International
Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme
Brooke Point High School
An IB World School
The Mission of the IB
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The International Baccalaureate aims to develop
inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who
help to create a better and more peaceful world through
intercultural understanding and respect.
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To this end the IB works with schools, governments and
international organizations to develop challenging
programs of international education and rigorous
assessment.
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These programs encourage students across the world to
become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who
understand that other people, with their differences, can
also be right.
www.ibo.org
What is the IB Diploma Programme
(IB DP)?
“Education for a better world.”
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It is a rigorous liberal-arts program that leads to
exams in six different subject areas.
The program offers a balanced, inquiry-based
curriculum noted for its depth and international
perspective.
Beyond completing the courses, students are
required to engage in community service,
individual research, and an inquiry into the
nature of knowledge.
Growth and Development of
the IB Diploma Programme
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Began in 1968 in Europe
First programs in the U.S. in the early 70s
Currently 668 Diploma Programme
schools in the U.S.
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818 in North America and the Caribbean
2,013 worldwide
IB Learner Profile
IB learners strive to be:
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Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
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Open-minded
Caring
Risk-takers
Balanced
Reflective
IB programmes promote the education of the whole
person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and
social growth through all domains of knowledge.
www.ibo.org
What makes IB special?
Students are encouraged to:
 ask challenging questions
 work hard
 learn how to learn
 develop a strong sense of their own identity and
culture
 develop the ability to communicate with and
understand people from other countries and
cultures
 become independent, self-motivated learners.
International-Mindedness
in IB
The IB DP:
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develops citizens of the world by focusing on
cultural perspectives, language, and learning
to live together
builds and reinforces a sense of identity and
cultural awareness
fosters recognition and development of
universal human values
What universities say about IB:
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The College of William and Mary :
The International Baccalaureate program is extremely
rigorous, the best possible preparation for both college
work and life in the twenty-first century.
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Dr. Eugene Carson of Virginia Tech states:
IB students who attended [Virginia Tech] as freshmen
significantly outperformed all other freshmen, including
students who had taken Advanced Placement courses.
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The Admissions Director of Harvard states:
GPA is not nearly as important a factor in university
admission as the IB Diploma. If a student has to choose,
choose the Diploma over protecting the GPA.
http://internationalcounselor.org/College%20program/ib_and_college_admissions.htm#views
The Full IB Diploma
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The IB Diploma is a comprehensive, twoyear liberal-arts program of study aimed at
developing global citizens and lifelong
learners.
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IB Diploma graduates earn a nationally
and internationally recognized diploma in
addition to their advanced studies
diploma.
The IB Diploma Hexagon
A Typical IB Diploma
SIX IB courses*, ONE from each subject
group:
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Group 1, English
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Group 2, World Language
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Group 3, Individuals and Societies
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Group 4, Experimental Sciences
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Group 5, Mathematics
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Group 6, Arts
PLUS
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Completion of the IB DP Core:
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Theory of Knowledge course
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Extended Essay
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150 Creativity, Action, and Service
hours
PLUS – at least two regular BP electives
*MOST IB courses span TWO YEARS (11th and 12th grade).
BP IB Diploma Courses
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Group 1, Language A1 Group 2, World Language -
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Group 3, Individuals –
and Societies
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Group 4, Experimental –
Sciences
Group 5, Mathematics –
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Group 6, The Arts –
IB English
IB Latin, IB French,
IB German, or IB Spanish
IB History,
IB Anthropology,
or IB Psychology
IB Biology
or IB Chemistry
IB Math Studies
or IB Mathematics
IB Visual Art, IB Theatre, or
IB Music Theory /History/
Composition
IB Diploma Core
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Theory of
Knowledge
Extended Essay
Creativity, Action,
and Service (CAS)
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
ToK -Theory of Knowledge
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Inquire into the “ways of knowing”
 What does it mean to know something?
 Does the perception of what is TRUE change with
different cultures?
 Do people with different cultural or linguistic
backgrounds live, in some sense, in different worlds?
ToK is an interdisciplinary course intended to stimulate
critical reflection on knowledge and experience gained
both inside and outside the classroom and on the
connections between them.
Only Full IB Diploma candidates and Blackhawk Scholars
are eligible to take ToK.
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
EE – Extended Essay
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Independent research essay
Approximately 4,000 words (~16 pages typed, doublespaced)
Topic chosen by student in one of more than 20 prescribed
subjects
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For example: politics, engineering, history, archeology, painting
or sculpture, physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology,
world religions, world cultures, etc.
Student works with a supervisor
Sample topics from actual student essays:
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“Gait compensations in students with pronounced leg-length
discrepancy” (Biology)
“Hip-Hop Culture: The Modern Form of Slavery,” (Politics)
“Exposing Vermeer: His Use of the Camera Obscura to Perfect
His Paintings” (Visual Art)
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
CAS – Creativity, Action, Service
“...if you believe in something, you must not just think or talk or write, but
must act.”
- Peterson (2003)
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CAS is designed to “challenge and extend the individual student to
develop a spirit of discovery and self-reliance… to inspire an
awareness, concern and responsibility to serve the community…”
Diploma students must complete and document at least 150 hours.
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Creativity – arts, designing and implementing service projects
Action – team sports, expeditions, local and international projects
Service – community and global social service activities
Preparing for IB Courses –
Full IB Diploma or Individual IB Courses
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IB courses are taken during the junior and senior
years.
In preparation, 9th- and 10th-grade students should
take honors and advanced courses in the
appropriate subjects.
It is recommended that students desiring the full IB
diploma have taken at least one level of world
language and at least Algebra I in 8th grade.
 If this is not the case, s/he may still pursue the
diploma, but the course sequence may have to
be different. Block scheduling allows for some
flexibility if necessary.
Preparing for IB Courses
In 8th grade:
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Find out about IB courses and full diploma
requirements.
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IB Info Night
IB page on BP’s website
Talk to Ms. Stemple (213) and counselor
www.ibo.org
Register for appropriate advanced and honors courses
for 9th grade.
Fill out an IB application (available online) and turn it
in to Ms. Stemple at BP by April 1.
Preparing for IB Courses
In 9th and 10th grades:
 “IB-Prep Years”: Continue to take advanced
and honors courses to prepare for the content
and challenge of IB.
 Monitor progress; modify IB goals as needed.
 Students fill out an IB intent / scheduling form
when they register for 11th-grade classes.
*IB courses are taken in 11th and 12th grades.*
Typical IB DP Candidate Schedule
Freshman Year
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Honors English 9
World Language Level II
Honors World History II or AP World History
Honors Biology
Geometry, Advanced Geometry, or Algebra II
Visual Art I or Drama I, or Free Elective
Health/PE 9
Free Elective (Honors Earth Science? Music?
Keyboarding? Technical Drawing? Etc.)
Typical IB DP Candidate Schedule
Sophomore Year
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Honors English 10
World Language Level III
Government or AP Government
Honors Chemistry
Algebra II, Advanced Algebra II, Math Analysis,
Statistics, or Algebra III
Visual Art II or Drama II, or Elective
Health/PE 10
Free Elective (Physics? Music? Design Multimedia?
Photojournalism? Oral Communications? Etc.)
Typical IB DP Candidate Schedule
Junior Year
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IB English HL (first year)
IB Language (first year)
IB History HL (first year): History of the Americas
IB Biology HL or IB Chemistry SL (first year)
IB Math Studies SL OR IB Mathematics SL (first year)
IB Visual Art SL or HL, IB Theatre Art SL, IB Music
Theory, OR IB Elective from Groups 1-5 [IB Chemistry,
IB Anthropology, or IB Psychology] (first year)
ToK course, accumulate CAS hours, begin Extended Essay
groundwork
Free Elective (AP Environmental? Creative Writing?
Journalism? Business Law? Programming? Music? Etc.)
Typical IB DP Candidate Schedule
Senior Year
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IB English HL (second year)
IB Language (second year)
IB History HL (second year): Topics of the 20th Century
IB Biology HL or Chemistry SL (second year)
IB Math Studies SL OR IB Mathematics SL (second year)
IB Visual Art SL or HL, IB Theatre Art SL, IB Music Theory,
OR IB Elective from Groups 1-5 [IB Chemistry, IB
Anthropology, or IB Psychology] (second year)
Continue ToK, finish CAS hours, finish Extended Essay
Free Elective (AP Calculus? Marketing? Tech Drawing?
Independent Study? Music? Psychology? Etc.)
IB Assessment
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Students complete internal assessment tasks in the
school, which are internally marked by teachers and
then moderated by external examiners.
Students take written examinations (external
assessments) at the end of each course, marked by
external IB examiners.
Marks range from 1-7.
Assessment is criterion-based rather than
performance-based. The range of scores has
remained consistent over time.
Universities value the rigor and consistency of the
Diploma Programme assessment practice.
IB Certificate Option for Students
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Students may take IB courses individually to challenge
themselves in areas of strength or interest if they do not
choose to pursue the full diploma.
These students participate in all assessments for the
course – internal and external. If they receive at least a 4
on a 7-point scale on the final external assessment
examination, they may receive an IB certificate for that
course. This may earn them college credit at most
colleges and universities, similar to receiving a 3 on an
AP test.
The certificate option is open to all students who want a
challenge in specific subject areas, similar to AP courses.
Blackhawk Scholars
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Students may earn Blackhawk Scholar
recognition at BPHS by:
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completing and passing at least FOUR IB
courses, and all requisite assessments
completing and passing the Theory of
Knowledge course
planning, implementing, documenting, and
reflecting on at least 75 CAS hours
What goes on in a typical IB classroom?
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Student-centered discussion
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Socratic Seminar
Student-generated inquiry
Whole-class instruction
Critical thinking and writing
Problem-based learning
Simulations and investigations
Collaborative activities and project
development
Why IB?
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The certificate element of the program will allow our
students to take IB courses in any of the six subject areas,
even if they do not choose to be a diploma candidate.
Thus, IB combines the interdisciplinary aspects of CGS
with more flexible options for challenging students in
their diverse areas of strength.
Our students who wish to do so can pursue the diploma
here at Brooke Point rather than traveling to another
school.
IB courses can earn students college credit; awarded
credit is determined by individual colleges and
universities.
Why IB?
“Once I began International Baccalaureate classes I was …
encouraged to ask more questions and think for myself.
We weren’t being taught just for standardized tests, we
were being taught because learning is what makes a
person grow mentally, and teachers are finally allowed
to actually teach and explain and encourage questions
and debates. One day it struck me that I can actually
have an opinion different from the standard as long as I
can back it up with evidence and a good argument.
That is the most valuable thing I learned in IB, how to
learn.”
~Kristi Huckabone,
IB Diploma graduate
MVHS, 2008
Why IB?
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Students don’t have to be brilliant to succeed in IB;
they simply must be willing to work hard, to open
their minds, to take risks, to think, and to act on
their thinking.
The IB curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity
and inquiry in order to cultivate students’ spirit of
discovery and enjoyment of learning – it focuses on
educating the whole person.
Research has proven that the intensity and quality of
curriculum in high school is the single greatest
indicator in terms of completion of a bachelor’s
degree in college, far outweighing the GPA.
Is there life outside IB?
IB courses require a true commitment to learning and
challenging work; however…
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Other kids will be taking these courses with you;
support each other!
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Teachers will also work together to help you.
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Good time management makes a life outside of
schoolwork definitely possible.
Sources
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Evans, Rosemary. International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program at
Branksome Hall. August 2008.
Watts, Sue. IB at Mountain View.
February 2008.
www.ibo.org
Contact Emails
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Julie Stemple, IB Coordinator Designate
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stempleje@staffordschools.net
Wendy Payne, Principal
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wpayne@staffordschools.net
Revised 1.19.10
CGS or IB?
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CGS graduates earn a
seal on their advanced
studies diploma for
local and state
recognition
CGS is a four-year
sequentially prescribed
program
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IB Diploma graduates
earn a nationally and
internationally recognized
diploma in addition to
their advanced studies
diploma
IB is a coordinated fouryear effort, tailored to a
student’s interests
CGS or IB?
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CGS students
participate in AP study
of four subject areas
CGS students take
classes in a small
community of learners
CGS students may elect
to take the AP exams
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IB full diploma students
must participate in six
subject areas
IB students take classes
with a larger student
population
IB students must take
the IB exams
CGS or IB?
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CGS is located at CFHS
or NSHS; students must
travel
Yearly culminating
activity involving
research and
presentation
CGS students are
required to take all
prescribed courses
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IB is in-house, no travel
required
Extended Essay, CAS,
ToK
Not all or nothing,
students can opt to
pursue individual IB
certificates OR be an IB
Diploma candidate