 Glossary of terms
 HL – Higher Level courses run over a 2 year period
 SL – Standard Level courses most run over 2 years
with exception of BIO SL and FRE SL
 Internal Assessments – Assessments required by IB
which are marked by classroom teachers and external
IB markers.
 External Assessments - IB Examinations
ENGLISH A LITERATURE
 This is a literature course
 12 works are studied over a two year period
Oral Internal Assessments
 There are two oral assessments in English
 In grade 11 students work towards an Individual oral
presentation (IOP) 15%
 In grade 12 students complete an oral commentary
15%
 Both oral assignments are recorded, and marked by
both the teacher and IB officials
Written Internal Assessments
 There is one written internal assessment 25% which IS
marked by both the teacher and IB offficials
 The internal assessment is a reflective comparative
essay as set out by IB and the teacher/IB selected
works in Part I of the syllabus
External Assessments
 Students write two exam papers
 Paper 1 is aa guided literary analysis 20%
 Paper 2 is an essay based on works studied in Part 3
25%
Language B FRENCH
 French is offered as an Ab Initio, SL and HL course
 SL and Ab Initio French are one year grade 12 courses
which is completed in grade 11
 HL French is a two year grade 12 course which is
completed in grades 11 and 12
Internal Assessment 30%
 Individual Oral (8-10 minutes) 20%
 This oral is recorded, and marked by both the teacher
and IB officials
 Interactive Oral Activity 10%
 These activities are based on the core and consist of 3
classroom activities assessed by the teacher
External Assessment
 Students write two exam papers
 Paper one 25% and Paper two 25%
 These exams are sent to IB officials to be marked
 Students write a written assignment 20% which is a
writing piece as outlined by IBO
 Written assignments are marked by both teacher and
IB officials
IB Math Route
 Grade 10
 Grade 11
 Grade 12
Math 10 + Adv Math 11
IB Math
IB Math
 **Some students will opt for Cal 12 as they have free
time in their grade 12 year, but it is not necessary as
Calculus is covered in IB Math
Math SL
 Math SL is a two year course which is referred to as the
“Calculus” Math
 It qualifies a student for any science or engineering
program
 Students have a free period in their grade 12 year and
many choose to take Calculus 12 course as an extra
 Many rumors exist that IB Math does not qualify for the
sciences in University – these rumors likely surface
because parents can be confused as to which IB Math a
school chooses – some schools in NS have the choice of a
lower math course called IB Math Studies, which does not
qualify for the sciences
IB Math Assessment
 INTERNAL ASSESSMENT 20%
 1 math porfolio assignment which is set out by IB and
marked by the teacher and IB offficials
 EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT 80%
 consists of paper 1 and 2(exams)
IB History
 IB History is a two year course which is offered as SL and
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HL course
Currently IB History covers 20th century world history –
communism in crisis 1976-89 to include:
Causes, practices and effects of wars
Democratic states – challenges and responses
Origins and development of authoritarian and single party
states
Nationalist and independence movements in Africa and
Asia and post-1945 Central and Eastern European states
The Cold War
ASSESSMENT
Internal Assessment 20% HL 25% SL
One Historical Investigation Paper
External Assessment 80% HL 75% SL
Paper 1 & 2 for all students
Paper 3 for HL students
SCIENCES
IB Chemistry, Biology and Physics are offered at both HL
and SL
All 3 science programs are practical programs which
require many laboratory hours. Some labs are
actually designed by the student themselves
As well students complete a project based lab which
integrates all 2 or 3 sciences
ASSESSMENT
 Internal Assessment 24%
 Students complete a number of lab components per
topic area which are marked by the teacher and IB
officials
 External Assessment 76%
 All students write Paper 1, 2 and 3
BIOLOGY
 Biology can be completed in one year (SL) or over a
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two year period (HL)
Core topics for both SL and HL include:
Statistical analysis
Cells
Chemistry of life
Genetics
Ecology and evolution
Human health and physiology
BIOLOGY SL OPTIONS
 SL Options include:
 Human nutrition and health
 Physiology of exercise
 Cells and energy
 Evolution
 Neurobiology and behaviour
 Microbes and biotechnology
 Ecology and conservation
BIOLOGY HL OPTIONS
 Biology HL Options include:
 Evolution
 Neurobiology and behaviour
 Microbes and biotechnology
 Ecology and conservation
 Further human physiology
Chemistry
 Chemistry is offered as either an SL or HL course and
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both options require two years to complete.
The core includes:
Quantitative Chemistry
Atomic structure
Periodicity
Bonding
Kinetics
Equilibrium
Acids and bases
Oxidation and reduction
Organic chemistry
Measurement and data processing
CHEMISTRY SL OPTIONS
 Modern analytical chemistry
 Human biochemistry
 Chemistry in industry and technology
 Medicines and drugs
 Environmental chemistry
 Food chemistry
 Further organic chemistry
CHEMISTRY HL OPTIONS
Options for HL are the same as SL but require students
to go into more depth and require more hours.
VISUAL ARTS
 Visual Arts is a two year course which can be taken at
the SL or HL level
 This is an academic course which requires a final art
show and completion of an investigative
sketch/workbook
ASSESSMENT
 Internal Assessment 40%
 Students complete an extensive art work/sketchbook
which must contain required elements as set out by
IB. This workbook is marked by the teacher and by IB
officials
 External Assesssment 60%
 The external assessment is the student art show which
is marked by an Art Examiner which is supplied by IB
IB MUSIC
 IB Music is offered as either HL or SL
 Internal assessment is worth 50% of the final mark
and include:
 Creating – 3 pieces of coursework with recordings and
written work
 Solo Performance – A recording selected from pieces
presented during one or more public performances
IB MUSIC EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
 External assessment includes:
 A listening paper which examines musical perceptions
 A written media script of 2,000 words or less
investigating the musical links between two or more
pieces from distinct musical cultures
Theory of Knowledge
 This is the “glue” of the IB program. It is a course
based in knowledge and aims to have students make
connections between all subjects.
 Real world examples are studied, but “How do we
know???” is the context in which the issue is
discussed
ASSESSMENT
 Internal Assessment
 Students prepare and present a classroom
presentation based on a topic they are interested in.
The presentation is recorded and marked by the
teacher
 External Assessment
 Students complete a 1500 word essay on a topic
chosen from a list of 10-15 topics outlined by IB
(topics change annually) The teacher marks the paper
and it is also marked by IB officials
 There is NO EXAM in TOK
CAS (Creativity, Action & Service
 This segment of the IB program is meant to give
students the opportunity to experience new activities
and engage in learning outside the classroom.
 Students must participate in 50 hours in each area
over the two year Diploma Programme
CREATIVITY
 How can I be creative??? Do I have to be artistic???
 The answer is NO!!! There are a wide range of
creative activities that can be included in this section
and the CAS coordinator can tailor it to your interests
ACTION
 Do I have to be an athlete??? The answer is NO!!!!
 Although many students are varsity athletes and have
a surplus of active hours, they must try to improve as
the emphasis is to be active and to improve and try
new things
 Any activity can qualify and it does not need to be a
team sport!
 The CAS coordinator will tailor this to suit you
individually
SERVICE
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 In this section 50 hours must be accumulated over the
two year period volunteering in any capacity.
 At least one component must be a class project and
should have an international focus
CAS BENEFITS
 Many or all scholarships require documentation of all
activities in the high school year. CAS requires you to
do the same, so many students have the scholarship
criteria completed, and documented within the CAS
program .
 By the end of the grade 11 year many students have
all the hours and more, and continue to improve and
document, making for strong scholarship applications
in grade 12