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/-. International Baccalaureate

•. Baccalaureat International

Bachillerato Internacional

"Our experience is that 18diploma graduates are incrediblywell prepared for university success. The program'sinternational flavour, academic rigour and emphasis oninquiry based learning means that 18Diploma students enteruniversity with a global outlook, an excellent work ethic andthe critical thinking skillsto ensure they achieve."

Margaret Fairman,director, Office of Prospective Students and Scholarships,University of Queensland, Australia

Understanding the IB Diploma Programme scoresAn international standard for more than 40 years

For over 40 years, the International Baccalaureate (lB) has been the leader in international education and

in providing high-quality and rigorous assessments to students in nearly 140 countries. The IB'sunique

assessment model ensures a high level of validity and reliability that has resulted in consistent IB diploma

pass rates with no grade inflation over time.

IB assessments are designed to emphasize thedevelopment of higher-order cognitive skills. They arecriterion-related and focus on students' ability to thinkanalytically and critically, to integrate and apply theirlearning, to work collaboratively and to communicatewhat they have learned in writing and orally. Theassessments use varied tasks that evaluate students'abilities in these areas and may include the followingtypes in a standard level or higher level course:

• oral• multiple choice• short answer• portfolio• essay• exhibition• performance• independent research

Most subjects have at least three or four separateassessment components, including both internaland external assessments. Internal assessmentsare administered and marked by IB teachers. The IBteachers' marking is then moderated by the lB. Externalassessments are standardized throughout the worldwith all students sitting for their written examinationsover a three-week period in either Mayor November.

The balance between internal and external assessmentensures that all objectives of the course are adequatelyand appropriately assessed.

"Diploma Programme students are well-rounded, multifaceted, multiskilled andhave studied in depth. They have goodtime-management skills. They scorehigher than students in other nationalsystems, and the IBscore is worldwidethe same measure."

Hrilina Lock, undergraduate admissionsmanager, London School of Economics, UK

Nearly 6,500 trained examiners worldwide are involved indifferent stages of the assessment process, including thedevelopment, marking and moderation of assessments.The moderation process ensures accuracy and allows theIB to monitor the work of examiners.

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The 18 diploma is awarded to students who meet thesubject requirements, receive a minimum score of 24points, and satisfactorily complete the core components,including extended essay, theory of knowledge, andcreativity, action, service. The highest total available fora Diploma Programme student is 45 points. Scores arebased on the grades of 1 to 7 awarded for each of the sixsubjects, for a total of 42 points, and up to 3 additionalpoints for the core components.

Strong standards appliedconsistently around the world formore than 40 yearsThe number of students in the Diploma Programme hasincreased from 2,800 students in 1980 to nearly 120,000now. Over the same period, pass rates have remainedconsistent at around 80%, and the average score on the18 diploma has been 30 points. Less than 1% of studentsreceiving the 18 diploma obtain a score of 45 points.

Grade distributions on the 18 assessments vary bysubject. Students who complete standard level or higherlevel subjects are well prepared for success in thatsubject in university. Only 7% receive the top grade of a7, and more than 50% of all grades fall between 4 and 5.

"IB students and their parents recognizethat they're in a unique program, a veryrigorous program, and it's important for theadmissions office, in particular, to be awareof that difference and to be aware of thatrigour, making sure that our staff is well-informed on the program."

Or Kedra Ishop, vice provost and director ofadmissions, University of Texas at Austin, USA

Pass rate for the 18 Diploma Programme1990 to 2009

100%

80% ~ ••••••• it60%

40%

20%

0%1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Average 18 Diploma point score1990 to 2009

45.00 • •

30.00.. • .•. • • • • • .• •

20.00

10.00

0.001991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Percent distribution of 18 exam grades (1 to 7)May and November 2009

40%

29%

3 4 5 6 7

.-For more information on the 18curriculum and assessment, go online to www.ibo.org/recognition

www.ibo.org

Intemational Baccalaureate, Bacca/sureat International and BachilJerato lntemectonet are registered trademarks of the Intemational Baccalaureate Organization.© International Baccalaureate Organization 2010

Why do universities value 18 students?18students are prepared for academic success.

• IB students are more likely than others to enrol! in and graduate fromselective higher education institutions.*

• Based on their experiences, IB students possess a broader range of skillsthat enhance their ability to adapt and contribute to university life.

• IB students demonstrate a level of emotional and intellectual maturity formanaging the demands of challenging coursework and make meaningfulcontributions.

• They have extensive experience doing independent research andpresenting what they have learned through presentations, papersand other projects.

• They think critically and draw on diverse perspectives that reflect aninternational outlook.

• Participation in the IB Diploma Programme shows that students haveexcelled in multiple and diverse academic challenges and is a strongpredictor for success in university.*

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"We very much value the learning that 18students have hadthrough their Diploma Proqramme; I have personally seen,over the years that I have been in charge of admissions at HKU,that they do not just have an understanding of their subjectareas, but, much more importantly, typically show levels ofcommunication, thinking skills and all-around knowledge thatequip them very well for tertiary education and beyond."

-.lnl.: '.'1-:-••JU.

18analysis of data obtained from the National StUdent ClearingMouse (NSC) for students taking examinationsin May 2000 and May 2001 and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) of NationalCenter for Educatio Statistics. Research reports available at www.ibo.orglresearch/programmevalidation.

IIIB iswell known to us as excellent preparation. Successinan IB programme correlates well with successat Harvard.We are pleased to see the credential of the IB DiplomaProgramme on the transcript."

Marlyn McGrath lewis, assistant dean of admissions,Harvard University, USA

The same high standards of quality anywhere in the worldIB assessments are known for strong reliability and validity in scoring, resultingin consistent IB diploma pass rates for the past 40 years. Whether the school isin Alexandria, USA, or Alexandria, Egypt, the standards and assessments areuniform. Both external and internal assessments are used to evaluate studentsand factor into a students' final grade.