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 The International Baccalaureate (IB) programme is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year pre-university course of study. It is designed to meet the needs of the highly motivated student and is internationally recognised as an excellent preparation for university.
Based on the pattern of no single country, the IB is a deliberate compromise between the specialisation required in some national systems and the breadth preferred in others. It offers a curriculum which is international, innovative, balanced and flexible.
The IB curriculum consists of six subject groups, as shown in the figure on the left, with subjects offered at Higher and Standard Levels. Higher Level courses study the subjects in greater depth and require more class hours than Standard Level courses.
IB regulations for subject choices ensure that breadth and balance are maintained. The flexibility in the choice of Higher Level subjects allows students to pursue areas of personal interest and to meet special requirements for university entrance. Students can follow either a full Diploma programme or are awarded separate Certificates for each subject successfully completed. An IB Handbook for prospective candidates is available from the IB Coordinator.
In the second term of Class 9, each student is interviewed
by one of the management team or the Careers and Guidance Counsellor, in
order to decide which programme of studies and subject combination will best suit them. The choice of programme and subjects will depend on individual future educational needs and on academic recommendations in each subject area.
Subject recommendations are based on the student’s previous academic record and on the results of the mock IGCSE examinations which are reflected in the October half-term report. In the case of external candidates, tests are taken in the desired subjects. Recommendations may be upgraded at a later stage if the student shows a significant improvement or a good IGCSE result.
Students aiming to follow the Diploma Programme must be recommended for at least three Higher Level Subjects and show the motivation to fulfil all diploma requirements. All subjects offered in Classes 10 and 11 are IB subjects. The status of the student (Diploma or Certificate) does not affect the course content of any particular subject. See more: Careers & University Advice
IB Diploma candidates are required to follow six academic
courses, selecting one subject from each of the six subject
groups. The Group 6 option, Arts and Electives, may be substituted
by a second subject from the Humanities, the Sciences or Languages.
At least three, and not more than four, of the six subjects
must be taken at Higher Level, with the other subjects taken
at Standard Level. Candidates may sit additional single subjects,
at either level, for which they will receive a certificate.
Such ‘Extra Certificates’ do not contribute to
the Diploma score.
In addition to the six subjects, candidates are required to
complete three essential requirements:
• The Extended Essay, an individual
personal research paper of around 4000 words.
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK), which
leads the students to engage in critical reflection and analysis
and to formulate a rational argument. TOK explores the relationships
between the various disciplines and provides the student with
a unified approach to learning.
• Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) See more - a programme that offers students the opportunity to engage
in a variety of activities, which will enhance their social
and personal development. Although emphasis is placed on some
aspect of community service, each student’s range of
activities must encompass all three aspects of the programme.
"This is one of the great things
about the IB: we learn how to learn and this makes IB graduates
more skilful than others. When I was called to work as an
intern, one of the first things my boss asked me was: “Tell
me more about this IB and CAS.” He was extremely interested
and I guess this was one of the reasons why I was picked.
Juliana Neves,
1997 Architecture, UFRJ
As an alternative to the full Diploma programme, students
entering Class 10 may choose or be recommended to follow a
Certificate programme. This programme enables students to
take any variety or number of the subjects offered at Higher
or Standard Level. As a result of this flexibility, it is
usually possible to tailor a Certificate programme to suit
the individual student’s needs.
Students following Certificate programmes are not required
to take the Theory of Knowledge course or to submit an Extended
Essay. The British School does, however, require all IB students
to participate fully in the CAS programme.
IB assessment methods ensure that students have the opportunity
to demonstrate their academic achievement throughout the course,
while at the same time, maintaining standards world wide.
A significant proportion of IB scores is based on coursework
and continuous assessment carried out from the start of the
IB programme. The value of these assessment elements accounts
for between 30-50% of the student’s final result. The
final exams are taken in November at the end of Class 11.
Upon their completion, exams are sent immediately to IB examiners
around the world.
All subjects, whether Higher Level or Standard Level, are
graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum) the passing
grade for individual courses being 4. The award of the Diploma
requires a minimum total of 24 points and the successful completion
of all requirements. Bonus points (a maximum of three) may
be awarded for an exceptional Extended Essay and/or outstanding
performance in Theory of Knowledge.
Students who successfully complete both an A1 and A2 language
course and fulfil all other requirements, are awarded a Bilingual
Diploma. Students who do not achieve all diploma requirements
or who have opted to follow the Certificate Programme, are
awarded a certificate for each subject completed.
The majority of our students (around 76%) have chosen to follow the full Diploma programme. Since the first IB group in 1992, 89% have been awarded the diploma and most of these have been awarded a Bilingual Diploma.
To date the average score of our Diploma candidates has been
31.7 points, which is classified as ‘Very Good’
according to IB criteria. International averages indicate
that 57% of all IB Diploma Candidates achieve a total score
above 30 points; our average is just a little higher at 59%
(just over 20% achieved outstanding results above 35 points).
Aside from offering a top quality curriculum (through the IGCSE and IB) which prepares our pupils for higher education, the students in Classes 10 and 11 have access to additional services which form an overall “University Preparation Programme”. There are five elements to this:
- Brazilian Universities Guidance
- Overseas Universities Guidance
- Careers Guidance (including the Class 10 ‘Work Experience’ programme)
- Supplementary Courses for the Brazilian Diploma – History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics
- Specific courses to prepare for university entry (ENEM, Vestibular preparation, SATs)
These last two elements have been developed for Classes 10 and 11 this year and have already been proving successful for those students who are keen to profit from them. The Supplementary Courses are taught, in Portuguese, by a team of qualified Brazilian teachers experienced in Ensino Médio education in local schools.
Philosophy and Sociology are taught in Classes 9, 10 and 11. The development of both disciplines gives us the opportunity to strengthen and support our existing Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Global Citizenship programmes.
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IB Subjects Offered at The British School