How do I get my IB Diploma?

By Jessica Thompson, Newswire

The benefits of earning an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma are endless.

With an IB Diploma, graduates have a better chance of getting into post-secondary education and staying enrolled. Discover how does IB prepare you for college?

According to a study by the Higher Education Agency, an official UK body for data processing on higher education, the IB is a wise decision for students wishing to study at one of the UK’s top 20 higher education institutions. By graduating with an IB Diploma from their high school, they have a greater chance of gaining admission than applicants with similar qualifications.

study conducted by the Chicago Postsecondary Transition Project at the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research explored post-secondary outcomes and experiences. The Transition Project is a multi-year study tracking the post-high school experiences of successive cohorts graduating from schools in Chicago and analyzing the relationship between high school preparation, college choices, post-secondary, and, in this case, the IB.

The research illustrated that students with the IB Diploma are not only more likely to be granted admission to their top-choice schools, but they’re also more likely to stay enrolled until they graduate and perform better academically than other students.

The IB helps develop the whole child. Whether it’s critical thinking, time management, or a strong sense of global-mindedness, the IB aids in fostering the character and life skills necessary to be successful in the 21st century.

Research conducted by the University of Bath with 8,000 students, 500 Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) coordinators, and 900 IB Diploma alumni, found CAS (a fundamental aspect of the IB) helped improve students’ personal dispositions, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

With regard to the Bath study, the CAS program strengthened risk-taking and encouraged students to challenge themselves. Learn more about the benefits of the IB.

 

What are the requirements to get my IB Diploma?

All Grade 11 and 12 students interested in earning the IB Diploma are recommended to take a maximum of three High Level (HL) classes and three Standard Level (SL) classes.

The difference between HL and SL courses is in the scope, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), but they are measured according to the same grade descriptors.

With HL, students are expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding, and skills.

The subject areas include Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Science, Math, and Arts.

Students also need to be registered for each of the following classes:

  • Core Class
  • CAS
  • Extended Essay
  • Theory of Knowledge

When it comes to whether or not you should choose the IB, our IB Diploma and Advanced Placement (AP) Coordinator, Belinda McRoberts, puts it simply: "It is a good idea for students to choose the Diploma program if they are not sure yet what they’d like to study in university. The DP provides a balanced program across six different subject areas to allow the student to develop well-rounded skills.”

 

What is the IB Diploma Programme?

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is a challenging two-year pre-university curriculum that involves challenging academic studies and promotes international-mindedness and critical thinking. Learn more about ISB's challenging and joyful curriculum, here.

Students are encouraged to ask questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture, and develop the ability to communicate with people from other cultures.

If students do not wish to complete the full IB Diploma, they are able to enroll in one or more IB courses, each of which receives recognition from the IB upon successful completion and contributes to the ISB Diploma.

If students do wish to complete the full IBDP and reap the rewards, there are certain requirements, all of which are outlined below.

Programs like the IB require innovative, positive learning environments, and ISB is a great example of this type of facility. We invite you to explore our campus to see our positive learning environment in action.

 

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