Broughton High School

.......Welcome to Broughton....Approve Ye That Which Is Excellent.........

BHS Quick Links:

Home / Academics / IB Information / Diploma Programme

The Diploma Programme

See also

The International Baccalaureate Organization, a non-profit educational foundation based in Switzerland, offers the Diploma Programme for students in the final two years of high school. The program provides challenging coursework and, as the IBO educational philosophy states, emphasizes "the ideals of international understanding and responsible citizenship" so that students may become "critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners and informed participants in local and world affairs."

Assessment

One mark of the IBO is that standards are set the same worldwide and student work is assessed with these world standards in mind. This consistency is what gives the IB Diploma credibility around the globe. Examiners trained to evaluate student work consistently evaluate most coursework. The IBO gives a great deal of attention to the reliability and validity of the testing program.

Each teacher of an IB course has undergone intensive training in the philosophy, methodology, course content and assessment strategies sanctioned by the IBO. A teacher's assessment of projects, notebooks, labs, etc., usually counts for about 20 percent of the student's final grade in a subject.

Each subject is graded on a scale of one to seven. In order to earn the IB Diploma, a student must meet the defined standards of the program, successfully complete the Theory of Knowledge course, the Extended Essay and150 CAS hours, and earn a total of 24 points on examinations. This assumes the student will earn a passing grade of four on each of the six subjects taken. Students may earn as many as 42 points on exams. Examiners may also give candidates up to three points based on their work with the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge course and CAS activities.

Students who earn an IB Diploma have completed two years of rigorous and comprehensive education incorporating global perspectives. They are able to compete with the best scholars in the world and often earn admission to the finest schools in the country. As with Advanced Placement classes, IB students may also earn college credit for the work they do in high school. For a list of which colleges offer credit or give special consideration for admission to IB Diploma graduates, please visit the IBO web site (www.IBO.org).

The coursework required in the Diploma Programme is similar to a demanding pre-university course of study. Students take courses in traditional high school subjects -- English, Math, Science, History, foreign language, and electives -- and earn points toward a diploma by demonstrating mastery through various internal assessments and an external examination at the end of the course.

Diploma Programme candidates also are required to complete 150 hours (over two years) of Community, Action and Service activities, take a Theory of Knowledge course and research and prepare a 4,000-word Extended Essay on a topic of special interest to them. A highlight during the fall semester of senior year is presentation of each student's research findings at a Research Symposium. The Symposium gives the students an audience for their work, experience making a formal presentation and feedback from a group of teachers, parents and peers before their final revisions are due.

Back to Home