Discover the Potential of the IB Diploma Programme: A Comprehensive Guide

What is IB DP?

The IB DP AKA The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is a 2-year diploma programme offered by International Baccalaureate.

The IBDP is a worldwide recognized pre-university programme for students aged 16 to 19. It has an academically difficult curriculum that broadens pupils' knowledge, unlocks their potential, and promotes worldwide understanding of different concepts.

According to the research, 318,2 international schools offer IB DP in 153 well-known countries.

IB Is Based Upon 6 Subjects Group:

The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum consists of six subject groups as well as the DP core, which includes;

·         theory of knowledge (TOK)

·         creativity, activity, service (CAS)

·         the extended essay.

Students in the Diploma Programme (DP) core reflect on the nature of knowledge, conduct independent study, and complete a project that often includes community service.

The six subject groups are as follows:

·         Studies in language and literature

·         Language acquisition

·         Individuals and societies

·         Sciences

·         Mathematics

·         The arts

Students can acquire a new language, broaden their awareness of global issues, and they can hone their mathematical and scientific abilities.

IBDP students are also taught the value of performing arts and literature because they are exposed to these terms in their syllabus.

Choosing subjects in IB DP:

Students may choose to study other disciplines, individuals, communities and languages instead of arts subject.

·         Higher level (HL)

·         Standard level (SL)

Some topics will be taken at the higher level (HL), while others will be taken at the standard level (SL). T

The scope of HL and SL courses differs, but they are graded using the same grade descriptions, with students required to demonstrate a bigger body of knowledge, comprehension, and abilities at the higher level.

Each student takes at least three (but no more than four) higher level topics and the rest at standard level.

Subjects at the standard level require 150 teaching hours whereas, the higher level includes 240 teaching hours.

Assessments:

The IBDP employs a balanced evaluation process. They focus both on written examinations, as well as internal assessments for example, field work and performances, are also used to grade students.

DP evaluation systems analyses how well students have learned advanced academic skills in order to achieve these objectives.

Ø  Information, analysis and presentation

Ø  Analyzing and developing arguments

Ø  Handling problems and creatively.

Basic abilities are also evaluated, including:

Ø  Retaining knowledge

Ø  Grasping essential concepts

Ø  Understanding key concepts

In addition to academic capabilities, DP assessment promotes a worldwide perspective and intercultural skills.

External and Internal assessment method:

§  Internal Assessment

Internal Assessments are completed as part of regular classwork by students, evaluated by the ICS teacher, and a representative sample from the subject's collection of internal assessments is sent to the IB to be moderated by IB examiners.

Internal assessments are a type of authentic assessment since they allow students to perform a largely independent inquiry project utilizing subject-appropriate knowledge and production strategies. For example,

·         In Groups 1 and 2, students take oral exams in which they assess a text or image using language.

·         In Group 3 subjects, the students do subject-specific research, such as a field study in Geography or acquiring primary data from a business or non-governmental organization for HL Business Management.

·         In Group 4 the students design experimental sciences for example a computer science student will work with actual developer to develop a product.

·         In group 5, the students will learn mathematics in such a way that they connect mathematics with their real world uses.

·         In Group 6, the visual arts students will work on their art and they will conduct a public exhibition of their art work and theater student will perform their theater performance.

 

§      External Assessment

External Assessments are also completed as part of regular classwork by students, but instead of being a sample, they are all forwarded directly to the IB to be graded by IB examiners.

External evaluations are found at ICS in Group 1 classes where HL students complete a literary essay, Group 6 classes where all work other than the internal assessment is externally assessed, in Theory of Knowledge classes where the TOK essay and the Extended Essay are written.

Grading and Scoring:

IB subjects are graded on a 1- 7 scale with 7 being the highest score.

To qualify for the award of the IB Diploma a student must receive a combined score of 24 points across 6 subjects with at least 12 points from higher level subjects and a minimum of 9 points from standard level subject.

 

IB Grading

7     Excellent performance                  percentage 99-100 %

6     Very good performance                 percentage 92-98   %

5     Good performance                         percentage 84-91   %

4      Satisfactory performance              percentage 77-83   %

3      Mediocre performance                  percentage 70-76   %

2      Poor performance                          percentage 50-69 %

1      Very poor performance                 percentage failing grade

Scope of IB DP in universities?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme provides world-class preparation for university and life after graduation. IB students routinely display the critical thinking and research skills required to flourish in university studies—and they tend to get into the greatest colleges in the world.

The IB provides transcripts to over 5,000 universities in over 100 countries each year. The IB collaborates with both colleges that take hundreds of IB students and specialty institutes that accept fewer pupils.

IB courses are recognized and rewarded with college-level credits by 1,662 universities in the United States, including state schools such as UC colleges and several elite universities.

IS IB a good choice?

According to a HESA survey, IB Diploma graduates had a greater chance of enrolling in one of the UK's top 20 universities and colleges than other students with comparable qualifications.

It was also discovered that IB graduates are more likely to be admitted to ten of the most renowned universities in the United States. It is recognized by major institutions such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford.

Universities often admit IB students at a higher rate than non-IB students. According to an IBO poll, the acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League universities is up to 18% higher than the acceptance rate of the general population.

Thank you for reading our article on IB DP today, if you are interested in studying abroad and don’t know where to go? get in touch with us today and secure a consultation with the best consultants in Pakistan. Apply Now.

Edify Group of Companies has more than 5 years of experience in helping Pakistani Students study abroad and we are proud to say that we are the best education consultants in Pakistan.

We have our offices in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.