International qualifications 2013 (pdf) - CUKAS

Appendix C – International Baccalaureate middle years programme, certificate and diploma
Group 4 – Experimental sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Design technology
Environmental system and societies (SL only)
Physics
Computer science
Sports, exercise and health science (SL)
Environmental system and societies (SL) – (interdisciplinary)
Group 5 – mathematics
Mathematics (HL)
Mathematics (SL)
Mathematical studies (SL)
Further mathematics (HL)
All students must do a course in mathematics
Group 6 – Arts
Music
Theatre
Visual arts
Film
Literature and performance (interdisciplinary)
A syllabus designed by an experienced IB school according to its
own needs, interests and expertise, and approved by the IB under
strict criteria. A candidate may choose only one SBS subject as
one of their standard level choices.
All Diploma Programme candidates will also undertake:
a. Theory of knowledge – a 100-hour course taught over two
years which is an interdisciplinary requirement intended to
stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and issues.
b. Extended essay – a substantial piece of independent
research work about 4,000 words long. It must be written in
a Diploma Programme subject. 50 hours.
c. Creativity, action, service (CAS) – the CAS programme is
provided by the school and monitored by the IB. 150 hours.
Assessment method:
Assessment in the IB varies widely across the disciplines and
includes multiple choice, essay, data analysis, short answer and
structured questions. In most subjects the teachers contribute
more than 20% of the marks through internal assessment which
are then moderated by external examiners. Students are
assessed on the whole course in final examinations held at the
end of the two years. The courses are not modular. Candidates
not completing all the requirements for a Diploma may be
awarded certificates for individual subjects. Assessment
procedures are kept constantly under review to ensure both
integrity and quality. Their validation includes, amongst other
activities, question paper and marking scheme review by external
advisers, standardisation of examiners, marking, moderation,
grade awarding and arbitration procedures, an enquiry upon
results service, and public reporting of statistics.
Examination timing:
May and November
Date of result publication:
Early July and early January
Grading system:
Each subject is graded 1–7 (7 being the highest) The
recommendation for the award of the final grade in each subject
is normally the responsibility of the Chief Examiner. A grade will
not normally be awarded to a candidate in any subject for which
any of the required assessment components have not been
completed.
All assessment components for each of the six subjects and the
additional Diploma requirements must be completed in order to
qualify for the award of the Diploma.
The Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is
24, 25, 26 or 27 points, provided all the following requirements
have been met:
a. numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects
registered for the diploma
b. all CAS requirements have been met
c. at least a grade D has been awarded for both theory of
knowledge and the extended essay
d. there is no grade 1 in any subject
e. there is no grade 2 at HL
f. there is no more than one grade 2 at SL
g. overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below
h. at least 12 points have been gained on HL subjects
(candidates who register for four HL subjects must gain at
least 16 points at HL)
i. at least nine points have been gained on SL subjects
(candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at
least six points at SL)
j. the candidate has not been found guilty of malpractice by the
IB organisation
The Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is
28 points or above, provided all the following requirements have
been met:
a. numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects
registered for the diploma
b. all CAS requirements have been met
c. grades A (highest) to E (lowest) have been awarded for both
theory of knowledge and an extended essay, with a grade of
at least D in one of them
d. there is no grade 1 in any subject
e. there is no more than one grade 2 at HL
f. there are no more than two grades 2 at SL
g. overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below
h. at least 11 points have been gained on HL subjects
(candidates who register for four HL subjects must gain at
least 14 points at HL)
i. at least eight points have been gained on SL subjects
(candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at
least five points at SL)
j. the candidate has not been found guilty of malpractice by
the IB organisation
A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which to
satisfy the requirements for the award of the IB Diploma.
AWARD OF INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE COURSES
A candidate who is not registered for the full Diploma may
register for examination in one or more subjects.
Such a candidate is classified as a Diploma Programme (DP)
course student and receives a certificate recording the result(s)
obtained in each subject. Candidates who have registered for
the full Diploma, but who have not fulfilled all the requirements
for the award, will receive a certificate indicating the results
obtained in individual DP courses. A Diploma candidate who
wishes to register for more than the six subjects required for
the Diploma may register for one or more additional subjects at
HL.
80 INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS