IB DP Expectations for Juniors
To earn the IB Diploma studen
Theory of Knowledge is an IB course that meets junior and senior year. This discussion-based course explores the ways of knowing and their application to various areas of knowledge. The course encourages students to examine knowledge critically and analytically, and to make connections between all of their areas of study.
Creativity, Activity, and Service activities encourage students to pursue opportunities beyond pure academics. Students complete extra-curricular and service experiences and projects and then reflect on the time spent. Consistent time spent over 18 months is required.
The Extended Essay is a research project begun during the junior year and completed during the senior year. Students choose to research a subject area that interests them and will work under the supervision of a teacher with expertise in that subject area. The length of this in-depth essay consists of less than 4,000 words.
Grades and Assessments
IB grades are determined through the criterion-referenced rubrics established by IB’s standards and practices in each content area. In other words, students are assessed based on their work in relation to levels of attainment, not in comparison to other students (IBO.org).
In order to receive the IB Diploma, the student will complete internal and external assessments in each course taken, in addition to the subject area examinations, administered in May of each year. For example, if your taking IB Literature, then you have an individual oral presentation (15%) and a formal oral commentary (15%) due for your internal assessment (IA); you will also have a reflective statement (25%) and a literary essay - and two exam session paper's (25% + 20%) due for your external assessments (EA). Depending on the course, there may be multiple internal (IA's) and external ( EA's) components that are assessed to specific criterion, and are then weighted and scaled . The overall scaled mark is then used to determine the final grade of 1-7 awarded to the candidate using the subject grade boundaries.
In deciding a grade, a judgment is made on the quality of the candidate’s work against a defined standard, taking into account the difficulty of the task as well as the proportion of the task that was completed. The grade, therefore, has meaning and relevance and is intended to be comparable with performances on other assessments. The grade boundaries of 1-7 are determined by representatives from the IBO which includes senior examiners; they are determined using a combination of judgement, statistical evidence, grade descriptors, and predicted grades submitted by teachers. In that HL Literature class, ideally, a candidate would hope to obtain a 4 or better for the final course grade. These final course grades are added up to give a student their total exam points out of 45 possible for all seven IB courses required for the DP Diploma.
Point Totals Toward the IB Diploma
In order to receive an IB diploma, candidates must receive a minimum of 24 exam points out of 45, or an average of four out of a possible seven points for six subjects. Three points come from the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay courses. Candidates must also receive a minimum of 12 points from their Higher Level subjects and a minimum of 9 points from their Standard Level subjects.
Failing Conditions
Failing conditions for not receiving an IB Diploma (IBO, 2014)
A bilingual diploma is awarded to a successful candidate who fulfills one or more of the following criteria.
Adaptations for 2020 - 2021
In an effort to address the challenges that schools are facing during the coronavirus pandemic the IBO has introduced a range of "targeted removal and/or amendment of assessment components or submission requirements to address the loss of instruction time." This is an evolving process, and at this time the changes include the following:
To earn the IB Diploma studen
Theory of Knowledge is an IB course that meets junior and senior year. This discussion-based course explores the ways of knowing and their application to various areas of knowledge. The course encourages students to examine knowledge critically and analytically, and to make connections between all of their areas of study.
Creativity, Activity, and Service activities encourage students to pursue opportunities beyond pure academics. Students complete extra-curricular and service experiences and projects and then reflect on the time spent. Consistent time spent over 18 months is required.
The Extended Essay is a research project begun during the junior year and completed during the senior year. Students choose to research a subject area that interests them and will work under the supervision of a teacher with expertise in that subject area. The length of this in-depth essay consists of less than 4,000 words.
Grades and Assessments
IB grades are determined through the criterion-referenced rubrics established by IB’s standards and practices in each content area. In other words, students are assessed based on their work in relation to levels of attainment, not in comparison to other students (IBO.org).
In order to receive the IB Diploma, the student will complete internal and external assessments in each course taken, in addition to the subject area examinations, administered in May of each year. For example, if your taking IB Literature, then you have an individual oral presentation (15%) and a formal oral commentary (15%) due for your internal assessment (IA); you will also have a reflective statement (25%) and a literary essay - and two exam session paper's (25% + 20%) due for your external assessments (EA). Depending on the course, there may be multiple internal (IA's) and external ( EA's) components that are assessed to specific criterion, and are then weighted and scaled . The overall scaled mark is then used to determine the final grade of 1-7 awarded to the candidate using the subject grade boundaries.
In deciding a grade, a judgment is made on the quality of the candidate’s work against a defined standard, taking into account the difficulty of the task as well as the proportion of the task that was completed. The grade, therefore, has meaning and relevance and is intended to be comparable with performances on other assessments. The grade boundaries of 1-7 are determined by representatives from the IBO which includes senior examiners; they are determined using a combination of judgement, statistical evidence, grade descriptors, and predicted grades submitted by teachers. In that HL Literature class, ideally, a candidate would hope to obtain a 4 or better for the final course grade. These final course grades are added up to give a student their total exam points out of 45 possible for all seven IB courses required for the DP Diploma.
Point Totals Toward the IB Diploma
In order to receive an IB diploma, candidates must receive a minimum of 24 exam points out of 45, or an average of four out of a possible seven points for six subjects. Three points come from the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay courses. Candidates must also receive a minimum of 12 points from their Higher Level subjects and a minimum of 9 points from their Standard Level subjects.
Failing Conditions
Failing conditions for not receiving an IB Diploma (IBO, 2014)
- Candidate’s total points are fewer than 24.
- An N has been given for one or more subjects, theory of knowledge or the extended essay.
- A grade E has been awarded for both theory of knowledge and the extended essay.
- There is a grade 1 awarded in any subject and level.
- CAS requirements have not been completed.
- Candidate is guilty of academic misconduct.
- Grade 3 or below has been awarded four or more times.
- These codes apply to diploma (and retake) candidates with 24 to 27 points inclusive.
- There is one or more grade 2 awarded at higher level.
- Grade 2 at standard level awarded two or more times.
- Candidate has registered for three higher level subjects, and gained fewer than 12 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for three standard level subjects, and gained fewer than 9 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for four higher level subjects, and gained fewer than 16 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for two standard level subjects, and gained fewer than 6 points on these.
- Candidate has a grade E in either the extended essay or theory of knowledge.
- These codes apply to diploma (and retake) candidates with 28 points or more.
- Grade 2 at higher level awarded two or more times.
- Grade 2 at standard level has been awarded three times.
- Candidate has registered for three higher level subjects, and gained fewer than 11 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for three standard level subjects, and gained fewer than 8 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for four higher level subjects, and gained fewer than 14 points on these.
- Candidate has registered for two standard level subjects, and gained fewer than 5 points on these.
A bilingual diploma is awarded to a successful candidate who fulfills one or more of the following criteria.
- Completion of two languages selected from studies in language and literature subjects with the award of a grade 3 or higher in both languages
- Completion of one of the subjects from individuals and societies, or sciences in a language that is not the same as the candidate’s nominated studies in language and literature language. The candidate must attain a grade 3 or higher in both the studies in language and literature language and the subject from individuals and societies, or sciences subject groups.
Adaptations for 2020 - 2021
In an effort to address the challenges that schools are facing during the coronavirus pandemic the IBO has introduced a range of "targeted removal and/or amendment of assessment components or submission requirements to address the loss of instruction time." This is an evolving process, and at this time the changes include the following:
- May exam session changes including the omission of May Exam session papers that would normally be required.
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Course descriptions Diploma program requirements Student support page Policies and procedures
Calendar of assessments and May exam info Upcoming parent student info meetings Forms and surveys IB Merch
Teacher support materials Contact info Credits and references