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International Baccalaureate |
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We are hosting the Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools Conference in 2010 - click here for more details
The IB Diploma Programme at Kristin
At a glance...
- Kristin was the first authorised IB school in New Zealand and has offered the Diploma Programme since 1989
- Nearly 65% of Kristin students choose the IB Diploma Programme as their course of study in Years 12 and 13. With 113 Diploma candidates registered for examinations in November 2008, Kristin has one of the largest IB cohorts in Australasia
- The Diploma Programme is available to all students entering Year 12 at Kristin providing they have met the relevant subject entry criteria. It is not a programme that is limited to the intellectual elite
- A wide range of subject options are available, with most subjects offered at higher and standard levels. As one of the first schools in the world to be permitted by the IB to offer a number of new 'pilot' courses, Kristin continues to innovate and remain at the forefront of curriculum development
- Kristin has a proud record of success in the Diploma Programme with a pass rate averaging 96% (worldwide 80%) and an average Diploma score of around 34 points (worldwide 29 points). In the past three years, nearly 14% of Kristin students achieved a score of 40 or more points
- Kristin's IB graduates are well-placed to compete favourably for university places both locally and internationally. While many choose to remain in New Zealand for undergraduate study, others are studying overseas, some having been awarded prestigious scholarships, at universities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Cambridge, Stamford and Yale
Key features of the Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme is a broad, balanced and academically challenging programme of education preparing students for success at university and in life beyond. Taught over two years in Years 12 and 13, it has gained a reputation for its rigorous external assessment and is recognised and respected by universities worldwide. The Diploma Programme emphasises critical thinking as well as inter-cultural understanding and respect for others in the global community.
Subject requirements
IB subjects are categorised into six groups covering the major fields of knowledge, as shown in the diagram below.
Students select one subject from each of Groups 1 - 5. The sixth subject may come from Group 6 or be another chosen from Groups 2, 3 or 4. Students study three subjects at 'higher level' and three at 'standard level'.
Where a student's planned tertiary course requires a particular combination of subjects, dispensation may be granted by IBO for the student to complete a non-regular diploma course.
Core Requirements
In addition to their chosen subjects, IB students complete three core requirements which are integral to the programme's philosophy and develop important study and personal skills. These are:
- The Theory of Knowledge, a course designed to encourage students to reflect on the nature of knowledge by examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical)
- The Extended Essay, a 4000-word research project on a topic of the student's choosing, produced under the guidance of a supervisor
- CAS. Through involvement in creativity, action and service , students actively learn from participation in artistic activities, sports, expeditions and service projects outside of the formal curriculum. CAS is expected to occupy in the vicinity of 150 hours over the two years of the programme. A wide range of activities offered within the school community and beyond contribute to CAS hours.
Assessment
The academic subjects are principally assessed by external examinations, which are sat in November of Year 13. All subjects also include a component of internally assessed coursework, typically comprising 20-30% of the overall grade. Samples of internally assessed work are subject to external moderation and marks may be adjusted as a result. In each subject a candidate is graded from 1 (very poor) to 7 (excellent). In addition to this, up to three points are awarded for performance in the Extended Essay and in the Theory of Knowledge. In order to qualify for the Diploma, a candidate must complete all core requirements and have an aggregate of at least 24 points out of the possible 45.
The IB Learner Profile
The IB mission provides a long-term holistic vision of student-centred education that underpins all three IB programmes. It aims to develop learners who strive to be: Inquirers, thinkers, communicators and risk-takers and who are balanced, caring, reflective, knowledgeable, principled and open-minded.
Click here to view The IB Learner Profile
For more information visit the IB website
More information on Kristin's IB Programme can be found by clicking here
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