International
Baccalaureate
Diploma Programme
Brooke Point High School
An IB World School
What is the IB Diploma Programme
(IB DP)?
“Education for a better world.”
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It is a rigorous, two-year liberal-arts program that leads
to exams in six different subject areas and is aimed at
developing global citizens and life-long learners.
The program offers a balanced, inquiry-based
curriculum noted for its depth, challenge, 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
First program in VA at George Mason High
School in Falls Church in 1981
Currently 717 Diploma Programme schools in
the U.S. and 37 in VA
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.
What goes on
in a typical IB classroom?
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Student-centered discussion
Student-generated inquiry
Whole-class instruction
Critical thinking and writing
Student-designed project development
Problem-based learning
Simulations and investigations
Collaborative activities
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, two-year
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 as they
simultaneously earn an advanced studies
diploma.
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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*courses we hope
English
to add in the next
Group 2, World Language – French, German,
two years
Latin, Spanish
Group 3, Individuals –
History, Anthropology,
and Societies
Psychology
Group 4, Experimental
Biology, Chemistry (Environmental
Sciences –
Systems and Societies*, Physics*)
Group 5, Mathematics –
Math Studies, Mathematics
(Computer Science* )
Group 6, The Arts –
Visual Art,
Theatre, Music
Group 1, Language A1 –
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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Inquiry 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?
Interdisciplinary – stimulates critical reflection on
connections between concepts across all subjects
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
EE – Extended Essay
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Independent research essay
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Student works with a supervisor but guidance is limited
Approximately 4,000 words (~16 pages typed, double-spaced)
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Topic chosen by student in one of more than 20 prescribed
subjects
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For example: politics, design technology, history, painting or sculpture,
physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, world religions, world
cultures, etc.
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
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“...if you believe in something, you must not just think or talk or write,
but must act.”
- Peterson (2003)
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 projects “beyond
school walls”
Action – designing sport and fitness activities, expeditions, local
and international projects
Service – community and global social service activities
A Full IB Diploma Student’s
4-Year Plan
9th & 10th grade ‘pre-IB’
 honors English 9 & 10
 world language II & III
 honors biology & chemistry
 honors/AP World History
 government /AP Gov.
 PE/Health 9 & 10
 advanced algebra or
geometry, math analysis
 fine art 1 & 2
 electives
11th & 12th grade IB
 IB English
 IB world language
 IB experimental science
 IB history
 IB math
 IB fine art or IB elective
 other electives
 ToK (over 2 years)
Combined
 EE (over 2 years)
“IB Block”
 CAS (over 2 years)
IB Assessment
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Students complete internal assessment tasks, which are
internally marked by their IB teachers and then are sent off
to be moderated by external IB examiners.
Students take written examinations (external assessments) at
the end of each course, marked by external IB examiners.
Marks range from 1-7. A 4 is usually considered “passing.”
Assessment is criterion-based rather than performancebased. 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 individual IB courses 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 the 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 a 3 on an AP test.
Cost of IB Exams
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IB charges each student a fee (for final IB course
exam only) – this year’s fee: $96 per exam.
Fee is due in October of the year the exam will be
taken.
Students who qualify for the free or reduced lunch
program may receive reduced or waived IB exam
fees.
Any student may request an installment payment
plan for IB exam fees.
What do I do now?
In 8th grade:
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Take advanced math and a world language.
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 (email or phone) and counselor
www.ibo.org
Register for appropriate advanced and honors courses for 9th
grade.
Fill out IB application (available online) and turn it in to Ms.
Stemple at BP by April 1 to ensure proper sequence of
courses.
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.*
How does IB compare
with AP?
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IB
Recognized internationally
for rigor
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AP
Recognized nationally for
rigor
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Individual courses or full
comprehensive program
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Individual courses only
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IB score based on multiple
assessments over time
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AP score based on one
exam at end of course
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Both internal and external
assessments
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External assessment only
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Process-driven
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Content-driven
How does IB compare
with CGS?
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IB
Recognized internationally
for rigor
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CGS
Recognized statewide for
rigor
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Individual courses or full
comprehensive program
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Comprehensive but no partial
participation
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IB score based on multiple
assessments over time
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Students take AP exams
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Specifically includes field
experiences
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Students travel to CFHS or
NSHS; school-within-aschool
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Both internal and external
assessments; process-driven
Integrated into BP student
body
Do IB courses
earn college credit?
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Awarded credit is determined by individual colleges and
universities.
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Go to www.ibo.org – click on “The IB in…” and click on the
country and university IB credit policy you’re interested in (also in
brochure).
Senate Bill 209 (2010) requires Virginia’s colleges and
universities to have comparable college-credit policies for
both standard and higher-level IB courses and AP courses.
Why IB?
“Once I began International Baccalaureate classes I was …
encouraged to ask more questions and think for myself…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…[T]he most valuable thing I learned in
IB…[was] 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, but
they must be willing to work hard, to open their minds, to
take risks, to think, and to act on their thinking.
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The IB curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity and
inquiry in order to cultivate students’ spirit of discovery in
learning – it focuses on educating the whole person.
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IB’s challenge is worth the risk: Research has shown that
the intensity and quality of coursework in high school is
the single greatest indicator in students’ 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 to
taking on challenging work; however…
 Other kids will be taking these courses with you;
support each other!
 Teachers will also work together to help you.
 Good time management is essential – and 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
Google images
Contact Emails
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Julie Stemple, IB Coordinator
 stempleje@staffordschools.net
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Wendy Payne, Principal
 wpayne@staffordschools.net
Revised 11.1.10