A Diploma in International Baccalaureate (IB) has become a popular qualification nowadays. It is a two-year course for 16 to 19-year-old students. It has gained popularity because of the perfectly designed course. The interested students must have attended an IB School to join the IB Diploma Programme. There is a vast range of resources for students to learn and increase their knowledge. They can undertake different researches and projects throughout their academic years. The students are graded based on their scholastics, activities, and services. The degree is accepted worldwide and can give them an entry to the top universities. Let's get a more in-depth and better understanding of the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Understanding the Course
The IB Diploma course is designed to make students critical thinkers and increase their aptitude. The teachers get specialized training. The education provided to the students is of high-quality and aims at their overall growth. The entire curriculum is designed in such a way that it incorporates the students' ability to conduct independent research and write an extended essay on that, theory courses, extra-curricular activities and service. The development of these skills will prepare them for their future.
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Independent Research and Extended Essay Programme- The topic of the research must be one out of six topics provided. External evaluators will grade the essays out of 36 points, which are later converted into grades. While conducting the research and preparing for the research, students can seek guidance from the faculty. The essay has to be neither too broad nor too short.
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Theory Courses- This includes the theoretical knowledge that students will be getting throughout the course. It requires 100 hours of classroom studies. The students are evaluated based on grades. It is essential to pass the theory course to get an IB Diploma degree. It includes projects, assignments, and other classroom activities.
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Extra-Curricular and Service Activities- Creativity, Activity, and Service requirement (CAS) is also an essential aspect of an IBDP Curriculum. Students need to participate in a minimum of six activities and complete the entire time allotted to CAS for getting good grades in diploma degrees. They need to keep a record of the activities and get it signed by the faculties.
Course Requirement
The course aims at the overall achievement of the students. There are six different topics covered under IBDP:
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Language and literature
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Language building
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Learning about various individuals and society as a whole
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Investigational science
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Mathematics
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Subject related to arts
The students can take all six subjects. There might be a few changes depending on the school, but the main requirement remains the same. The diploma course is divided into two levels: the standard level and the higher level. Both of these require different study hours. The standard level requires 150 hours a year, whereas the higher level requires dedicated 240 study hours annually. In IBDP, the students must opt for three or four subjects as their higher-level subjects while the other subjects will be their standard subjects. The choice is made as per the students' convenience. Other than the regular school exams and school homework, the students need to appear in a year-end examination, which will be evaluated by an external invigilator. The grades will be allotted on a scale of seven.
In a Nutshell
IBDP requires hard work, but it is an excellent course. It gives students a good experience. The certificate is accepted everywhere and gives an added benefit. IBDP is also a good choice for students' careers.
