IB Programme

A short guide to the Diploma Programme at BISJ

The IB Diploma programme is a rigorous pre-university course of studies, leading to examinations, that meets the needs of highly motivated secondary school students between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Designed as a comprehensive two-year curriculum that allows its graduates to fulfil requirements of various national education systems, the diploma model is based on the pattern of no single country but incorporates the best elements of many.  The curriculum is displayed in the shape of a hexagon with six academic areas surrounding the core. Subjects are studied concurrently and students are exposed to the two great traditions of learning - the humanities and the sciences.

Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of the six subject groups. At least three and not more than four are taken at higher level (HL), the others at standard level (SL). HL courses represent 240 teaching hours, SL courses cover 150 hours. Students are therefore able to explore some subjects in depth and some more broadly over the two-year period.  These arrangements ensure that a balance is maintained between the different areas of the curriculum, while flexibility in choosing higher level subjects allows the student to pursue areas of personal interest and to meet special requirements for university entrance.

Unique characteristics

The programme offers special features in addition to the traditional strengths of a liberal arts curriculum.

Theory of Knowledge (ToK) is a required interdisciplinary course intended to stimulate critical reflection upon the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom. ToK challenges students to question the bases of knowledge, to be aware of subjective and ideological biases, and to develop a personal mode of thought based on analysis of evidence expressed in rational argument.

Creativity, Action, Service is known by its acronym CAS and is a fundamental part of the diploma curriculum. The CAS requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a refreshing counterbalance to the academic demands of the school programme. Participation in the school's CAS programme encourages students to be involved in sports, artistic pursuits and community service work.

The Extended Essay of some 4000 words offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest and acquaints students with the independent research and writing skills expected at university. There are currently 60 subjects, including more than 35 languages, in which the essay may be written.

The grading system used by the IBO is criterion-referenced. This means that each student's performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement consistent from one examination session to the next. Top grades are simply not awarded "on a curve" to a certain percentage of candidates, but rather reflect attainment of knowledge and skills relative to set standards equally applied to all schools. Validity, reliability and fairness are the watchwords of the IBO's international assessment strategy.