What is IB?
IB is short for International Baccalaureate, an international programme that leads to an
international diploma accepted by universities world wide. IB was created in 1968 and is
designed for highly motivated students. More than 900 schools all over the world offer the IB diploma programme.
Students undertaking the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme are well prepared
for university work. They are accepted by universities in more than 110 countries. Students
from different countries are able to transfer from one IB
school to another.
In IB, six subjects are studied. These are divided into six groups. At least 3 and not more
than 4 subjects are studied at higher level (HL) with 240 teaching hours and the remaining
subjects are studied at standard level (SL) with 150 teaching hours.
The six groups are:
Group 1 - language A1
Swedish or English
Group 2 – second
language
English, French, Spanish etc.
Group 3 - individuals and societies
Subjects such as economics, geography, history, philosophy, psychology, etc.
Group 4 – experimental sciences
Subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics, environmental systems, etc.
Group 5 –
mathematics and computer science
Group 6 – Elective
Any subject from group
2,
3 or 4.
If you want to study medecine or dentistry, it is possible to study 7 subjects (for an example, you can choose Chemistry as your group 4 subject, Physics as your group 6 subject and Biology as your seventh subject), but this is usually not recommended as it will be very demanding for the student. The seventh subject won't appear on the diploma that students receive after IB, it will be given as a certificate in that specific subject.
In IB you have to write an Extended essay, a piece of research work that is written outside of classhours and that contains about 4000 words.The extended essay is supervised by a teacher at school and is externally assessed.
IB students will follow a course of TOK, Theory of knowledge. TOK is unique to the IB programme and it encourages critical reflections and analysis of knowledge acquired inside and outside the classroom. TOK is assessed through an essay and an oral presentation.
IB students will also have to participate in at least 150 hours of extra curriculum activities, CAS. CAS is short for Creativity, Action and Service.
The diploma
At the end of the two years IB, students will have an examination period. Students are graded
on a scale of 1- 7 in every subject, 1 being the minimum and 7 the maximum. Approximately 25% of the final grades are set by the teachers, and 75% by external examinators (based on the exams). Students can earn a maximum grade of 45 points (42 from the 6 subjects and 3 points from the extended essay and the work done in Theory of knowledge). The diploma will only be awarded to students with a total score that equals or exceeds 24 points and that have finished 150 hours of CAS, done the work in TOK and submitted an extended essay.
When applying to Swedish university, 24 points= 3,0 and 38 points= 5,0.
Why IB?
IB is gives you the freedom to choose the subjects you wish to study. You can choose the
level at which you want to study. In HL subjects you go much deeper into the subjects than
the traditional programmes usually do. You study fewer subjects but at a greater depth.
The HL extension to the courses are often at university level and this makes university studies easier once you’ve finished the programme.
You will be well prepared for university.It will be easier to study abroad. If you choose to study one of your IB years abroad, you can easily transfer to another IB school without having to re-do one year.You will be surrounded by motivated and intellectual people and this will increase your motivation and make you a dedicated student!
For more information, go to: www.ibo.org
Written by: IB Genius