IB Diploma Program PresentationFebruary 10th 2015

“The Program equips students with the skills and attitudes

necessary for success in higher education and employment”

in IBO School’s guide

THE DIPLOMA PROGRAM

The International Baccalaureate was founded in 1968. It

grew out of the efforts of international schools to establish a

common curriculum and university entry credential.

They concentrated on the last two years of school before

university studies in order to build a curriculum that would

lead to what they called “baccalaureate”, administered in any

country, recognized by universities everywhere.

Presently, there are over 1,072,000 IB students at 3,900

schools in 140 countries.

What is it?A comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum, leading to

external examinations.

For students in grades 11 and 12.

Based on the pattern of no particular country.

Aimed at providing students with a balanced education.

What can the IB do for the student?

The IB program can help students to become well-rounded, well-educated young adults.

The IB program prepares students for university level work.

The IB program provides continuity for students who transfer among international schools.

The IB Diploma provides entrance to the university systems of many countries around the world.

Students who earn an IB Diploma may earn up to one year of advanced placement credit in American universities and colleges.

Eligibility for the Program

One of the unfortunate myths about the IB program is that it is “elitist” and designed for only the student with straight A’s. This is untrue.

The design of the IB program enables students to focus on the subjects in which they have special interest or aptitude.

Any student of average ability who wishes to challenge him/herself and is willing to work hard is encouraged to work for the full Diploma.

Eligibility for the Program at CAISL

CAISL has an open policy to the IB Program.

All students are permitted to entry.

The decision to continue if a student experiences problems is made collectively between student, family, and teachers.

The Diploma Program Requirements

Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of six subject groups:

1. Studies in Language and Literature

2. Language acquisition

3. Individuals and Societies

4. Sciences

5. Mathematics

6. The Arts

They will also need to meet the Core requirements of:

• THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK)• EXTENDED ESSAY• CAS (CREATIVITY/ ACTIVITY/SERVICE)

The curriculum is modelled by a model with six academic areas surrounding the three core requirements.

Source: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum

At least three and no more than four subjects are taken at higher level (HL) and the others at standard level (SL).

Thus, students are able to explore some subjects in depth and some more broadly over the two-year period. The selection of a specific subject and its level might depend on the university entry requirements.

Theory of Knowledge

Theory of knowledge (TOK) is a required interdisciplinary course

intended to stimulate critical reflection upon the knowledge and

experience gained inside and outside the classroom. TOK should

involve at least 100 hours of teaching.

At CAISL, students begin TOK in the second semester of their junior

year and complete it in the first semester of their senior year.

The Extended Essay

Diploma candidates are required to undertake original research and write an

Extended Essay of some 4000 words. The project offers the opportunity to

investigate a topic of special interest and acquaints students with the kind of

independent research and writing skills expected at university.

Students can choose to write on a topic in one of 22 subjects.

The Extended Essay should be focused in its approach, but apart from initial

teacher supervision and guidance, it should be the student’s own personal

research, albeit at an introductory level.

The Extended Essay

At CAISL, the Extended Essay usually begins in the Spring of the Junior

year and is completed by November/December of the Senior year.

Each student works one-on-one with a teacher/supervisor, and signs a

contract in which he/she promises to adhere to a timetable which

guides the steps in the research process: choosing a topic, defining a

research question, researching, planning, drafting, revising, and editing.

CAS

Creativity, Activity, Service is known by its acronym CAS and is a

fundamental part of the diploma curriculum.

Students in the IB Diploma program must earn a minimum of 150

hours of CAS over the two years of the program.

Students must balance the CAS hours between:

50 hours of Creativity,

50 hours of Activity and 50 hours of Service.

CAS

The CAS requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the

world of scholarship providing a refreshing counterbalance to the

academic self-absorption some may feel within a demanding school

program.

Participation in theater productions, sports and community service

activities encourages young people to share their energies and special

talents while developing awareness, concern and the ability to work

cooperatively with others.

Assessment of IB Diploma

Assessment of subjects is based on a combination of internal assessment work and external examinations in May of the senior year.

Each subject is graded on a scale of 1 to 7. Up to 3 additional points may be earned for performance in the EE and TOK.

The EE and TOK are graded in a letter grade format from E (failing) to A (excellent).

The maximum possible score which can be achieved in the IB diploma is 45 points (6x7=42+3=45).

The minimum score to obtain the Diploma is 24 points but there are certain conditions that must be met.

For example:

A student can receive his/her diploma with 24 points (6x4=24), providing he has fulfilled all other diploma requirements: TOK, CAS and EE.

or

A student can receive his/her diploma with 45 points (6x7=42+3=45), providing he has obtained the 3 bonus points in the EE and TOK work.

ALSO:

A student is allowed to fail a subject or subjects but only under certain conditions.

If a student obtains in both TOK and in EE an E (elementary) it is a failing condition or if a students obtains a E on one of them and the diploma total score is below 28 points.

FEES

Paid by CAISL:• Annual Basic Fee• Per capita fee• Registration fee

Paid By School Sponsored Candidate:• Subject fee

The subject registration fees, which are determined by the IB each year normally don’t

exceed 450€.

Payment is required only once in October of Senior year.

Students that drop the full diploma and take IB exams as certificates are expected to cover

to full cost of the exams.

IB Courses at Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

GROUP SUBJECT LEVEL

1. LANGUAGE A: LITERATUREENGLISHPORTUGUESE

STANDARD/HIGHER

LANGUAGE A: LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

ENGLISHPORTUGUESE

STANDARD/HIGHER

2. LANGUAGE B ENGLISH STANDARD/HIGHER

  PORTUGUESE STANDARD/HIGHER

  FRENCH STANDARD/HIGHER

  SPANISH STANDARD/HIGHER

AB INITIO FRENCH STANDARD (only)

  SPANISH STANDARD (only)

3. INDIVIDUALS & SOCIETIES HISTORY STANDARD/HIGHER

  BUSINESS STANDARD/HIGHER

  ECONOMICS STANDARD/HIGHER

 

4. SCIENCES PHYSICS STANDARD/HIGHER

  CHEMISTRY STANDARD/HIGHER

  BIOLOGY STANDARD/HIGHER

COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARD/HIGHER

3./4. TRANSDICIPLINARYENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS & SOCIETIES

STANDARD (only)

5. MATHEMATICS MATH HL HIGHER (only)

  MATH SL STANDARD (only)

  MATH STUDIES STANDARD (only)

6. The ARTS VISUAL ARTS STANDARD/HIGHER

6. The ARTS MUSIC STANDARD/HIGHER

IB Courses at Carlucci American International School of Lisbon

How well is the diploma recognized by universities?

The IB diploma is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities.

The IB works closely with universities in all regions of the world to gain recognition for the IB diploma:

• Direct online access for university admissions officers and government officials to syllabuses and recent examination papers

• A database of university admission policies on www.ibo.org

• Recognition in over 145 countries

• Recognition by over 1,900 universities

• Some universities offer scholarships and advanced placement for IB students

University recognition