How does a student achieve the IB diploma at Central High School?
The IB Diploma Program requires that students be fully immersed in the IB curriculum and its courses. Students complete six IB subjects and all required coursework/examinations for those courses.
HL vs. SL
Three courses are to be taken at the “Higher Level” and three at are to be taken at the “Standard Level.”
What is the difference between “high level” and “standard level”?
Earning the IB Diploma:
Subjects Taken (6) X Points Possible Per Subject (7) = 42 Subject Points
"Bonus" Points:
In addition to the 42 subject area points, IB also provides a way to earn up to 3 additional points using a matrix consisting of a student’s grade in TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and the Extended Essay (EE) grade. A student needs to do well on both their TOK presentation/essay and on the Extended Essay.
How many points does the student need to earn an IB diploma? 24*From these 24 points…
Every IB subject is graded on a scale of 1 to 7. That score is a composite of various assessments graded both inside (internal) and outside (external) the classroom.
English: Language & Literature HL
Internal Assessments: Interactive Oral Commentary
External Assessments: Paper 1 - literary commentary of unseen work , Paper 2 – essay on at least two works studied, Higher Level Essay - Area of inquiry
Foreign Language SL (Spanish or French)
Internal Assessments: Individual oral presentation (20%)
External Assessments: Paper 1 - text-handling on 4 written texts (25%), Paper 2 - Reading Comprehension & Listening Comprehension
History HL
Internal Assessments: Historical Investigation (20%)
External Assessments: Paper 1 – Source-based paper based on Rights & Protests. (20%), Paper 2 – Essay paper on World History Topics (25%), Paper 3 - Essay paper on topics in History of the Americas. (35%)
Biology HL
Internal Assessments: Individual Investigation (20%) and Group 4 Collaborative Project
External Assessments: Paper 1 – Multiple Choice (20%), Paper 2 – Data-based, short answer and extended response questions (40%), Paper 3 – Data-based, short answer and extended response questions. (20%)
Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation SL
Internal Assessment: Mathematical Exploration (20%)
External Assessment: Paper 1 – No Calculator (40%), Paper 2 – Calculator Required (40%)
Visual Arts SL
Internal Assessments: Exhibition (40%)
External Assessments: Comparative Study (20%), Process Portfolio (40%)
Theater Arts SL
Internal Assessments: Collaborative Project – original theater piece (25%)
External Assessments: Solo theater piece (35%), Director’s notebook (20%), Research presentation (20%)
Theory of Knowledge
Internal Assessment: TOK Exhibition (33%)
External Assessment: Essay from a list of six prescribed titles. (67%)
Digital Society SL
Internal Assessment: Development of IT Product & Written Report (20%)
External Assessment: Paper 1 (35%), Paper 2 (20%), Paper 3 (25%)
The IB Diploma Program requires that students be fully immersed in the IB curriculum and its courses. Students complete six IB subjects and all required coursework/examinations for those courses.
HL vs. SL
Three courses are to be taken at the “Higher Level” and three at are to be taken at the “Standard Level.”
What is the difference between “high level” and “standard level”?
- It is NOT the quality of instruction, but the quantity of instructional time.
- HL = 240 hours (i.e. a 2 year course)
- SL = 150 hours (i.e. a 1 year course; however it can be offered over 2 years)
- Differences also lie in the number of assessments per subject.
- Internal Assessments = graded by the classroom teacher. Student samples are sent and moderated by an external examiner by IB
- External Assessments = all work sent to an IB examiner to grade. These exams are held in May of the senior year, except for IB Spanish/French, which is given at the end of the students’ junior year.
Earning the IB Diploma:
Subjects Taken (6) X Points Possible Per Subject (7) = 42 Subject Points
"Bonus" Points:
In addition to the 42 subject area points, IB also provides a way to earn up to 3 additional points using a matrix consisting of a student’s grade in TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and the Extended Essay (EE) grade. A student needs to do well on both their TOK presentation/essay and on the Extended Essay.
How many points does the student need to earn an IB diploma? 24*From these 24 points…
- 12 points must come from the HL courses (Biology, English, History)
- 9 points must come from the SL courses (Mathematics, Foreign Language, 6th Subject)
- The student cannot earn a 1 in any course or a 2 in HL
- The Extended Essay must be completed
- All internal and external assessments must be completed
- All Creativity, Action, and Service hours completed (150 hours total, 50 for each category)
Every IB subject is graded on a scale of 1 to 7. That score is a composite of various assessments graded both inside (internal) and outside (external) the classroom.
English: Language & Literature HL
Internal Assessments: Interactive Oral Commentary
External Assessments: Paper 1 - literary commentary of unseen work , Paper 2 – essay on at least two works studied, Higher Level Essay - Area of inquiry
Foreign Language SL (Spanish or French)
Internal Assessments: Individual oral presentation (20%)
External Assessments: Paper 1 - text-handling on 4 written texts (25%), Paper 2 - Reading Comprehension & Listening Comprehension
History HL
Internal Assessments: Historical Investigation (20%)
External Assessments: Paper 1 – Source-based paper based on Rights & Protests. (20%), Paper 2 – Essay paper on World History Topics (25%), Paper 3 - Essay paper on topics in History of the Americas. (35%)
Biology HL
Internal Assessments: Individual Investigation (20%) and Group 4 Collaborative Project
External Assessments: Paper 1 – Multiple Choice (20%), Paper 2 – Data-based, short answer and extended response questions (40%), Paper 3 – Data-based, short answer and extended response questions. (20%)
Mathematics: Applications & Interpretation SL
Internal Assessment: Mathematical Exploration (20%)
External Assessment: Paper 1 – No Calculator (40%), Paper 2 – Calculator Required (40%)
Visual Arts SL
Internal Assessments: Exhibition (40%)
External Assessments: Comparative Study (20%), Process Portfolio (40%)
Theater Arts SL
Internal Assessments: Collaborative Project – original theater piece (25%)
External Assessments: Solo theater piece (35%), Director’s notebook (20%), Research presentation (20%)
Theory of Knowledge
Internal Assessment: TOK Exhibition (33%)
External Assessment: Essay from a list of six prescribed titles. (67%)
Digital Society SL
Internal Assessment: Development of IT Product & Written Report (20%)
External Assessment: Paper 1 (35%), Paper 2 (20%), Paper 3 (25%)
