Part of a series on the International Baccalaureate |
---|
IB Continuum |
|
Institutions |
|
Lists |
Curriculum |
|
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a two-year educational programme primarily aimed at 16-to-19-year-olds in 140 countries around the world. The programme provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education and is recognized by many universities worldwide. It was developed in the early-to-mid-1960s in Geneva, Switzerland, by a group of international educators. After a six-year pilot programme that ended in 1975, a bilingual diploma was established.
Administered by the International Baccalaureate (IB), the IBDP is taught in schools in over 140 countries, in one of five languages: Chinese, English, French, German, or Spanish. [1] To offer the IB diploma, schools must be certified as an IB school. IBDP students complete assessments in six subjects, traditionally one from each of the 6 subject groups (although students may choose to forgo a group 6 subject such as Art or music, instead choosing an additional subject from one of the other groups). In addition, they must fulfill the three core requirements, namely CAS, TOK and the Extended Essay. Students are evaluated using both internal and external assessments, and courses finish with an externally assessed series of examinations, usually consisting of two or three timed written tests. Internal assessment varies by subject: there may be oral presentations, practical work, or written work. In most cases, these are initially graded by the classroom teacher, whose grades are then verified or modified, as necessary, by an appointed external moderator.
Generally, the IBDP has been well-received. It has been commended for introducing interdisciplinary thinking to students. In the United Kingdom, The Guardian newspaper claims that the IBDP is "more academically challenging and broader than three or four A-levels". [2]
In 1945, the "Conference of Internationally-minded Schools" asked the International School of Geneva (Ecolint) to create an international schools programme. [3] [4] When he became director of Ecolint's English division, Desmond Cole-Baker began to develop the idea, and in 1962, his colleague Robert Leach organized a conference in Geneva, at which the term "International Baccalaureate" was first mentioned. [3] [5] An American social studies teacher, Leach organized the conference—with a $2500 grant from UNESCO—which was attended by observers from European schools and UNESCO. Writing about the genesis of the International Baccalaureate in Schools Across Frontiers, Alec Peterson credits Leach as "the original promoter of the International Baccalaureate." [6] At the end of the conference, Unesco funded the International School Association with an additional $10,000, which was inadequate to do more than produce a few papers, or bring teachers together for meetings. [7]
By 1964, international educators such as Alec Peterson (director of the Department of Education at Oxford University), Harlan Hanson (director of the College Board Advanced Placement Program), Desmond Cole (director of United Nations International School in New York City) and Desmond Cole-Baker (head of the International School of Geneva) founded the International Schools Examination Syndicate (ISES). [8] [9] Cole and Hanson brought experience with college entrance examinations in the United States, and Hanson, in particular, brought his experience from a long relationship with the College Board. [9] According to Peterson, "the breakthrough in the history of the IB" came in 1965 with a grant from the Twentieth Century Fund, which commissioned Martin Mayer, author of The Schools, to produce a report on the feasibility of establishing a common curriculum and examination for international schools that would be acceptable for entry to universities worldwide. [7] This led to conferences involving Ecolint, the United World College of the Atlantic (Atlantic College), and others in the spring and fall of 1965, at which details about the curriculum for the Diploma Programme were discussed and agreed upon. [7]
The Ford Foundation grant, secured in 1966, funded Peterson's study at Oxford University, which focused on three issues: a comparative analysis of "secondary educational programmes in European countries...in cooperation with the Council of Europe"; university expectations for secondary students intending to enter university; and a "statistical comparison of IB pilot examination results with...national school leaving examinations such as British A Levels and US College Board (AP) Tests". [7] [8] As a result of the study and the curriculum model developed at Atlantic College, Peterson initiated the pattern of combining "general education with specialization", which melded with the curricula of the United States and Canada, and became the "curriculum framework" proposed at the UNESCO conference in Geneva in 1967. [8] Late in 1967, ISES was restructured and renamed the IB Council of Foundation, and John Goormaghtigh became the first president in January 1968. [7] In 1967, the group, which by then also included Ralph Tyler, identified eight schools to be used for the experimentation of the curriculum. [10]
In 1968, the IB headquarters were officially established in Geneva for the development and maintenance of the IBDP. Alec Peterson became IBO's first director general, and in 1968, twelve schools in twelve countries participated in the IBDP, including Atlantic College in Wales, Ecolint in Geneva, and UNIS of New York City. [7] [8] [11] The aim was to "provide an internationally acceptable university admissions qualification suitable for the growing mobile population of young people whose parents were part of the world of diplomacy, international and multi-national organizations." [12]
The first six years of the IB Diploma Programme, with a limited number of students, are referred to as the "experimental period". [13] Each school was to be inspected by ISES or IBO and had to be approved by their government. [14] The experimental period ended in 1975, and in that year, the International Baccalaureate North America (IBNA) was established as a separate entity, allowing the funding for implementation of the IBDP to remain in the country rather than being sent to Geneva. [15] The first official guide to the programme containing its syllabus and official assessment information was published in 1970 and included the theory of knowledge course. The extended essay was introduced in 1978, but creativity, action, service (CAS), although mentioned in guides beforehand, was not specifically identified in the guide until 1989. [7] [16]
In 1980, responding to criticism that the "internationalism" was Eurocentric, the IB hosted a seminar in Singapore with the goal of incorporating Asian culture and education into the IB curriculum. In 1982, the Standing Conference of Heads of IB Schools took steps to modify the Eurocentrism in the curriculum. The same year, the Japanese government hosted a science conference for IBO "as a token of Japanese interest in the various dimensions of the IB". [8]
From the start, all subjects of the IB Diploma Programme were available in English and French, and it was mandatory for all students to study both a first and a second language. [17] In 1974, bilingual diplomas were introduced that allowed students to take one or more of their humanities or science subjects in a language other than their first. The IB Diploma Programme subjects became available in Spanish in 1983. [17]
To be awarded an IB diploma, candidates must fulfill three core requirements, in addition to passing their subject examinations: [18]
Students who pursue the IB diploma must take six subjects: one each from Groups 1–5, [20] and either one from Group 6 or a permitted substitute from one of the other groups, as described below. [25] Three or four subjects must be taken at Higher level (HL) and the rest at Standard level (SL). [20] The IB recommends a minimum of 240 hours of instructional time for HL courses and 150 hours for SL courses. [20]
While the IB encourages students to pursue the full IB diploma, the "substantial workload require[s] a great deal of commitment, organization, and initiative". Students may instead choose to register for one or more individual IB subjects, without the core requirements. Such students will not receive the full diploma. [26]
The six IBDP subject groups and course offerings are summarised below. More information about the subject groups and individual courses can be found at the respective subject group articles:
Environmental Systems and Societies SL or HL is an interdisciplinary course designed to meet the diploma requirements for groups 3 or 4, while literature and performance SL meets the requirements of Groups 1 or 6. [37]
The IB is developing an online version of the IBDP and currently offers several online courses to IBDP students. [38] Eventually, it expects to offer online courses to any student who wishes to register. [39] Additionally, the IB has developed pilot courses that include World Religions; Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Dance, and a transdisciplinary pilot course, literature and performance, Global Politics. [37] [40] [41] These pilot courses have now become part of the mainstream courses. [42] [43] [44] [45] [46]
All subjects (with the exception of CAS) are evaluated using both internal and external assessors. The externally assessed examinations are given worldwide in May (usually for Northern Hemisphere schools) and in November (usually for Southern Hemisphere schools). Each exam usually consists of two or three papers, generally written on the same or successive weekdays. [47] The different papers may have different forms of questions, or they may focus on different areas of the subject syllabus. For example, in Chemistry SL, paper 1 has multiple choice questions, paper 2 has extended response questions. Paper 3 focuses on the "Option(s)" selected by the teacher and data analysis questions. The grading of all external assessments is done by independent examiners appointed by the IB. [48]
The nature of the internal assessment (IA) varies by subject. There may be oral presentations (used in languages), practical work (in experimental sciences and performing arts), or written work. Internal assessment accounts for 20 to 50 percent of the mark awarded for each subject and is marked by a teacher in the school. A sample of at least five per subject at each level from a school will also be graded by a moderator appointed by the IB, in a process called external moderation of internal assessment. Based on this moderation, the grades of the whole subject from that school will change. [48]
Points are awarded from 1 to 7, [49] with 7 being equivalent to an A-level grade of A*, 6 equal to A, and so on. [50] Up to three additional points are awarded depending on the grades achieved in the extended essay and theory of knowledge, so the maximum possible point total in the IBDP is 45. [51] The global pass rate for the IB diploma is approximately 80%. [52] In order to receive an IB diploma, candidates must receive a minimum of 24 points or an average of four (or C) out of a possible seven points for six subjects. 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. Additionally, candidates must complete all of the requirements for the EE, CAS and TOK. Failing conditions that will prevent a student from being awarded a diploma, regardless of points received, are non-completion of CAS, more than three scores of 3 or below (HL or SL), more than two scores of 2 or below (HL or SL), a score of 1 in any subject (HL or SL), not meeting the specific points required for Higher Level (12) or Standard Level (9) subjects, grade "E" awarded for theory of knowledge and/or the extended essay, or a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee. [53]
Candidates who successfully complete all the requirements of the IB Diploma Programme and one or more of the following combinations are eligible to receive a bilingual diploma: two Group 1 subjects (of different languages), a Group 3 or 4 subject taken in a language other than the candidate's Group 1 language, or an Extended Essay in a Group 3 or Group 4 subject written in a language other than the candidate's Group 1 language. [54] IB transcripts are issued to indicate completion of diploma courses and exams for non-diploma candidate students. [55]
Where standard assessment conditions could put a student with special educational needs at a disadvantage, special arrangements may be allowed. The Candidates with Special Assessment Needs publication contains information regarding procedures and arrangements for students with special needs. [56]
To offer the IB Diploma Programme, an institution must go through an application process, and during that period the teachers are trained in the IB. At the end of the application process, IB conducts an authorisation visit. [57] Once a school is authorized to offer the programme, an annual fee ensures ongoing support from the IB, legal authorization to display the IB logo, and access to the Online Curriculum Centre (OCC) and the IB Information System (IBIS). [57] The OCC provides information, resources, and support for IB teachers and coordinators. IBIS is a database employed by IB coordinators. [58] Other IB fees also include student registration and individual diploma subject examination fees. [57]
The IB diploma is accepted in 75 countries at over 2,000 universities, and the IB has a search directory on its website, although it advises students to check recognition policies directly with each university. [59] The IB also maintains a list of universities offering scholarships to IBDP graduates under conditions specified by each institution, including 58 colleges and universities in the United States. [60] The following is an overview of university recognition policies in various countries.
Australia | Although every university in Australia accepts the IB diploma, entry criteria differ from university to university. Some universities accept students on their IB point count, whereas others require the points to be converted. In all states and territories, this is based on the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) converted by their relevant state admission agencies. [61] |
Austria | It is considered a foreign secondary school leaving certificate, even if the school issuing the diploma is in the country. Admission decisions are at the discretion of higher education institutions. [62] |
Canada | IB North America publishes an IB Recognition Policy Summary for Canadian Universities. [63] |
China | The People's Republic of China does not formally accept the IB diploma for university qualification. [64] |
Finland | The IB diploma gives the same qualification for matriculation as the national matriculation examination. [65] The core requirements differ very little, although the Finnish degree has more electives and languages are a larger part of the final grading |
France | The IBDP is one of the foreign diplomas that allow students access into French universities. [66] |
Germany | Has set certain conditions for the IB diploma to be accepted. Students must have either Group 1 or 2 (or both) at HL; mathematics Standard Level minimum; and at least one science or mathematics course at Higher Level. [67] German International Baccalaureate students in some schools are able to earn a "bilingual diploma" that gains them access to German universities; half of the classes in this programme are held in German. [68] |
Hong Kong | IB diploma students may apply to universities as non-JUPAS (Joint University Programmes Admissions System). [69] |
India | The Association of Indian Universities recognizes the IBDP as an entry qualification to all universities, provided that the applicants include a document from the IB detailing percentage equivalency and that specific course requirements for admission to medical and engineering programs are satisfied. [70] [71] |
Italy | The Italian Ministry of Education recognizes the IB diploma as academically equivalent to the national diploma, provided the curriculum includes the Italian language and the particular IB programme is accepted for H.E.D. matriculation in Italy. [72] |
Peru | Peruvian universities do not officially accept the IB diploma. However, the Ministry of Education may grant partial equivalence to national diploma for students who have satisfactorily completed the fourth year of high school in the country. [73] |
Philippines | Some universities in the Philippines accept the IB diploma in lieu of taking the entrance exams. [74] |
Russia | According to the IB, there are two universities in Russia that officially recognize the IB diploma subject to certain guidelines. The Russian Ministry of Education considers the IB diploma issued by state-accredited IB schools in Russia equivalent to the certificate of secondary (complete) general education (attestat). [75] |
Spain | Considers the IB diploma academically equivalent to the "Título de bachillerato español". As of 1 June 2008, IB diploma holders no longer need to pass the University Entrance Examination to be admitted to Spanish universities. |
Sweden | IB diploma grades can be converted to a Swedish grade equivalent. After the conversion the IB diploma is treated the same as grades from the Swedish education system. [76] |
Turkey | Turkish universities accept the IB diploma, but all applicants are required by law to take the university entrance examinations. [77] |
United Kingdom | UCAS publishes a university entrance tariff table that converts IB and other qualifications into standardised "tariff points", [78] but these are not binding, [79] so institutions are free to set minimum entry requirements for IB candidates that are not the same as those for A level candidates. Most universities in the UK require IB students to take more courses than A-level students—requiring, for instance, four As and two Bs from an IB student, whereas an A-level student will only need an ABB—because each subject taken as a part of the IB gives a less broad coverage of a similar subject taken at A-level. |
United States | Institutions of higher education set their own admission and credit policies for IB diploma recognition. [80] Colorado and Texas have legislation requiring universities to adopt and implement policy which awards college credit to students who have successfully completed the IBDP. [81] [82] |
The IBDP was described as "a rigorous, off-the-shelf curriculum recognized by universities around the world" on 10 December 2006, edition of Time magazine, in an article titled "How to bring our schools out of the 20th century". [83] It was also featured in the summer 2002 edition of American Educator, where Robert Rothman described it as "a good example of an effective, instructionally sound, exam-based system". [84] Howard Gardner, a professor of educational psychology at Harvard University, said that the IBDP curriculum is "less parochial than most American efforts" and helps students "think critically, synthesize knowledge, reflect on their own thought processes and get their feet wet in interdisciplinary thinking". [85] An admissions officer at Brown University has claimed the IBDP garners widespread respect. [86]
In the United Kingdom, the IBDP is "regarded as more academically challenging but broader than three or four A-levels", according to an article in The Guardian . [2] In 2006, government ministers provided funding so that "every local authority in England could have at least one centre offering sixth-formers the chance to do the IB". [2]
In the United States, criticism of the IBDP has centered on the vague claim that it is anti-American, according to parents anonymously quoted in The New York Times , who objected to the program's funding from UNESCO in its early years. The base cost is considered to be higher than other programs. [86] In 2012, the school board in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, voted to eliminate all IB programmes in the district because of low participation and high costs. [87]
The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), more commonly known as the International Baccalaureate (IB), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 16 to 19, the IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 12 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged 3 to 12. To teach these programmes, schools must be authorized by the International Baccalaureate.
The Sturgis Charter Public School is a dual-campus charter school located in the village of Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States. The school received its charter in February 1998 and opened in September for the 1998–1999 academic year with 162 freshman, 15 faculty and staff, a newly renovated facility, and a $1.2 million budget. The school philosophy is International Baccalaureate for all students.
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) is an educational programme for students between the ages of 11 and 16 around the world as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum. Middle Years Programme is intended to prepare students for the two-year IB Diploma Programme.
The Group 3: Individuals and societies subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of ten courses offered at both the Standard level (SL) and Higher level (HL): Business Management, Economics, Geography, Global Politics, History, Information technology in a global society (ITGS), Philosophy, Psychology, Social and cultural anthropology, and World religions. There is also a transdisciplinary course, Environmental systems and societies, that satisfies Diploma requirements for Groups 3 and 4.
The Group 1: Studies in language and literature subjects of the IB Diploma Programme refer to the student's first language. Three courses are available: Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature and an interdisciplinary subject, Literature and performance. Students who complete two group 1 subjects, or complete a group 3 or 4 subject that is of a different language of the group 1 subject taken by the candidate, are eligible to be awarded a bilingual IB Diploma on the condition that the candidate obtains a level 3 or greater in both subjects.
The Group 2: Language acquisition subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of the nearly 80 additional languages offered and may be studied at the following levels: B, or ab initio. Latin and Classical Greek are also offered and may be taken at SL or HL. To earn an IB Diploma, a candidate must study an additional language, though a second Language A may be taken instead of studying that language as a Group 2 subject.
The Group 4: Sciences subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprise the main scientific emphasis of this internationally recognized high school programme. They consist of seven courses, six of which are offered at both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL): Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Design Technology, and, as of August 2024, Computer Science is offered as part of the Group 4 subjects. There are also two SL only courses: a transdisciplinary course, Environmental Systems and Societies, that satisfies Diploma requirements for Groups 3 and 4, and Sports, Exercise and Health Science. Astronomy also exists as a school-based syllabus. Students taking two or more Group 4 subjects may combine any of the aforementioned.
The Group 5: Mathematics subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of two different mathematics courses, both of which can be taken at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL). To earn an IB Diploma, a candidate must take either Mathematics Applications and Interpretation (SL/HL) or Mathematics Analysis and Approaches (SL/HL), as well as satisfying all CAS, TOK and EE requirements.
The Group 6: The Arts subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme consist of five courses at both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL): Dance, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, and Film. The transdisciplinary course Literature and Performance is also available at Standard Level. Students seeking the IB Diploma may substitute courses from the other five Subject Groups instead of taking a Group 6 course. A school-based syllabus devised by an IB World School, as approved and externally moderated by the IB, may also form the basis for a course taken in place of a Group 6 course.
The British International School of Washington (BISW) is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational British school located in the Georgetown neighborhood near the border of the Georgetown and Glover Park neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. BISW educates pupils between the ages of 2 and 18. BISW was originally founded in September 1998 by Dr. Lesley Stagg. In 2013, BISW joined Nord Anglia Education, an international education provider owned by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. As of 2019, Nord Anglia operated 66 international schools in 30 countries with over 61,000 students. BISW leases property from Georgetown University, yet GU's Green Building was purchased in 2009 by the entity that is now HUB Properties Trust.
Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages, or GAFL is a foreign language high school located in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. It is equipped with two student dormitories, each for different genders, with its own dormitory inspectors as staff. Students are divided into eight classes per grade by language in which they would like to major. It was originally established under the name of Myongji Foreign Language High School on March 2, 2004, by Myongji Foundation. It was run as Myongji Foreign Language High School for 5 years, but due to declining financial situation of Myongji Foundation, the school was taken over by Bong-ahm Institute in 2008. Consequently, Bong-ahm Institute changed the name of the school to the current name of Gyeonggi Academy of Foreign Languages, with changes in various areas, including the principal, school uniform, dormitory inspectors and operation of school cafeteria. Although it kept the original subjects, or "majors", GAFL's international department changed the curriculum of its international curriculum department to International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in 2011, making GAFL the first Korean high school to adopt the program. Currently, there are nine years worth of graduates, with alumni spread over diverse universities, including domestically prominent SKY (universities) and various universities abroad. The school is also well known for its high tuition fee, always being in the top 10 schools by tuition fee.
The Graz International Bilingual School (GIBS) is an Austrian bilingual (English/German) university preparatory semi-independent charter school Gymnasium in Graz, Austria. The school mainly focuses on languages, offering German, English, Russian, Latin, French and Spanish. Students graduate with the Austrian Matura, the IB Diploma or with both, assuming that they meet the criteria necessary.
The School of the Nations is a Baháʼí-inspired school located in Taipa, Macau, owned by the Badi Foundation.
The Queensland Academies Creative Industries (QACI) is a selective entry senior state high school in Queensland, Australia which offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The school aims to provide a platform for academic like-minded students wishing to study the rigorous International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students are selected through an academic selective entry process including testing and interviews. It is located within the Kelvin Grove Urban Village. The Queensland Academies – Creative Industries Campus is Queensland’s first vertical school, opened in 2007.
St. George's International School, Switzerland is a private, co-educational international school for boarding and day students aged 18 months to 18 years old. Its main campus is located in Montreux, Vaud, at the foot of the Alps and on the shores of Lake Léman, approximately halfway between Vevey and the center of the city of Montreux.
Tikkurila Upper Secondary School, abbreviated in Finnish as TILU, is the largest high school in Finland, with about 1200 students from grades 10 to 12. The school also offer an IB programme which is greatly valued in all around the world. The school is located in Tikkurila, Vantaa, and is approximately 430 metres (1,411 ft) from Hiekkaharju's station. In 2018, junior high school graduates needed a minimum of 8.10 GPA to be admitted to study at Tikkurila Upper Secondary.
Rome International School (RIS) is a private international school in Rome, Italy. The school offers international education to children aged 2 to 18 years from Nursery through to Grade 13. The language of instruction is English. RIS is an International Baccalaureate School offering the IB Primary Years Programme in the Elementary School and the IB Diploma Programme in the last two years of High School. Students in Grades 10 and 11 sit the Cambridge IGCSE.
Jumeirah English Speaking School is a British private school located in Dubai, UAE. Its original campus on Sheikh Zayed Road is a primary school; A second campus at Arabian Ranches has students from primary, secondary, and high school. As of December 2016, JESS had 2000 students enrolled.
Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School (立命館宇治中学校・高等学校) is a private school located in the city of Uji south of Kyoto, Japan. The high school opened in 1994 and the middle school opened in 2003. It is currently one of four junior and senior high schools affiliated with Ritsumeikan University. The Ritsumeikan family of schools also includes Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, located in Beppu, and Ritsumeikan Primary School, located in north Kyoto.
Island School is a co-educational international school located on the Mid-levels, Hong Kong. Established in 1967, it is a founding member of the English Schools Foundation. The school has been accredited by international organisations such as the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The school currently houses over 1,200 students across 33 nationalities.