IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) – Age 16-19

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. It has been designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students. The programme has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities.

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) prepares students for effective participation in a rapidly evolving and increasingly global society as they:

• Develop physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.
• Acquire breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding, studying courses from six subject groups.
• Develop the skills and a positive attitude towards learning that will prepare them for higher education
• Study at least two languages and increase understanding of cultures, including their own.
• Make connections across traditional academic disciplines and explore the nature of knowledge through the programme’s unique theory of knowledge course.
• Undertake in-depth research into an area of interest through the lens of one or more academic disciplines in the extended essay.
• Enhance their personal and interpersonal development through creativity, action and service.

The DP Core

• The Extended Essay (EE): students engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. The world studies extended essay option allows students to focus on a topic of global significance which they examine through the lens of at least two DP subjects.
• Theory of Knowledge (ToK): develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Action seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Service with the community offers a vehicle for a new learning with academic value. The three strands of CAS enhance students’ personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable journeys of self-discovery.

The DP Curriculum

IB Diploma Programme students must choose one subject from each of the five groups (1 to 5), ensuring breadth of knowledge and understanding in their best language, additional language(s), the social sciences, the experimental sciences and mathematics. Students may choose either an arts subject from group 6, or a second subject from groups 1 to 5.

At least three and not more than four subjects are taken at higher level (240 teaching hours), while the other subjects are taken at standard level (150 teaching hours). Students can study and take examinations, in English, French or Spanish.

In addition to disciplinary and interdisciplinary study, the Diploma Programme features three core elements that broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.