IB Diploma - Doha British School€¦ · of the International Baccalaureate IB students are encouraged, ... concluding interview ... 6 IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME GUIDE www ...

‘Lifelong learners contributing to a global community’

IB DiplomaPROGRAMME GUIDE

2 3IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE www.dohabritishschool.com www.dohabritishschool.com IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE

DBS Sixth Form

students enjoy the

demanding nature

of the International

Baccalaureate

IB students are

encouraged, through

CAS to assist in all

areas of the school

WELCOME TO THE SIXTH FORM AT DOHA BRITISH SCHOOL HOW DOES THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME COMPARE TO A-LEVELS?

WHY CHOOSE THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DIPLOMA

DBS is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and, as such has been authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme since September 2010. The DBS commitment to a high quality, challenging, international education has shaped our decision to offer this programme.

It is a broad but challenging programme which provides excellent preparation for university education and life after full-time education. Many students, potential employers and universities find its breadth particularly appealing.

IB students are valued for their academic standards; however, just as important is their international-mindedness, their willingness to

think and reflect critically on their experiences and their commitment to extracurricular activities.

We hope the DBS Sixth Form will be a successful period of transition between the more structured years of schooling in Years 7 – 11 and further education, or the world of work, where adult responsibilities and greater freedom prevail. As such we are trying to build an ethos of mutual respect and cooperation, which underpins our aims and expectations.

We hope that students make the most of their opportunities in the Sixth Form so that they can think carefully about their future plans and careers. We aim to support students in realising their personal

“IB is best suited to preparing pupils for study at the very highest level providing them with the intellectual breadth, depth and skills needed for employment beyond university.”

OAKES & SELDON (2011)

TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION

Life in the 21st century, in an interconnected, globalized world, requires critical-thinking skills and a sense of international mindedness, something that International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme (IBDP) students come to know and appreciate.

Employers are increasingly demanding graduates who are adaptable and who are able to

conduct themselves positively in a dynamic workplace. This has resulted in many schools adopting new curricula in order to meet these challenges. One such curriculum is the International Baccalaureate (IB).

The IB’s mission statement is to deliver a global education, which provides students with a wide range of skills alongside a deep understanding and acceptance of the

Whilst comparisons can be drawn between the IBDP and A-Levels the two systems should be regarded as separate and quite distinct programmes.

Like A-Levels, the IBDP is a prestigious international pre-university qualification that has been recognised by universities and governments throughout the world.

Students receive a grade for each individual subject that they study (from 1 to 7).

The IBDP is, however, a PROGRAMME of study. This means that all of the grades count towards the final, single award of an IB Diploma, for which the pass mark is 24 points.

This actually works in favour of

students who may have struggled to gain ‘C’ or ‘D’ grades at A-Level, as the combination of results means that they can still gain the overall Diploma. In addition, at the heart of the IBDP, delivered through CAS, TOK and the extended essay, lies the

and professional ambitions and enable them to reach the goals that they set themselves. To that end we encourage students not only to study hard but also to become as involved as possible in the running of the school through our CAS programme, through positions of responsibility and by assisting students lower down the school. We hope students will be excellent role-models for younger members of the school.

Our dedicated staff is determined to continue working hard to support our students. It is important that students commit themselves whole-heartedly to all aspects of school life so that DBS Sixth Form will be an enriching and happy experience.

TERRY McGUIRE, PRINCIPAL

shared values in a global society Recent research by the Higher

Education Statistics Agency on behalf of the International Baccalaureate Organisation provides evidence of the benefits of an IB education: 19 per cent of students who took the Diploma achieved first-class honours degrees compared with 14.5 per cent who sat A levels or equivalent qualifications.

The IBDP is a broad but challenging programme which provides excellent preparation for university education and life in the real world. Like most pre-university courses offered by other schools, students will need to have achieved a minimum standard in order to take the Diploma. The DBS admissions requirement is at

least 6 IGCSEs (or their equivalent) at grades A* – C (including English and Maths). For Higher Level Maths students should achieve an A* at IGCSE, for Standard Level an A and for Maths Studies a B.

In addition to this, students will be expected to have demonstrated a large degree of organisation skills

and self-motivation as, without these qualities, they are unlikely to succeed on the diploma. DBS requires that students obtain:• For Higher Level options grade

‘B’ or above at IGCSE.• For Standard Level options grade

‘C’ or above at IGCSE.

desire to develop the fundamental life skills and values that students will need to become ‘Ethical Leaders’ of the global society in which we live.

4 5IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE www.dohabritishschool.com www.dohabritishschool.com IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE

PROGRAMME MODEL The curriculum is modelled by a hexagon with six academic areas surrounding the three core requirements.

Over the course of the two-year programme, students study six subjects chosen from six subject groups:

• Three of the six subjects are studied at Higher Level (HL)

• Three subjects are studied at Standard Level (SL)

PLUS

Three core requirements:• Extended Essay (EE)• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)• Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) 

1. THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK)

The interdisciplinary TOK course is designed to develop a coherent approach to learning that transcends and unifies the academic areas and encourages appreciation of other cultural perspectives.

The theory of knowledge course is, in part, intended to encourage students to reflect on the huge cultural shifts worldwide around the digital revolution and the information economy.

The extent and impact of the changes vary greatly in different parts of the world, but everywhere their implications for knowledge are profound.

TOK activities and discussions aim to help students discover and express their views on knowledge issues. The course encourages students to share ideas with others and to listen and learn from what others think.

2. THE EXTENDED ESSAY

The extended essay offers the opportunity for IB students to investigate a topic of special interest, usually related to one of the student’s six Diploma subjects.

It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity

– resulting in approximately 40 hours of work.

It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research on a topic of their choice, under the guidance of a supervisor.

This leads to a piece of formally presented, structured piece of writing of no more that 4,000 words, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject. Students follow the completion of the written essay with a short, concluding interview – viva voce – with their supervisor.

3. CREATIVITY, ACTION AND

SERVICE

Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) is fundamental to the students’ IB experience. CAS requires students to take seriously the importance of life outside the academic world. Students must complete 150 hours of CAS over the programme. This forces students to take on new challenges and work outside their comfort zone to promote individual growth.

Students must create a balanced programme of activities with a combination of creative, active and service pursuits that take place within school or the local community.

THE THREE CORE REQUIREMENTS HOW IS THE IBDP STRUCTURED?

“IB students are terrific learners. They’re inquisitive and don’t just question what they’re learning, but why.”

MARTHA PIPER, FORMER PRESIDENT,

UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,

CANADA

THE IB COURSE (CERTIFICATE)Students studying the IB Course must choose a minimum of 4 subjects, which can be studied at Standard or Higher Level. Students will follow their course for 2 years and will be examined in exactly the same way as IBDP students; sitting the examinations in May of the second year. Essentially, Course students follow exactly the same curriculum where exams and internal assessments are the same. They will also be required to complete 150 Creativity, Action and Service hours. Students can also choose to complete the Extended Essay and could receive additional points for doing so. The minimum entry criteria for the Course, will be 4 (I)GCSEs at C or above (including English and Mathematics).

creativity, action, service

theo

ry o

f knowledge extended essay

6 7IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE www.dohabritishschool.com www.dohabritishschool.com IB DIPLOMA – PROGRAMME GUIDE

TAILORING YOUR DIPLOMA

In addition to the three Core Requirements, in order to achieve the full IB Diploma students must take one subject from each group below; three subjects at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL—this includes Ab Initio for foreign languages).

HOW IS THE IB PROGRAMME STRUCTURED? (CONTINUED)

IB programmes engage students in an international education that provokes a greater acceptance and understanding of the world around them.

CAROL BELLAMY, CHAIR OF THE IB

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

COURSEWORK AND

EXAMINATIONS

The IB Diploma Programme is no different to any other pre-university programme in that students are assessed through a combination of coursework and external examinations. The examinations take place in May of Year 13.

There is a maximum total examination time of five hours for Higher Level subjects and three for Standard Level.

All subject areas will also contain a coursework component, the weighting of which are as follows:

To achieve the IB Diploma students must have one subject from each group below. Three subjects must be at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL).

All subjects are offered at HL and SL unless stated.All courses will run subject to demand

Group 1Languages

& Literature

Group 2Language

Acquisition

Group 3Individuals & Societies

Group 4Experimental

Services

Group 5Mathematics

Group 6The Arts

& Electives *

English A English B Business & Management

Biology Mathematics Music

Arabic A Arabic B Geography Chemistry Mathematics Studies (SL)

Visual Arts

Mother tongue language

self-taught (SL)French B History Physics Business &

Management *

Spanish B ITGS Design & Technology

Physics *

Spanish/French/Arabic (SL)

Ab Initio*

Environmental Systems & Societies

(SL)

Chemistry *

Group Subject Proportion of Internal Assessment Coursework

HL SL

Group 1Languages & Literature A

EnglishArabic

30% 30%

30% 30%

Group 2Language Acquisition B

EnglishArabicFrench SpanishLanguages Ab Initio

30% 30%30%30%N/A

30% 30%30%30%25%

Group 3Individuals & Socities

Business & Management 25% 25%

Geography 20% 25%

History 20% 25%

ITGS 20% 30%

Group 4Experimental Sciences

Biology 20% 20%

Chemistry 20% 20%

Physics 20% 20%

Design Technology 40% 40%

Environmental Systems & Societies

N/A 20%

Group 5Mathematics 20% 20%

Group 6The Arts

Music 50% 50%

Visual Arts 40% 40%

For detailed information on each of the

subjects we offer please visit our website:

www.dohabritishschool.com