Foreign Education
IB International Program
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is an internationally recognised educational program that offers a challenging curriculum for students aged from 3 to 19 years. It was established in 1968 and is currently headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
The program is based on a set of educational principles that are aimed at the development of comprehensive skills. It makes students inquisitive, knowledgeable, thinking, sociable, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-averse, balanced, and reflective. It offers continuing education, which includes four programs: the Primary Education Program (PYP), the Secondary Education Program (MYP), and the Diploma Program (DP)
The PYP program is designed for students aged 3 to 12 years and is aimed at developing students' skills in the fields of language, social studies, mathematics, natural sciences, and art.
The MYP program is designed for students aged 11 to 16 years and is aimed at developing their critical thinking, research skills, and a sense of global citizenship. It includes subjects such as language and literature, individuals and societies, natural sciences, mathematics, physical education, art, and design.
DP is a two—year program for students between the ages of 16 and 19, which provides a rigorous and comprehensive education, preparing them for higher education and future careers.
DP program is the only IB program equipped with a choice of subjects. Since the DP goes before the university, it gives students the opportunity to choose the subjects they are interested in for their future careers. There are 6 groups of subjects in total: Native Language, Second Language, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Art (This group also provides a possibility of choosing a second natural or social science). You need to choose one subject from each group. In addition, you will study 3 of them at a high level, and 3 at a standard level.
It is recommended to choose all subjects basing your choice on the university and the country in which you are planning to continue your studies after IB. Therefore, you will not lose on the mandatory subjects that you should study and the level of their study. Sometimes the choice can be quite difficult, but there's nothing you can do about it. Take the time to think hard about what field you would like to work in or subjects in which you are comfortable working with. In addition to the 6 subjects that you choose, there are also 3 mandatory core subjects that I have already mentioned. These are CAS, ToK and Extended Essay.
The program is based on a set of educational principles that are aimed at the development of comprehensive skills. It makes students inquisitive, knowledgeable, thinking, sociable, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-averse, balanced, and reflective. It offers continuing education, which includes four programs: the Primary Education Program (PYP), the Secondary Education Program (MYP), and the Diploma Program (DP)
The PYP program is designed for students aged 3 to 12 years and is aimed at developing students' skills in the fields of language, social studies, mathematics, natural sciences, and art.
The MYP program is designed for students aged 11 to 16 years and is aimed at developing their critical thinking, research skills, and a sense of global citizenship. It includes subjects such as language and literature, individuals and societies, natural sciences, mathematics, physical education, art, and design.
DP is a two—year program for students between the ages of 16 and 19, which provides a rigorous and comprehensive education, preparing them for higher education and future careers.
DP program is the only IB program equipped with a choice of subjects. Since the DP goes before the university, it gives students the opportunity to choose the subjects they are interested in for their future careers. There are 6 groups of subjects in total: Native Language, Second Language, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Art (This group also provides a possibility of choosing a second natural or social science). You need to choose one subject from each group. In addition, you will study 3 of them at a high level, and 3 at a standard level.
It is recommended to choose all subjects basing your choice on the university and the country in which you are planning to continue your studies after IB. Therefore, you will not lose on the mandatory subjects that you should study and the level of their study. Sometimes the choice can be quite difficult, but there's nothing you can do about it. Take the time to think hard about what field you would like to work in or subjects in which you are comfortable working with. In addition to the 6 subjects that you choose, there are also 3 mandatory core subjects that I have already mentioned. These are CAS, ToK and Extended Essay.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), is a subject in which students must gain a series of "experiences" and complete one big project related to Creativity, Activity, and Service, as its name suggests.
The amount of "experience" that a student must gain in 18 months is set by each school individually. In my case, it's between 12 and 15 experience. Gaining experience can be done in various ways, for example: by participating in a marathon, garbage collection, or helping to decorate a school for an event.
The amount of "experience" that a student must gain in 18 months is set by each school individually. In my case, it's between 12 and 15 experience. Gaining experience can be done in various ways, for example: by participating in a marathon, garbage collection, or helping to decorate a school for an event.
Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is a subject designed to encourage students to think about the nature of knowledge and how we develop an understanding of what we know. Students study different ways of thinking and write a 3,000-word philosophical paper as their final examination.
The Extended Essay (EE), which is an independent study, concludes with a 4,000-word article. Extended Essay should be selected and done only on one subject per student's choice. Moreover, mandatory scientific work (AI) must be done on all 6 subjects that the student studies. AI's, on the other hand, is done individually by the student, not having these specialized additional school classes.
Final assessment
The final result of the IB is counted from the 6 subjects that you have chosen, in addition to the 3 main mandatory subjects. The final result is calculated out of 45. Since the maximum score in each subject on the program is 7, the selected subjects give 42 points out of all possible, and 3 add your ToK and EE work. However, there are also minimum requirements for obtaining diplomas. In subjects at a low level, you are required to get at least 3 points out of 7, and in subjects at a high 4 out of 7 to pass. Compulsory subjects only need to be passed, you can get a diploma without getting even one additional point from them. But all the work, however, still needs to be done and passed in this case.
Final assessment
The final result of the IB is counted from the 6 subjects that you have chosen, in addition to the 3 main mandatory subjects. The final result is calculated out of 45. Since the maximum score in each subject on the program is 7, the selected subjects give 42 points out of all possible, and 3 add your ToK and EE work. However, there are also minimum requirements for obtaining diplomas. In subjects at a low level, you are required to get at least 3 points out of 7, and in subjects at a high 4 out of 7 to pass. Compulsory subjects only need to be passed, you can get a diploma without getting even one additional point from them. But all the work, however, still needs to be done and passed in this case.