An IB Education

Presented by Shelly Holmes, AHS IB Coordinator

and the AHS IB Faculty and Students

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 Student Ambassadors

Kareena Chawla Ian Morris

IB Parent Ambassador

Paul Odwesso

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)

It’s not something you DO. It’s something you ARE.

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