The International Baccalaureate Programme

The Diploma Programme at Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School

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University Connections: School of Design, Arts, & Engineering

An IB World School

Student Edition

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

2 Year Classes

All classes in the IB Program are 2 years long.

This allows for students to get through all of the required information while also allowing for students to still take elective classes here at Southeast

Especially for those students who are in one of the academy programs

Program starts in the Fall of Junior Year and classes carry over to Senior Year

Apply in Freshman or Sophomore year

Start Program in Junior Year

Finish Program in Senior Year

IB classes carry over

IB Exams in May (before graduation)

The Prerequisites of IB

See the SRMHS IB website for class recommendations

HL vs SL

Standard Level (SL)

This course requires 150 hours of content

External assessments are easier

Internal assessments don’t change

Students should pick SL subjects they are less comfortable with

Students enroll in a maximum of 3 SL courses

Higher Level (HL)

This course requires 240 hours of content

External assessments are harder

Internal assessments don’t change

Students should pick HL subjects they are more comfortable with

Students enroll in a minimum of 3 HL courses and a maximum of 4 HL courses

7 Required Classes

Over Junior and Senior year you will take 7 classes

• All Classes are 2 years long

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1. HL English
2. SL World Language (Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, French)
3. HL History of the Americas
4. HL or SL Science (Chemistry, Environmental Science-[SL Only])
5. SL Math
6. HL or SL Group 6 Choice (Visual Art, Film, Theater, Biology)
7. Theory of Knowledge (A non-testing class)

You will have one elective class in each year of the program.

IB Assessments

Broken into 2 categories

External Assessments (multiple per class taken on test day in May of Senior Yr)

• Assessments are sent to IB to be graded
• Can be multiple choice tests, short answer questions, long response questions, full on research papers, or projects

Internal Assessments (one per class worked on in class/after school)

• Assessments that are graded by the subject teacher
• Focus on large projects/papers that emphasize the skills learned over the course of the class

Internal Assessments

English - 15 min oral presentation identifying global context themes present in one literary work and one non-literary work

World Languages - 15 minute conversation in the target language relating the themes of the class to a specific image presented by the teacher

History - 2,200 word (max) essay on a specific Historical investigation chosen by the student that hasn’t occurred in the last 10 years

Science - 3,000 word (max) lab report on an experiment that is created, conducted, and analyzed by the student

Math - 12-20 page paper on a mathematical investigation identified and conducted by the student

Internal Assessments (Arts)

Film - 9 minute (max) film reel where a student takes on 3 different film roles and a 9 page (max) portfolio detailing how the student approached each of the 3 roles

Theater - 12 page (max) proposal where students identify a theater production they would like to do and describe how they would accomplish that feat.

Visual Arts - Students will create an art exhibit of 8-11 works with a 700 word (max) rationale about the intention of their exhibit

20,000 Words

You are required to submit over 20,000 words to IB

• These are done over the course of 2 years

The Final Draft of these assignments are spread out so they aren’t all due at once

• This means you have to be organized and stay on top of your workflow

When you write this much, you get better at reading and writing

*Practice essays and tests are not included in the final 20,000 count

Scoring the Assessments

The IB tests are scored out of 7 points each

• Even though certain parts may have a higher score (Ex: Biology IA is out of 24 points)

A 4 out of 7 is considered a passing grade

• This grade is determined by the combination of Internal and External Assessments

To get the IB Diploma students need a total of 24 points

• Plus the additional point requirements

7 points X 6 tests = 42 Possible Points

IB Diploma-what it takes

Scoring a combined score of 24 on all IB tests plus:

1. All CAS requirements have been met
2. Passing both the EE and TOK Essay
3. There is no grade 1 in any subject or level
4. There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (SL or HL)
5. There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (SL or HL)
6. At least 12 points have been gained on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count)
7. At least 9 points have been gained on SL subjects (students who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL)
8. The final award committee has not given the candidate a penalty for academic misconduct

Example Scores 1

Grade Subject

• 5- ENGLISH A: Literature HL in ENGLISH
• 4- FRENCH AB. SL in FRENCH
• 4- HIST.AMERICAS HL in ENGLISH
• 3- BIOLOGY SL in ENGLISH
• 3- MATHEMATICS SL in ENGLISH
• D- MUSIC EE in ENGLISH
• 4- MUSIC HL in ENGLISH
• C- THEORY KNOWL. TK in ENGLISH

EE/TOK points: 0

Total Points: 23

Result: Diploma not awarded

Candidate earned fewer than 24 points

Grade Subject

• 4- ENGLISH A: Literature HL in ENGLISH
• 3- FRENCH AB. SL in FRENCH
• 4- HIST.AMERICAS HL in ENGLISH
• B- HISTORY EE in ENGLISH
• 4- BIOLOGY SL in ENGLISH
• 3- MATHEMATICS SL in ENGLISH
• 4- VISUAL ARTS HL in ENGLISH
• C- THEORY KNOWL. TK in ENGLISH

EE/TOK points: 2

Total Points: 24

Result: Diploma awarded

Example Scores 2

Grade Subject

• 4- ENGLISH A: Literature SL in ENGLISH
• 4- SPANISH B SL in SPANISH
• 4- HIST.AMERICAS HL in ENGLISH
• 3- BIOLOGY HL in ENGLISH
• 5- MATHEMATICS SL in ENGLISH
• C- WORLD STUDIES EE in ENGLISH
• 4- PSYCHOLOGY HL in ENGLISH
• C- THEORY KNOWL. TK in ENGLISH

EE/TOK points: 1

Total Points: 25

Results: Diploma not awarded

Candidate has gained fewer than 12 points in HL

Grade Subject

• 4- ENGLISH A: Literature HL in ENGLISH
• 5- SPANISH B SL in SPANISH
• 4- HIST.AMERICAS HL in ENGLISH
• 3- BIOLOGY SL in ENGLISH
• 3- MATHEMATICS SL in ENGLISH
• C- VISUAL ARTS EE in ENGLISH
• 4 - VISUAL ARTS HL in ENGLISH
• E- THEORY KNOWL. TK in ENGLISH

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EE/TOK points: FAIL

Total Points: 24

Results: Diploma not awarded

Candidate failed the TOK Essay

The Easy Version

Get a 4 (minimum passing score) on all IB tests

Pass the Extended Essay

Pass the ToK Essay

Finish CAS

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24

45

The

IB

Diploma

Up to 3 additional points for doing well here

IB Core

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

Showing that students are involved and invested in their community

Extended Essay (EE)

Showing that students are interested in topics that extend beyond the classroom

Theory of Knowledge (ToK)

Asks the question “How do we know what we know”?

These are considered to be “out of class” requirements to be done on your own time

CAS Requirements

Creativity—exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance

Activity—physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle

Service—collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

These are recorded volunteer hours in each of the categories. Most people run over 100 hours total with an equal amount in each category

Put these hours onto your college applications

CAS Project

Students undertake a CAS project of at least one month’s duration that challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and decision-making.

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The CAS project can address any single strand of CAS, or combine two or all three strands.

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Students use the CAS stages (investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration) as a framework for CAS experiences and the CAS project.

Extended Essay

3500-4000 word essay

The subject area is one class that the student is currently enrolled in

The topic of the essay will be related to content that is not covered in the class

Let’s use Environmental Systems and Societies as an example

Theory of Knowledge

A 2 year class that all DP students will take

Focuses on building critical thinking skills

Skills that will be used to develop better understandings in the other classes

Has an essay as an external assessment

1600 word essay

6 titles provided by IB

Ex: “To what extent is the quote ‘Doubt is the Key to Knowledge’ true?”

EE and ToK

Matrix

Extended Essay

Why Choose IB?

The goal of IB is to have student-led, discussion-oriented classrooms that focus on building skills that will allow students to become holistic, worldwide, lifelong learners

These skills are recognized by colleges all over the world

But how does it compare to AP?

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• Subjects and teachings are cross-curricular focused

• 2 Year courses (most) with exam at end of 2^nd year

• Two levels of Mastery (HL & SL)

• Globally Diverse

• Exams emphasize critical thinking and analytical skills

• Teacher input on student’s test scores

• Courses focus on individual subjects

• 1 year courses

• Single level of mastery (exception: Calculus A/B & B/C)

• US-focused approach

• Exams asses raw content knowledge

• Test scores determined by AP exam only

IB

AP

• Academically Challenging

• Requires Motivation and Commitment

• Opportunity to learn factual material

• Ability to earn

College Credit

College Credit Examples

*Google “IB Credit” at the University of your choice to see other schools you’re interested in.

IB Students have a Higher College Acceptance Rate

Other Benefits to the SRMHS IB Diploma Programme

Homework Free Weekends

• Once every month

Links Incorporated Events

• A group focusing on international experiences
• Healthcare Delegates from Ukraine and Journalists from Pakistan

Community Events

• Movie nights and weekend picnics

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Process of Applying

Students must contact the IB DP Coordinator via email to indicate intent to participate in the programme.

IB Coordinator Contact Information

Hunter Thane

Email: hthane@wcpss.net

Phone: (919) 856-2800 ext. 24971

Excellence is the Standard

“I’m All In”