Diploma Requirements
· In order to qualify for the IB diploma, each student must earn at least twenty-four points on IB assessments administered in the six curriculum areas. Both internal assessments (teacher graded and moderated by IB) and external assessments (IB graded) are administered. Twelve points are required for higher level coursework.
· IB students participate in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course that explores relationships among the various disciplines and ensures that students engage in critical reflection and analysis of the knowledge acquired within and beyond the classroom
· Every student must complete the requirements of CAS (Creativity, Action or Sports and Service to School and Community) during the eleventh and twelfth grade years. CAS hours may be awarded for activities that take place on the school campus as well as throughout the community.
· All students are required to submit an Extended Essay, which is an independent research paper. Faculty mentors guide planning and research.
Award of the IB diploma
The IB diploma is awarded based on performance across all parts of the Diploma Programme. A total of six subjects must be studied, with a combination of standard and higher levels (SL and HL). Students must also complete the “core”, which is made up of creativity, activity, service (CAS), theory of knowledge (TOK) and extended essay (EE).
Each subject is graded 1–7, with 7 being the highest grade. These grades are also used as points (that is, 7 points for a grade 7, and so on) in determining if the diploma can be awarded.
TOK and the EE are graded A–E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined in the diploma points matrix to contribute between 0 and 3 points to the total. CAS is not assessed but must be completed in order to pass the diploma. The overall maximum points from subject grades and TOK/EE is therefore 45 ((6 × 7) + 3).
The minimum threshold for award of the diploma is 24 points, below which the diploma is not awarded.
The additional requirements are the following.
- CAS requirements have been met.
- There is no “N” awarded for TOK, the EE or for a contributing subject.
- There is no grade E awarded for TOK and/or the EE.
- There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.
- There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (HL or SL).
- There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (HL or SL).
- The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
- The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).
- The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee.
Further details of how the diploma is awarded are contained in the General regulations: Diploma Programme.
Summary
- Students must study six subjects, plus TOK, EE and CAS. They must accumulate no fewer than 24 points from assessment in these subjects in addition to grade stipulations.
- They must meet all of the additional requirements listed above.
- They must do so within a maximum of three examination sessions.
- Candidates who successfully meet these conditions will be awarded the diploma.
- Candidates who take the diploma in multiple languages may be eligible for a bilingual diploma.