What is International Baccalaureate?
The IB was established in 1968 in Switzerland with
these beliefs:
• The best schools provide a challenging and
comprehensive education
• A proper education crosses disciplinary, cultural,
national, and geographic boundaries
• Students must be equipped to understand and
manage the demands of a complex world
A Holistic Approach The IB wants its students to
• Construct meaning and make sense of the world
• Show compassion to others
• View learning as a lifelong task
• Be articulate when they speak and write
• Address their own emotional, social, and physical needs
• Be active participants in local, national, and global communities
The IB Learner Profile
IB learners strive to be:
• Inquirers
• Knowledgeable
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Principled
• Open-Minded
• Caring
• Risk-Takers
• Balanced
• Reflective
Earning the IB Diploma
• Complete IB coursework in 11th-12th grades
1. English
2. Second language at least through Level IV (Chinese,
French, German, or Spanish)
3. History
4. Science
5. Math
6. Elective (Art, Music, Psychology, or a second science)
• Take a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course
• Research and write the Extended Essay
• Complete CAS (Creativity-Activity-Service) experiences
Hours of Instruction
• Higher Level (HL) = 240 hours (2 years)
• Standard Level (SL) = 150 hours (1 or 2 years)
• Students must take TOK each year, and either
– 3 HL and 3 SL courses, or
– 4 HL and 2 SL courses
Group I: Language & Literature HL
*All IB Diploma candidates take this course
• Students learn about
– Language in cultural context
– Language and mass communication
– Historical, social, and cultural contexts in which texts
are written and received
– Ethical stance and moral values of literary texts
Group II: Second Language Chinese SL, French SL/HL,
German SL, Spanish SL/HL
• The IB requires its students to learn a second
language
• Multilingualism is critical to cultural understanding
• Knowledge of multiple languages
– Enhances global awareness
– Puts the beliefs and customs of others into perspective
– Allows for deeper exploration of Ways of Knowing
Group III: Individuals & Societies
History HL, Psychology SL/HL
*All IB Diploma candidates take History HL
*Psychology SL or HL may be taken as a 6th subject or elective but does not fulfill the AISD social studies requirement.
History HL covers the History of the Americas and 20th Century Topics (causes and effects of wars, authoritarian states, The Cold War).
Psychology helps students understand the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences on human behavior, and helps them develop an appreciation for psychological research.
Group IV: Science Biology SL/HL, Chemistry SL/HL, Physics SL,
Environmental Systems & Societies SL
The IB believes that its Group IV subjects
• Give students tools to interpret what is
happening in the world around them
• Make students critically aware of the ethical
implications of science and technology
• Develop students’ ability to analyze, evaluate,
and synthesize information
Group IV Science Poster Presentation February 1 @ 6PM in the Black Box
Group V: Mathematics
Math Studies SL, Math SL, Math HL
All Group V courses enable students to
• Develop an appreciation of the elegance and power of mathematics
• Cultivate patience and persistence in problem-solving
• Appreciate the contribution of mathematics to other disciplines
• Refine their powers of abstraction and generalization
Group VI: The Arts
Music SL, Visual Arts SL/HL
Group VI subjects enable students to
• Express ideas with confidence and competence
• Develop perceptual and analytical skills
• Recognize their potential as musicians and artists
• Value the diversity of the arts across time, place,
and cultures
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) How do we know what we claim to know?
• 2-year course about critical thinking and the
process of knowing
• Students analyze knowledge claims and explore
knowledge questions
*All IB Diploma candidates have time allotted in
the TOK course to write portions of their
Extended Essay and document CAS experiences
Ways of Knowing
1. Language
2. Sense perception
3. Emotion
4. Reason
5. Imagination
6. Faith
7. Intuition
8. Memory
Areas of Knowledge
1. Mathematics
2. The Natural Sciences
3. The Human Sciences
4. The Arts
5. History
6. Ethics
7. Religious Systems
8. Indigenous Systems
In TOK, Students Explore
The Extended Essay (EE)
• An independent, self-directed piece of research
culminating in a 4,000-word dissertation
• The EE begins in November of 11th grade and
is completed by October of 12th grade.
• Provides practical preparation for undergrad
research
• Supervised by our EE coordinators and an EE
supervisor (teacher of the subject of the EE)
Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS) presented by George Cornelius, Junior CAS Coordinator
CAS strengthens and extends students’ personal
learning through
• Creativity: Exploring ideas leading to an
original or interpretive product/performance
• Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a
healthy lifestyle
• Service: Collaborative engagement with the
community in response to an authentic need
Earning the IB Diploma
• Accrue 24 (out of a possible 45) points from exam scores, TOK, and the EE; complete CAS
• Exams are scored 1-7; 7 is highest
• Coursework is assessed internally and externally
• TOK and the EE can earn 3 bonus points
• Particulars:
– No 1s on any exam
– No more than two 2s
– No more than three 3s
– At least 12 points must come from HL exams
Government and Economics
• Both of these courses are required for graduation
• Government is waived for IB Full Diploma candidates (the curriculum is covered in the HL History class).
• IB Full Diploma candidates must take Economics in the summer; IB Full Diploma candidates can do this at no charge. We typically offer this course face-to-face over 4 days the week after the student completes 11th grade.
What if I only want to take
a few IB courses?
The only IB courses open to all students are:
• IB Art SL/HL
• IB Chemistry SL
• IB Environmental Systems & Societies SL
• IB Chinese, French, German, and Spanish (SL/HL)
• IB Math HL
• IB Math Studies SL
• IB Music SL
IB and College • IB students are accepted into selective institutions
at a 22% higher rate than non-IB students
• Acceptance rate of IB students into Ivy League schools is 3%-13% higher compared to the total population
• IB students start college with the habits of mind necessary for success (work ethic, motivation, time management, help-seeking)
• 65% of IB students matriculate within 4 years (compared to the national average of 35%)
©IGI Services, 2011
The IB Diploma in Texas
SB 111 guarantees that any student with an IB
diploma be awarded at least 24 hours of course-
specific credit for exam scores of 4 and above.
AHS IB Programme Fees
• $125 per exam
• $172 candidate fee (paid by AISD)
• Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch
pay $20 per exam
• Payment plans for exams are available (exam
registration is always in October)
Additional Resources
IB website: www.ibo.org
IB University Policy Index: http://www.ibo.org/university-admission/recognition-of-the-ib-diploma-by-countries-and-universities/
IGI Full Report (source of IB acceptance rates/statistics): http://www.ibo.org/contentassets/12ca22e438df4a65b4c92e42b70b10ea/globaldpdestinationsurveyus.pdf
2016 IB Statistical Bulletin (info about 2016 exams, pass rates, scores awarded, etc.): http://www.ibo.org/contentassets/bc850970f4e54b87828f83c7976a4db6/dp-statistical-bulletin-may-2016-en.pdf