
At least three must be at the Higher Level with the
remaining at the Standard Level. Higher Level courses
cover 240 hours of teaching time while standard level
subjects cover 150 hours over the two year period.
In addition students must fulfill the requirements of the
three compulsory components that lie at the core of the
hexagon: the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and
the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).
The core of the hexagon is what makes the IB unique:
it is not just about narrow academic disciplines. The
Extended Essay is not timetabled (see below), but there
is an allocation for TOK and CAS.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) involves
participation in community service and for example,
plays, productions and sports. Students are expected to
document 150 CAS hours during their 11th & 12th grade
years.
Students demonstrate the quality and breadth of their
achievements outside of the classroom in the three
areas. The TOK course is the glue that holds the IB
together. It requires that students develop as thinkers
over the course and then write an essay as well as a
presentation.
The Extended Essay is an original, fully annotated work
of 4000 words (maximum), in a topic of the students
choosing. Current Diploma students are writing essays
in a range of subjects, as diverse as ‘To what extent do
Polandoken hotels practice price discrimination’ to a
comparison of two Turkish novels.
THE CLAPPER 2014 - 2015
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INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS