IBDP Parents Alert: Be familiar with these IB Terms
Congratulations on being an IBDP Parent. Be proud that your kid made it to the toughest pre-university course in the world. Here you kid needs your support to sail this adventurous journey. Be a pillar, be the support system!
Here are some IB terms you should be familiar with:
IB Diploma
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a globally-recognized credential awarded to students who successfully complete all requirements of the two-year IB Diploma Program (DP) as follows:
- Students must complete three higher level (HL) and three standard level (SL) courses
- Students must completer the DP core criteria of TOK, EE and CAS.
- Students must obtain a minimum total score of 24 out of 45 potential points.
The DP Core
In addition to the six subjects’ area, full IB diploma students must complete the three core components:
- Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS),
- Extended Essay (EE), and
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK).
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
A student participates in CAS by completing activities that allow them to expand their learning outside the classroom. The majority of students opt for community service or athletics to complete their CAS requirements, but there are other options as long as the project falls into one of the three categories: creativity, activity, or service.
Students reflect on their experiences and explain how their activities assist them to attain certain learning objectives throughout CAS.
The extended essay is a 4000-word written research project. Students select their own themes, and the completed essays are graded by IB moderators across the world. Students often choose a mentor to assist them in identifying a topic and providing guidance while researching and writing.
TOK is a course in which students debate and evaluate the value, truthfulness, and forms of knowledge. DP students must submit a TOK essay for external assessment.
External Assessment
These examinations or assessments are graded by IB examiners who are well-versed in the subject. External assessments include written IB exams taken by students at the end of a Diploma Programme course, usually in their second year. The external evaluation in certain courses, including film, is a textual analysis. Studio work is evaluated in the visual arts. Read this article for a behind-the-scenes look into IB exams.
Internal Assessment (IA)
An IA is a one-on-one assessment that is usually focused on some subject-related work and is evaluated by the subject teacher using a set of criteria. Along with the requirements, the IB receives samples of the student's work (oral performances, portfolios, lab reports, and essays).
Higher Level (HL)
HL courses are taught over the course of two years and include a thorough examination of the material. When compared to SL, these courses let students go deeper into areas of interest within the field.
Standard Level (SL)
Students in SL courses are exposed to a variety of fields that they might otherwise avoid. With a few exceptions, these courses are planned to be taught across two years. Exams on the SL level are slightly shorter than those on the HL level.
IBDP Scores
IB Assessments, whether HL or SL, are scored on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being the lowest and 7 being the highest level. Despite the fact that many schools and universities refer to IB exam levels as IB exam scores, each of the seven grade levels provides a full analysis of student performance and knowledge.
Learner Profile
The IB learner profile is a collection of characteristics that the organization hopes to instill in its students. International mindedness, inquiry, and contemplation are at the heart of these characteristics. Click here for a complete list of learner profile qualities.
Predicted Grades
These are the predicted DP exam scores for each student in a certain subject, as supplied by teachers.
