International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

The IB programme began in the mid-1960s in international schools to enable the children of expatriates to attend university in their home country. Its founders also hoped that it would foster tolerance and inter-cultural understanding between young people. It has since grown to involve about 1,000 schools in 110 countries.

The IB diploma is accepted as a university entrance qualification around the world and is particularly welcomed by prestigious institutions like Cambridge and Oxford in the UK or Harvard and Princeton in the US. Many universities offer advanced placement or course credit to students with strong IB results. All of Singapore's universities accept the IB diploma as an entrance qualification. Singapore Management University offers advanced credit for strong results at Higher Level. A full list can be found at www.ibo.org in the University Recognition Policies section.

The IB Diploma is designed to be attainable by those with the potential to obtain a university degree. However, students should be under no illusion about the demands of the programme. It requires serious commitment and good time-management if the full benefits – in academic development and personal growth – are to be gained. Those who fully engage in the course will find it challenging, stimulating and rewarding.

Curriculum Structure

The IB steers a middle course between narrow, highly specialised programmes such as the GCE 'A' levels and those which require study in many subjects to the detriment of the depth of inquiry. The course structure is represented by a diagram (see below).

Diploma candidates must select one subject from each of the six groups. Usually three are taken at higher level (HL), the others at standard level (SL); HL courses represent a recommended minimum of 240 teaching hours, SL courses cover 150 hours.

Students are thus able to explore some subjects in depth and others more broadly, a deliberate compromise between the early specialisation of some national systems and the breadth found in others. The science-oriented student is challenged to learn a foreign language and the natural linguist becomes familiar with laboratory procedures.

Active citizenship and global perspectives are encouraged in each area of the curriculum.

In addition to the subject structure outlined above, there are three requirements at the heart of the IB not commonly found elsewhere.


The Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is an 'interdisciplinary course intended to stimulate critical reflection upon the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom' (IBO). It is a key element in the educational philosophy of the IB, seeking to transcend and unify the academic subjects and encourage appreciation of other cultural perspectives.

CAS – Creativity, Action and Service is required of all students undertaking the IB. There is an expectation that 150 hours over the two years, evenly distributed over the three areas, will be given. It is not essential that the time is evenly applied over the two years – some projects may lend themselves to concentrated applications at particular times. The IBO sees service to the community (local, national or international) as a complement to intellectual development and the academic curriculum.

Finally, students undertake original research and write an Extended Essay of 4,000 words on an area of special interest in any one of the subject areas, this essay task introduces them to the kind of independent research and writing skills expected at any university.

We will expect students to select their topic towards the end of the first IB year and complete the writing task by the end of second term in the second year. Students who wish, and are in a position to travel overseas during the long vacation are encouraged to do so – travel broadens the mind and can be a useful part of any person's education.

Subjects Offered

We intend to offer the following subjects in 2007.

GROUP 1
Language A1		 All students will study English or their 1st Language, either at higher level or standard level.
GROUP 2
Second Language		 Most Singaporeans will study their Mother Tongue. Foreigners may study other langauges including French, German & Spanish.
GROUP 3
Individuals & Societies		 Economics, Geography & History
GROUP 4
Experimental Sciences 		Biology, Chemistry and Physics
GROUP 5
Mathematics		 Mathematics & Mathematics Studies
GROUP 6
The Arts		 Visual Arts and Music

Options:
Students may also take a further subject from Group 3 & 4 instead of Visual Arts.
*Please note that the subjects and combinations of subjects which will be offered finally will depend upon the numbers of students selecting them and the availability of staff to teach them.

Assessment

The modes of assessment in the programme vary. Some assessment is portfolio-based, while essays, practical work and written tests are also part of the system.

Each subject is marked out of 7, with 4 regarded as a pass. Unlike the ranking system used elsewhere, IB Internal Assessment tasks and exams are graded using criterion referencing. This means that the mark awarded depends upon the standard of the individual's work when compared with well-defined levels of achievement which are consistent from one examination to the next. For example, a score of 5 remains 5.

There is no scaling in the IB, in contrast to the process used in some systems where final scores are influenced by one's performance compared to others in that year. The six subjects thus contribute up to 42 points, and another 3 are available depending upon the marks gained for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. An aggregate of 24 out of 45 is required to earn the Diploma, and this aggregate is recognised by universities for entry, along with various other criteria.