The International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) offers four international programmes in international education.
A) Primary Years Programme (PYP)
B) Middle Years Programme (MYP)
C) Diploma Programme (DP)
D) Career-related Certificate Program (CCP)
Schools are permitted by the IB to conduct one or more of these programmes to their students.
There is another course called AP (Advanced Placement) that is also used to assess school transcripts. Both programs are tough and require extra effort to pass.
IB Diploma Program
IB is not a teaching organization. IB classes in schools follow the curriculum as specified by IB.
The schedule for IB final exams is in May every year. The scores are on a linear scale of one to seven. The exact score will be known by July.Those who attend the IB classes will be given a completion certificate with a score scale of 4 or above. IB diploma is a 2-year program for juniors and seniors.
IB diploma course consists of the following
- Theory of Knowledge course
- One 4,000 word Extended Essay
- 150 hours of creativity, action, and service
Courses can be of one to two years of the standard level and followed by the IB examination. Alternatively, it could be of two years of higher-level study followed by IB examination.
It is mandatory for the IB students to undergo minimum of four higher-level courses. A student is permitted to take up a standard level or higher-level course and examination in a subject. However, taking up both standard as well as the higher level is not allowed.
To earn an IB diploma, the students should get at least 24 points. These points are calculated based on the examination scores scale of 1 to 7 and the essay). For IB diploma students can take the Theory of Knowledge course.
The IB diploma program calls for burning lot of midnight oil.
IB classes require the following for internal or external assessment:
- Preparation of papers
- Oral presentations
- Written exams
IB diploma students are advised to take up IB diploma programme only after 9th and 10th grades. In other words, the students are encouraged to start preparing for the IB diploma program in 11th and 12th grades.
More details can be got from Website: http://www.ibo.org.
As mentioned earlier, IB Organization is not a teaching institution, and IB World Schools conduct the Diploma Programme. Colleges accept IBN scores of say minimum 5.
The IB diploma program is comprehensive, but do not allow flexibility. The IB offers four different programs of study, the Primary Years Program (PYP) for students ages 6-10, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for students ages 11-16, and the Career-related Certificate Program (CCP) and the Diploma Program (DP) for students ages 17 and 18.
The IB MYP teaches tools for lifelong learning and fosters responsible attitudes. This, in turn, will help students to discover how to use what they learn to take a principled action.
The IB MYP includes the following:
- Rigorous learning objectives
- A student-centered approach to learning
- International relations and perspectives
- Concern for the whole child sustained teaching
- Chances to learn in more than one language
- A focus on learning practices and how to learn
- Development of flexible thinking
- Prepares students to evaluate information critically
- Apply knowledge of complex, unfamiliar situations
Instruction for all of our students emphasises international mindedness, and critical thinking as the overall goal of the MYP in developing students who will be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and responsible global citizens. The global contexts, the learner profile, the balance of eight subjects, and the personal project are at the core of the Middle Years Programme.
As per IB website “IB offers four high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world”.