ib assessment handbook - sacs connect

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IB Assessment Handbook 2017/2018

IB Diploma Programme Assessment Handbook 2017 – 2018 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction 2 The 6 most important things to know and remember 3 The IBO Mission Statement 4 The Diploma Programme Model 4 Diploma Programme Requirements 5 Conditions for the award of the Diploma 6 Examination Sessions 7 The Diploma Award 8 Incomplete Assessment 8 The IB Learner Profile 9 Assessment during Years 11 and 12 9 School Based Assessment 9 Internal Assessment 12 Late Submission of IB Internal Assessment Tasks 14 The Internal Assessment Mark 15 Failure to submit Internal Assessment requirements 15 External Assessments 15 General Rules 16 Assessment Marks 20 IBDP Examinations 20 Academic Honesty 21 St Andrew’s IB Assessment Calendar 21 School Reports 21 The Grading Scale 22 The Predicted Grade 22 Candidates with Special Educational Needs 23 Release of Results 24 The Option of Repeating a Subject 24 Copyright of Candidates’ Work 25 IB/ATAR Conversion 26 Appendices: 1: IB Learner Profile 2: Illness and Misadventure Form 3: IB Academic Honesty overview 4: Sample IB letter of concern 5. IB Diploma Programme Grade Boundaries STUDENT/PARENT AGREEMENT FORM – to be signed and returned to IB Office please.


INTRODUCTION St Andrew’s Cathedral School has developed an internal IB Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures Document based on the IBO guidelines for assessment of IB Diploma Programme courses. This publication has been compiled in accordance with the documents ‘Diploma Programme Assessment Principles and Practice’ and the ‘Handbook of Procedures’, published by the IBO, various support documents and specific course curriculum requirements. All of these documents are available at the School. This document incorporates information on: • IBO external examinations, which will be conducted at the School in November 2018.

• IBO mandatory internal assessments. These tasks meet specific IBO guidelines and are

externally moderated. A significant proportion of students’ submissions will be required to be sent for moderation.

• Formative Tasks designed by the School to ensure adequate and appropriate

preparation for IB DP exams. These will include: o In-class tasks o Tasks completed outside the class o Examinations conducted: April/May 2017 - Year 11 September 2017 - Year 11 March/April 2018 - Year 12 August/September 2018 Year 12 – Practice Exams

Close reference should also be made to the School’s “Subject Handbook: IB Diploma Programme Courses”.

Sharon Munro Director of Learning: IB Diploma February 2017


THE 6 MOST IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW AND REMEMBER

Detailed information regarding the IB Diploma Programme is presented in this handbook. It is essential that both parents and students read and understand all of this information. Below are the 6 most important points to remember.

1. The IBO rules and regulations contained in the Handbook of Procedures regarding assessment cannot be altered. Students, parents and teachers work within the rules to ensure consistency and fairness to all students.

2. Internal Assessments which count towards your Diploma score can only be done once. All drafts are subject to the restrictions as set out in the subject guide.

3. Students who are absent on the day of the Internal Oral Assessment component must provide a medical certificate on their first day back at school. Situations within a students’ control are not accepted as excuses.

4. All written Internal Assessments must be submitted on the due date. Illness or absence on the due date will not be accepted as students have had a number of months to complete these pieces of work. Non-submission on the day results in an F grade awarded for the component. This will result in no grade being awarded for the subject and level, which will result in no IB Diploma being awarded.

5. Students must complete at least 50% of the assessment for each subject (including an

externally assessable component) to be eligible for the Diploma.

6. IB Diploma students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all Academic Honesty requirements. Students must be familiar with both the Academic Honesty guidelines, as well as the IBO General Regulations for the Diploma Programme.

In the spirit of independent learning, IB students are responsible for ensuring that they are up to date with the requirements and information for their courses. Students should also demonstrate responsibility in catching up on missed work if they have been absent.


THE IBO MISSION STATEMENT The International Baccalaureate (IB) is studied by students and recognised by universities worldwide. It is a holistic international exit credential. The International Baccalaureate Organisation’s mission statement is as follows:

“The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right”.

THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME MODEL


DIPLOMA PROGRAMME REQUIREMENTS Diploma candidates must meet the following requirements: Candidates for the IB Diploma must satisfy assessment requirements in six subjects, each studied over a period of two years, except that not more than two Standard Level courses (excluding languages ab initio and pilot subjects) may be completed in the first year of the programme. These are known as anticipated subjects. The six subjects must be selected from six groups as described in the Handbook of Procedures for the appropriate examination session, at least three and not more than four subjects being offered at Higher Level and the remaining subjects at Standard Level. Students may choose to study another subject from Group 2, 3, or 4, instead of studying a group 6 subject. When choosing Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS) which covers both Groups 3 and 4, students may choose another subject from Group 2, 3, 4 or 6. In addition to the six subjects, candidates for the IB Diploma must: (a) take the course in and submit the required assessment in Theory of Knowledge (TOK), (b) complete the approved programme of Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) activities, (c) complete and submit for assessment an Extended Essay (EE) in a subject available for this

purpose. Work on the essay, which is expected to occupy approximately 40 hours, must be done under the direct supervision of an appropriate EE Supervisor who must be a teacher at the school.

NB: An ‘E’ grade for either the TOK or the Extended Essay will result in an automatic failure, and no IB Diploma will be awarded. Candidates are required to act in a responsible and ethical manner throughout their participation in the Diploma Programme and examinations. Candidates must avoid any form of malpractice. All candidates have a copy of the IBO Academic Honesty Guide, and should make sure they are familiar with this document.


CONDITIONS FOR THE AWARD OF THE IB DIPLOMA

Examiners and moderators are appointed by the IBO to assess candidates’ work in IB examinations and other forms of external assessment using common marking schemes. This external assessment may be complemented by internal assessment through the school’s internal assessment and examination program in order to devise a Predicted Grade. This Predicted Grade is submitted to the IBO and can be used in the case of illness or misadventure. Performance in each of the six IB Diploma subjects is graded on a scale of 1 point (minimum) to 7 points (maximum). A maximum of 3 points is awarded for combined performance in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. These are called ‘core points.’ The maximum total Diploma Programme point score is, therefore, 45. Award of the IB Diploma 13.1 All assessment components for each of the six subjects and the additional Diploma

requirements must be completed in order to qualify for the award of the IB Diploma, except under the conditions stipulated in articles 18 and 19 of these regulations.

13.2 The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate provided all the following requirements have been met.

a. CAS requirements have been met.

b. The candidate’s total points are 24 or more.

c. There is no “N” awarded for Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay or for a contributing subject.

d. There is no grade E awarded for Theory of Knowledge and/or the Extended Essay.

e. There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

f. There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (HL or SL).

g. There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (HL or SL).

h. The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).

i. The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).

j. The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee.

13.3 A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which to satisfy the requirements

for the award of the IB Diploma. The examination sessions need not be consecutive.


IMPORTANT NOTE: Students who receive an E grade in the EE or TOK will not be eligible for the IB Diploma. Attaining an E grade in both the EE and TOK represents an automatic failure. See page 23 for the Diploma Points Matrix which is used to award core points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. EXAMINATION SESSIONS: A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which to satisfy the requirements for the award of the IB Diploma. These sessions can be: November 2018 + 2 extra sessions (May and November 2019) 1 Anticipated subject + November 2018 + 1 extra session (May 2019) If students wish to retake a subject, the examination can be taken here at St Andrew’s Cathedral School.


THE DIPLOMA AWARD Successful IB Diploma candidates will receive an IB Diploma and the document Diploma Results listing the total diploma score, the subject grades, the points awarded for the combination of Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, and the completion of a CAS programme. A Bilingual Diploma will be awarded to a successful candidate who fulfills one or both of the following criteria:

• Completion of two languages selected from Group 1 with the award of grade 3 or higher in both;

• Completion of one of the subjects from Group 3 or 4 in a language that is not the same as the candidate’s nominated group 1 language. The candidate must attain a grade 3 or higher in both the Group 1 language and the subject from Group 3 or 4.

Pilot subjects and interdisciplinary subjects can contribute to the award of a bilingual diploma, provided the above conditions are met. For certain IB projects in Groups 3 and 4, candidates may be permitted to write their examinations and other forms of assessment in languages other than English, French or Spanish. If the conditions above are met, this will lead to the award of a bilingual diploma. The following cannot contribute to the award of a bilingual diploma:

• A school-based syllabus (such as Classical Greek and Roman Studies) • A subject taken by the candidate in addition to the six subjects for the diploma.

INCOMPLETE ASSESSMENT

Incomplete assessment exists when a candidate has not submitted one or more components of the assessment requirements in the subject. This includes any part of the Internal Assessment or Examination Papers. In cases of incomplete assessment in a subject, the final award committee may, at its discretion, award a grade for the subject if both the following circumstances are established:

(a) an acceptable reason is provided by the School for the incomplete assessment being beyond the candidate’s control, such as illness or injury, the death or funeral of a close relative, unavoidable attendance at a hospital or law court and

(b) the candidate has submitted sufficient work, normally leading to at least 50% of the total

marks available in that subject and including an externally assessed component.


If the above conditions are fulfilled, marks for missing component(s) will be calculated using a procedure based on the candidate’s marks for completed components and on the distribution of marks of other candidates in the same subject. Please note: The IBO has, in recent years, not awarded the Diploma in situations where a candidate has not completed at least 50% of the assessment, including an externally marked component regardless of the circumstances.

THE IB LEARNER PROFILE The IB Learner Profile is the IBO mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century. The attributes of the profile express the values inherent to the IB continuum of international education: these are values that should infuse all elements of the Diploma Programme and, therefore, the culture and ethos of all IB World Schools. The Learner Profile provides a long-term vision of education. It is a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose.

The Learner Profile is central to the delivery of the IB Diploma Programme at St Andrew’s and is included in Appendix 1.

ASSESSMENT DURING YEARS 11 AND 12 The key purpose of assessments in the IB Diploma Programme is to support and encourage appropriate student learning. It is both formative in that it develops student’s skills and knowledge, and summative as it provides a summation of student achievement. The IB Diploma Programme uses criteria based referencing to measure how a student’s score compares to a pre-determined distribution of performance. Consistency of standards in Internal Assessment is achieved through carefully defined grade descriptors and appropriate moderation strategies. There are two types of assessments completed by IB students during the school Diploma Programme: Internal Assessment, and school-based assessment.

SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT

School based assessment is used by teachers to indicate how well a student is progressing in a subject. These may be similar to IBO style assessments (eg. tests and research assignments) or may be of an alternate nature (eg. reflection diaries). These assessments, assist teachers in formulating the information required by the IBO. It is a mandatory assessment as it forms the basis for predicted grades in Year 12.


Students are informed of the school based assessments for each subject in the following ways: • IB Assessment Calendar; • Assessment Task notifications for each assessment for each subject.

It is important to take note of the following with regards to school based assessment:

• School based assessment is not optional. Candidates must undertake and complete all requirements for school-based assessments.

• If students fail to submit a School based assessment on the due date without having previously come to an arrangement with the Director of Learning: IB Diploma for an extension, they will still be required to submit the task, but will be awarded no marks for the task.

• It is an expectation that students attend all classes in which they are enrolled unless for appropriate medical reasons or they have prior permission. Students who regularly miss classes compromise their chances of gaining the Diploma.

• Students are required to contact the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, if they will be absent from school-based assessments.

• A medical certificate is required explaining the absence. This should be presented to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma on the first day back at School.

• Technical difficulties or other foreseeable issues such as holidays or school commitments are not acceptable excuses for missing school based assessment deadlines.

• Failing to meet school based assessment requirements may affect students’ chances of gaining the Diploma.

Notice of Assessment This process applies to both school based assessments and IBO Internal Assessments. It is essential that students have a clear understanding of the expectations of the task and that they have the opportunity to develop the skills required to perform well in these assessments. Students will be issued with an Assessment Programme at the beginning of Year 12. The Assessment Programme for each course will outline: - An indication of when each assessment task will take place (usually indicating the week in

which the task will take place); - The nature of each assessment task (e.g. assignment, research project, class essay). For each assessment task in each subject, students will also receive a ‘School Based Assessment Notice’ or an ‘Internal Assessment Notice’ which includes the following information:

- The date and time the task is to be submitted/sat;

- The time allowed for the task if it is an in-class task;


- The outcomes assessed by the task written out in full;

- The nature of the task; eg. assignment, research project, class essay etc;

- The marking criteria used for the task;

- The content, knowledge and skills covered by the task;

- An indication of the length of the task (word limits/time limits) if applicable;

- The Academic Honesty requirements for the task;

- Details of any administrative arrangements associated with the task.

Assessment Tasks will also be available on Schoology. If it is necessary to change the date of an assessment task, students will be given:

- Formal written notification of the change of date that includes:

- The new date of the assessment task;

- Sufficient notice to check for clashes and prepare;

- Notice of extensions to assessment tasks.

Students who miss classes without appropriate reasons or who fail to submit a school-based assessment will receive a warning letter (see Appendix 5) indicating the required areas of improvement. This letter should be returned to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, signed and dated by the parent / guardian of the student. Unacceptable Reasons for Non Attendance At/Late Submission of Assessment Tasks The following are not acceptable reasons for non-attendance at, or late submission of, assessment tasks:

- Any type of computer/printer malfunction (be sure your work is backed up or emailed to school every time you leave the computer, regardless of whether it is finished or not);

- Illness without a medical certificate presented on the first day of return to School;

- Illness with a medical certificate provided by a member of the family;

- Lateness due to minor transport problems (you must allow for variations in time of travel);

- Lateness due to sleeping in;

- Early/late holidays;

- Loss of task;

- An extension/permission to be absent granted by anyone other than the Director of Learning: IB Diploma

Compensation should not be expected during the marking of assessment tasks or upon completion of all tasks for factors including:


- Prolonged illness;

- Long-term domestic problems;

- Holiday trips which affect preparation or performance on a task;

- Computer/printer malfunction. Please note, students must attend school for the full day on the day that an assessment task is due. If a student is absent for a part of the school day and arrives at school to hand in an assessment task later in the day they must have a medical certificate or they may be deemed to have submitted the task late. Submission of Assessment Tasks

All IB assessment tasks will be submitted to the IB Office on BBC Level 3 by 8:30am on the due date. Any task submitted after this time will be considered late. Students will be given an ‘Assessment Task Receipt’ when submitting the task. Extensions for Submission of Assessment Tasks

Extensions for assessment tasks will not normally be granted. Extensions will only be granted for extraordinary circumstances. Illness or other issues in the days immediately prior to the submission of an Assessment Task would not normally be considered. However, if a student has a genuine Illness/Misadventure claim, they should submit a completed Illness/Misadventure Form (Appendix 3) accompanied by supporting evidence such as a Medical Certificate to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma at least 2 school days before the task is due to be submitted. If the appeal is accepted, the Director of Learning: IB Diploma will negotiate a new submission date with the Leader of Learning and class teacher. Even if an extension is granted, a student may be required to submit the work that they have completed to that point on the due date. Penalties for Non Attendance At/Late Submission of Assessment Tasks

Students submitting an assessment task late (with no acceptable reason) will receive zero marks for the task. Assessment tasks awarded a zero score must still be completed to ensure the student is adequately developing the necessary skills required in each subject. Students will receive written feedback on the task.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT Internal Assessment refers to summative mandatory assessments as set out in the Subject Guides which are mandated by the IBO. Internal assessments primarily address those skills and areas of understanding that are less appropriately addressed through external examination papers. Internal assessment is not a tool for monitoring syllabus coverage. It focuses on assessing student learning of particular skills.


• Internal Assessment requirements are completed by students by the school due dates. Internal Assessment due dates are indicated in the School Assessment Calendar, in the Semester Grade Notice, and on an Internal Assessment Notification Sheet.

• The Internal Assessment work is marked by the subject teacher.

• The IBO moderates internal marking by selecting a sample of candidates within each subject. This sample is determined by the IBO and is outside the control of the School. Once candidates are selected, their work must be submitted to the IBO. The size of the sample will vary from 5 to 10 according to the number of candidates entered by the school for that subject and level.

Internal assessment allows for components/tasks to be included in the assessment model which provides evidence of student achievement against objectives that do not lend themselves to external examination. This particularly relates to process skills, as may be demonstrated in such activities as project work, fieldwork, laboratory practical work and mathematical investigations. Major Internal Assessment tasks (IAs), which form part of the final IBDP assessments and are externally moderated or marked, are timetabled by the Director of Learning: IB Diploma in consultation with IB teachers and Leaders of Learning. Some of these tasks may be set in Term 4 of Year 11, while the remainder will occur in Terms 1 – 3 of Year 12.

When scheduling tasks, which will include at least one interim deadline to help students stage their work over the weeks or months required, they are mindful of the demands these tasks will place on students and teachers. The interim and final dates and times for each task will be clearly indicated in the IB Assessment Calendar (a summary schedule of all major Internal Assessment tasks for all subjects will be distributed to students at the end of Term 3 in Year 11 for assessments in Term 4 and Terms 1, 2 and 3 of Year 12) as well as in Semester Grade Notices and Assessment Notifications. A copy of this can be found on Schoology and in the Parent Portal.

If it is necessary to change the final due date of an assessment, written notice will be provided. The date will not generally be made earlier and the weighting of the task in the overall assessment program will not be varied. Students who have concerns regarding the timing of a particular assessment task should consult the relevant Leader of Learning in the first instance and then the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, if further discussion is required.


LATE SUBMISSION OF IB INTERNAL ASSESSMENT TASKS

Interim Deadlines

In normal circumstances, where a student is late submitting an interim component of an IB Internal Assessment task, and the reason is not illness (as outlined on a doctor’s certificate), parents will be immediately informed of the situation by email. A new interim deadline for the component will be set for the student. If the student misses this deadline a formal warning letter (See Appendix 5) will be sent home by the Director of Learning: IB Diploma to the effect that the student is in danger of not completing the task by the final deadline and therefore of not passing the subject and/or meeting requirements to qualify for the Diploma.

Final Deadlines

Students must submit the work for their Internal Assessments by the due date and must provide appropriate supporting documentation if they wish to claim special consideration for an Internal Assessment component. Students with a valid reason should see the Director of Learning: IB Diploma as early as possible. Failure to submit an Internal Assessment task on the final due date, and the reason is not ongoing illness (as outlined in a doctor’s certificate), will result in the work not being accepted by the Director of Learning: IB Diploma for submission to the IBO. The outcome will be that the student will not meet the IBO’s requirements to pass the subject and he/she will therefore not qualify for the award of the Diploma. Students failing to submit Internal Assessment requirements with no valid reason will be awarded an N or F grade and a zero mark for that component. The award of an N grade will prevent a student from gaining the Diploma. The final decision not to submit an IA to the IBO will be made only by the Head of School following recommendations from the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, and the relevant Leader of Learning. Dates for Internal Assessments are spread over the two years of the Diploma Programme. This is reflective of the nature of the Diploma Programme as well as the needs of students. Internal Assessments are set to spread the workload of students, so that everything is not due at the same time. Strict rules regarding the submission of IA drafts are set by the IBO. Students must take into account the following before they start to work on their IA’s (please note that this information can be found in the relevant subject guide):

• How many drafts can be submitted • Who is able to look at the drafts • The role of the teacher / supervisor and the feedback which may be provided.

Oral assessments are completed by all students within a limited timeframe. Students who complete oral assessments outside the set timeframe, is seen as academic malpractice by the IBO. As a result, oral assessment components cannot be completed outside the assessment period other than for medical reasons.


THE INTERNAL ASSESSMENT MARK

For some subjects students may be told their Internal Assessment mark. Students should remember that this mark is subject to moderation by the IBO and may change.

FAILURE TO SUBMIT INTERNAL ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

Students must submit the work for their Internal Assessments by the due date and must provide appropriate supporting documentation if they wish to claim special consideration for an Internal Assessment component. Students failing to submit Internal Assessment requirements with no valid reason will be awarded an N or F grade and a zero mark for that component. The award of an N grade will prevent a student from gaining the Diploma. Students with a valid reason should see the Director of Learning: IB Diploma as soon early as possible.

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTS External Assessments assess breadth of syllabus coverage. These are assessed fully by an examiner and not the candidate’s teacher. These include:

• Formal examinations which will be conducted at the School in November of Year 12.

In most subjects, students undertake multiple examinations. The duration of written examinations is a maximum of five hours in total at Higher Level and three hours at Standard Level. Question types used in examinations include multiple-choice, short response questions, structure problem-solving questions, open-ended problem-solving questions, essay questions, data-analysis questions, case studies and commentaries of supplied texts. The examinations are taken under controlled conditions, with student responses being marked externally by independent examiners.

• Assessment components other than examination scripts may be uploaded or couriered to markers. These include but are not limited to:

• Sample Internal Assessments • Extended Essays • Theory of Knowledge essays • Language A: Literature Written Assignments • Language B and ab initio Written Assignments • Components for Music, Theatre, Visual Arts

The assessment focus for all of these is on the quality of a finished written product which makes them suitable for external assessment.


GENERAL RULES

When an assessment is due to be submitted, it must be handed in to the IB Office no later than 8.30am. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the task is handed directly to the IB Office on BBC Level 3. The school will take no responsibility for assessment tasks that go missing if they have not been handed directly to the IB Office. If it is permitted to submit work via e-mail, the above rules still apply. Assessments that reach the ‘inbox’ of the IB Office after the deadline will not be accepted. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the correct information is e-mailed and that all attachments in a readable format have been included. All teachers’ e-mail addresses have the form: [email protected]. For example, Mrs Munro, Director of Learning: IB Diploma, can be contacted on [email protected] ‘Technical difficulties’ will not be accepted as an excuse for the late submission of an assessment. It is vital that students use an e-mail server that records when messages are sent, in the event that there is a problem with the school e-mail server. The school will not send acknowledgement of the receipt of your e-mail. It is recommended that students use an e-mail server that automatically advises them of their message failing to reach its specified recipient. The school will not be responsible for unreadable, unusable or virus infected files or media. Students who have an assessment task due on the day that an excursion has been scheduled must still meet the published deadline. Inevitably this will mean that students must submit the assessment task prior to leaving on the excursion. If a student has been granted leave from school, and will miss an in-class assessment task as a consequence, it is his/her responsibility to inform the relevant Leader of Learning and ensure that the task is completed prior to the set date. Failure to adhere to this directive will result in a mark of zero being awarded for that particular task, if it is a school based assessment task.

Illness or Misadventure Where illness is provided as a reason for lateness, incompleteness or non-attendance at an assessment task, students must complete the Illness/Misadventure Form (See Appendices 3) available on sacsnet. A doctor’s certificate is required. The certificate must cover the day of the assessment, and any other days prior to the student’s return to school. The certificate must clearly state the nature of the illness. Medical Certificates:

• Must be written by a Medical Practitioner

• Cannot be provided by someone who is a relative of the student or who works with a relative of the student

• Must be written on the day of (or the day/s prior to) the missed task

mailto:[email protected]



• Must not be dated retrospectively

• Must cover the entire period of the student’s absence

• Should indicate the nature of the illness – ‘a medical condition’ will not suffice

• Must clearly indicate that the doctor’s recommendation is that the student is too ill to complete the IB Assessment Task, or, that the student’s illness will have impacted their performance during the task

• Must be submitted to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma on the first day that a student returns to School

Failure to do so will result in late penalties being applied as outlined above. If the assessment was to be completed during class time, the relevant Leader of Learning will arrange for the missed assessment task to be undertaken as soon as possible. Students should assume that missed assessments will be completed on the day they return to school. Illness in the days immediately preceding an assessment task will generally not be taken into account in the marking process. Students are expected to prepare for assessment tasks over time and not rely on last minute preparation. If Students are not at School on the day a Task is to be sat/submitted

Students absent from an assessment task due to illness must:

1. Obtain a medical certificate

2. Advise the School of their absence on the day of the task: - For Semester 1 or 2 Examinations, Practice Examinations or Internal Assessments to be

submitted to the IBO, the Director of Learning: IB Diploma should be contacted; - For all other tasks, phone the Senior College receptionist or the relevant Leader of Learning.

3. Submit an Illness and Misadventure Form along with the original copy of the medical certificate on the first day of return to school to:

- The Director of Learning: IB Diploma for missed Semester 1 or 2 Examinations, Practice Examinations, or Internal Assessments to be submitted to the IBO; and for all other missed assessment tasks. An Illness and Misadventure Appeal accompanied by a Medical Certificate must be sent to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma within one week of the set date of the Assessment Task being sat / submitted even if the student has not returned to school.

4. Submit the assessment task by 8.30am on the first day of return to School.

5. A student needs to contact: - The Director of Learning: IB Diploma for missed Examinations;


- The Leader of Learning for all other missed assessment tasks by Recess on the day of their return to school and sit for the replacement task provided by the relevant Department, as directed as soon as possible after their return to school. Teachers do not need to issue a Notification of assessment task in this event.

In the case of a student being absent on the day of a Group Assessment Task, the group will be required to perform their task on the first day after that on which all group members are present at school, as directed by the Director of Learning: IB Diploma. Tasks will not usually be due on the last day of a school term. However, if a task is due on the last day of term, it must be submitted to the School at the earliest possible time during the holidays, together with a medical certificate covering the entire time up to the day of submission. In these circumstances only may an assessment task be given to the Senior College Receptionist. Attendance at Assessment Tasks

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they are punctual to all in-class assessment tasks. Students who arrive late will be able to commence the task, but they will not receive any additional time in lieu of their late arrival. Sleeping in, or misreading a timetable are not valid excuses for missing an assessment task. Students who fail to attend an assessment task, without medical reasons, will receive a mark of zero on that particular task. Students who arrive late for an assessment task, and who believe that circumstances beyond their control contributed to the lateness should report to the Leader of Learning concerned. The Leader of Learning will determine the appropriate course of action.

Students who commence an in-class assessment task, and are unable to complete it, or who feel that they have underperformed due to illness, must inform the supervisor that they are unwell before the assessment task commences. They must complete the Illness/Misadventure Form. They must obtain a doctor’s certificate following the task. The date on the medical certificate should coincide with that of the assessment task and the nature of the illness should be clearly stated. The rules for medical certificates outlined previously apply. Medical certificates will only be taken into consideration if the student has made the supervisor aware of their illness prior to the start of the assessment task. Similarly, any event beyond the student’s control that may affect their performance in an assessment task (for example, the death of a family member) must be made known to the supervisor prior to the assessment task commencing. In these instances the assessment tasks will be marked as usual. If the mark achieved is significantly below expectations (based on other assessment data and other relevant evidence of the student’s level of achievement), teachers will make note of this in the student’s report, keeping in mind that IB school based assessment is not only for assessment of learning, but is also for the purpose of assessment for learning.

When students have a task scheduled on a particular day, they must not absent themselves from their other timetabled classes on that day (or the previous days) in order to prepare for the task.


In examinations and test based assessments, the following rules apply:

“Calculators, watches, or other electronic devices capable of storing data (including mobile phones) should not be taken into the examination or assessment. Candidates are permitted to use their own silent, non-programmable calculators, but only in accordance with procedures determined in individual subjects. Drawing equipment (including approved Mathaids) may be allowed in particular subjects. No books or papers may be taken into any examination (or test) and pencil cases, calculator covers, drawing equipment, etc. must not carry notes or formulae or instructions.

Candidates must not:

- copy from another candidate or allow their work to be copied by another candidate;

- allow their answers to lie on desks in such a way as to be visible to another candidate (turn them face down) or allow any papers to lie on the floor (including waste paper);

- take out from the examination room any examination answer booklets, whether used or unused;

- talk to or communicate in any form with another candidate.

Breaching any of the rules listed above constitutes malpractice. Students will be found guilty of malpractice and receive a mark of zero on that particular assessment task in the following circumstances:

- possessing notes during an assessment task;

- possessing a mobile phone (even if the phone is switched off).

In cases of suspected malpractice, the student will be required to meet with the Assessment Review Panel. The Panel will be made up of the Head of the Senior College, the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, and the relevant Leader of Learning. The student will be given at least 24 hours’ notice of the meeting and may wish to bring a parent or other appropriate support person. Detailed notes will be taken during the meeting and kept as an official record of the case. The student will be advised of the findings of the panel and the basis for their decision. The student may appeal to the Head of School if they disagree with the decision. The decision of the Head of School will be final.

Non-Serious Attempt

A student identified as making a non-serious attempt at an assessment task will be required to redo the task during a Friday afternoon detention. Their original mark will still be used. Non-serious attempts include frivolous or objectionable material. A non-serious attempt at an assessment task will automatically result in a warning letter being issued.


ASSESSMENT MARKS

Where IB Internal Assessment tasks are marked in the first instance by the class teacher and are then moderated by the IBO, students will not be informed of the school’s mark. The IBO’s moderated marks for IA’s will become available when IB final results are released.

IBDP EXAMINATIONS

Special Provisions

Applications for special IB SEN (Special Educational Needs) provisions may be made via the Director of Learning: IB Diploma, in consultation with Ms Penni Maher, the Head of the Enrichment and Learning Department. The Director of Learning: IB Diploma will then submit a D1 form to the SEN Department at the IBO. The IBO may approve special provisions if a student has a special need that would, in a normal examination situation, prevent him / her from reading and interpreting the examination questions or communicating his / her response. If the application is approved by the IBO, where possible, the school will implement special provisions for school-based assessments. The school will only implement special provisions once they have been approved by the IBO. It is thus vital that students lodge their applications with the Director of Learning: IB Diploma at the earliest opportunity.

Misadventure

Students may lodge an appeal if an illness or misadventure suffered immediately before or during an IB examination has affected their performance. Appeals may be in respect of:

(a) Illness or accident – that is, illness or physical injuries suffered directly by the student which allegedly affected the student’s performance in the examination(s) (e.g. influenza, an asthma attack);

(b) Misadventure – that is, any other event beyond the student’s control which allegedly affected the student’s performance in the examination(s) (e.g. death of a friend or family member, disruption at the test centre).

The decision to submit an illness/misadventure appeal and the responsibility for doing so rests with the student, except where the student is too ill to do so. Students must make the Supervisor aware of their intention to submit an illness/misadventure appeal prior to the commencement of the examination. The Director of Learning: IB Diploma will lodge an appeal in the form of a D2 form before the date shown in the IBDP Handbook of Procedures. Those relating to oral and practical examinations must be submitted within one week of the examination or submission date. Any queries should be referred to the IB Coordinator.

Students should raise any concerns that they have in regard to the school’s assessment processes and procedures with the relevant Leader of Learning (if subject specific) or with the Director of Learning: IB Diploma (if of a general nature).


ACADEMIC HONESTY

Academic Honesty should be based on these foundation stones: respect for others, a regard for the truth and a desire to produce quality authentic work. Students must be familiar with the IBO Academic Honesty guidelines and regulations. These are provided in Appendix 4 of this document. Academic Honesty is frequently discussed and referred to throughout the Diploma Course. Students should be aware of what constitutes academic malpractice, including plagiarism, collusion, duplication, the copying of works and other forms of malpractice. When students receive Internal Assessment notifications or school based assessment notifications, these will note the Academic Honesty requirements for that specific task. Students should ensure that their work is carefully referenced, submit drafts by the due date to receive advice on referencing and submit their work through turnitin.com. Attendance at IB Library sessions and IB meetings, which deal with these issues, is mandatory. Our School Librarians, subject teachers and Extended Essay supervisors are available for support in this area. Students must be familiar with the IBO Academic Honesty guidelines and regulations, as well as the St Andrew’s Cathedral School Academic Honesty procedures. Academic Honesty is frequently discussed and referred to throughout the Diploma Course. Students should ensure that their work is carefully referenced, submit drafts by the due date to receive advice on referencing and submit their work through turnitin.com. Students have not been awarded an IB Diploma for failing to reference their work correctly.

ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL IB ASSESSMENT CALENDAR During Years 11 and 12, students will receive an IB Assessment Calendar, which outlines draft due dates and final due dates of Internal Assessments and External Assessments.

SCHOOL REPORTS

The School formally reports on student progress. IB Diploma reports demonstrate learning which has been assessed against subject specific criteria. School reports in each subject will be based on a combination of Internal Assessments and School-based tasks. The emphasis on the formal Internal Assessments will increase as the student progresses through the two years. IB Reports will include the following information:


• Learning Context: explains the teaching focus in this subject; • Academic Profile: contains learning objectives for each subject; • Work Practices for each subject; • Indicative Grade from 1-7 using school based assessment and Internal Assessments; • Teacher Recommendation.

Please note that the Indicative Grade is not the Predicted Grade. Report grades should give a ‘latest and fullest’ picture of student progress.

THE GRADING SCALE

Final Grading is based on results in Internal Assessments and Final examinations. The proportion of each varies across subjects. Every subject is graded on the following scale:

• Grade 7 Excellent • Grade 6 Very Good • Grade 5 Good • Grade 4 Satisfactory • Grade 3 Mediocre • Grade 2 Poor • Grade 1 Very Poor

Up to an additional three core points may be earned from the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge. A candidate’s performance in each will fall into one of five bands

• Band A Work of an excellent standard • Band B Work of a good standard • Band C Work of a satisfactory standard • Band D Work of a mediocre standard • Band E Work of a poor standard

THE PREDICTED GRADE

The Predicted Grade is the teacher’s prediction of the grade the candidate is expected to achieve in the subject. This is based on all the evidence of the candidate’s work and the teacher’s knowledge of IBO standards. A Predicted Grade requires the teacher to exercise professional judgment to predict the final outcome of the course. Teachers arrive at Predicted Grades with reference to appropriate internal, external and school tasks, including Practice Examinations and to the most recent grade boundaries. An example of


grade boundaries is included in Appendix 6. These grade boundaries change slightly between examination sessions and the exact boundary percentages should not be viewed as absolutes. Predicted Grades are also required for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay, which are predicted on the A to E scale used in reporting. Each prediction is made as accurately as possible without under-predicting or over-predicting the grade. Should the student suffer some misadventure at the time of the IB Examination, the Predicted Grade may become the basis upon which the IBO provides a course result. The total number of core points awarded will be determined according to the following matrix: The Diploma Core Points Matrix

E X T E N D E D E S S A Y

THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE

A Excellent

B Good

C Satisfactory

D Mediocre

E Elementary

N No grade

Grade A

3 3 2 2 Failing condition Failing condition

Grade B


Grade C


Grade D


Grade E

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition Failing condition

N No grade

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition

Failing condition Failing condition

CANDIDATES WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN)

The IBO recognise that some candidates are disadvantaged in examination and assessment situations. Specific guidelines for Candidates with Special Assessment Needs are set out in a separate publication, which is available on request from the Director of Learning: IB Diploma. Briefly, this may take the form of extra time, rest breaks, separate supervision, seating arrangements, access to medication and/or refreshments etc. Requests for such arrangements must be made by the beginning of November of Year 11. As considerable evidence is required,


students considering making such an application are advised to commence the process as early as possible. When this evidence has been provided, the Director of Learning: IB Diploma will then complete and submit a D1 form. Students affected by temporary medical conditions, adverse circumstances, such as bereavement or accident during their IB candidature, are eligible to submit a form requesting consideration. Students affected by illness during the final examination may also submit a form. All documentation should be made available to the IB Coordinator. The Director of Learning: IB Diploma will then complete and submit a D2 form.

RELEASE OF RESULTS

Candidates’ results will be issued on January 4 in the year after completion of final examinations, via the Internet at http://candidates.ibo.org. Students will receive an alphanumeric code and PIN. At St Andrew’s students are invited to join Dr Collier and Mrs Munro for the release of results in the Council Room. We feel that it is important for students to receive their results in a pastoral setting. Students may request a re-mark of externally assessed material through the Director of Learning: IB Diploma. The closing date for such requests is March 15. These must be paid for in advance using the School’s online payment system. The Director of Learning: IB Diploma will contact students with their remark result once these are received. These can take 2 – 3 weeks to be remarked. On request, a results transcript for a candidate will be sent directly to a University or the University Admissions Centre in electronic or paper format. Students will be provided with necessary instructions at School. IB Diploma scores are automatically converted to an ATAR score. IB subjects are not scaled.

THE OPTION OF RETAKING A SUBJECT

Students who perform poorly on a subject and wish to retake it, may re-sit individual subjects in later examination sessions, including May sessions. A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed in which to satisfy the requirements for the award of the Diploma (as outlined on pages 5-6 of this Handbook). Retake examinations can be sat at St Andrew’s Cathedral School. An extra fee applies, which includes the cost of retaking the exam, a registration fee, courier fees and administration fees.

http://candidates.ibo.org/


COPYRIGHT OF CANDIDATES’ WORK

Candidates retain copyright in all work that is submitted to the IBO on their behalf for assessment purposes. This means that, when candidates have met all submission requirements, they are free to use their work as they choose. The Diploma Programme General Regulations make it clear that by submitting their work for assessment candidates are thereby deemed to grant the IBO a non-exclusive worldwide licence, for the duration of statutory copyright protection, to use it in certain limited ways. Students who have concerns regarding copyright or who wish to retain exclusive copyright for exceptional works should discuss the matter with the Director of Learning: IB Diploma.


IB / ATAR CONVERSION The following table converts 2015 IB results for 2016 University admissions in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. Please be aware that an updated table, which will be released during Year 12, will be used for students completing their IB studies in November, 2016. Please note: For tertiary entrance purposes in all Australian States and Territories this Combined Rank measure of overall achievement is comparable with the Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranks (ATAR).

Diploma Score Proposed ATAR

45 99.95

44 99.85

43 99.70

42 99.45

41 98.90

40 98.30

39 97.60

38 96.80

37 95.90

36 94.60

35 93.45

34 92.30

33 90.95

32 89.30

31 87.40

30 84.70

29 82.30

28 80.30

27 78.15

26 75.70

25 72.70

24 69.30

APPENDIX 1: IB LEARNER PROFILE

APPENDIX 2: ILLNESS & MISADVENTURE FORM

IB ILLNESS AND MISADVENTURE APPEAL

Illness / Misadventure before or during an Assessment Task

Complete the following details and submit this form to the Supervising Teacher or Director of Learning: IB Diploma on the day you return to school. Please attach any additional documentation such as a Medical Certificate. NB Retrospective claims will not be considered

Name: _______________________ Subject: ___________________________________

Date of Task/s: __________ Class Teacher: ___________________________________

Name of Task/s: _________________________________________________________

Date Covered on the attached Medical Certificate: _____________________________

Specific description of the illness/misadventure and how this has adversely affected your performance (to be completed by student): ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

_________________________ ________________________

Student’s Signature Date Supervising Teacher’s Comment (Supervising teacher to record any observations if relevant after the above section has been completed by student): ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

_________________________ ________________________

Supervising Teacher’s Signature Date

APPENDIX 3: ACADEMIC HONESTY OVERVIEW

St Andrew’s Cathedral School

Sydney Square, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia phone +61 2 9286 9500 fax +61 2 9286 9550

ABN 34 429 367 893 CRICOS Registration: The Council of St Andrew’s Cathedral School 02276M

www.sacs.nsw.edu.au

APPENDIX 4: SAMPLE LETTER OF CONCERN

Dear parent or guardian

As you are aware, in order for a student to be awarded an IB Diploma, there are a number of requirements which must be met. I am writing to express concern that with your son’s current results, he would not meet the following requirements for the Award of the Diploma:

• Not achieving 24 points overall, which is the minimum score for a pass in the IB Diploma. • Not reaching 12 HL points (currently on 10 points) • Grade 2 in an HL subject

The following is an outline of the criteria, set out by the IBO, which must be met if a student has less than 28 points in total:

Award of the Diploma All assessment components for each of the six subjects and the additional IB Diploma requirements must be completed in order to qualify for the award of the IB Diploma. The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is 24, 25, 26 or 27 points, provided all the following requirements have been met:

(a) numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects registered for the diploma, (b) an approved programme of CAS has been completed, (c) grades A (highest) to E (lowest) have been awarded for both Theory of Knowledge and an

Extended Essay, with a grade of at least D in one of them, (d) there is no grade 1 in any subject, (e) there is no grade 2 at higher level, (f) there is no more than one grade 2 at standard level, (g) overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below, (h) at least 12 points have been gained on higher level subjects (i) at least 9 points have been gained on standard level subjects (j) the final award committee has not judged the candidate to be guilty of malpractice.

St Andrew’s Cathedral School

Sydney Square, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia phone +61 2 9286 9500 fax +61 2 9286 9550

ABN 34 429 367 893 CRICOS Registration: The Council of St Andrew’s Cathedral School 02276M

www.sacs.nsw.edu.au

The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate whose total score is 28 points or above, provided all the following requirements have been met: (a) numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects registered for the diploma, (b) an approved programme of CAS has been completed, (c) grades A to E have been awarded for both Theory of Knowledge and an Extended Essay, with

a grade of at least D in one of them, (d) there is no grade 1 in any subject, (e) there is no more than one grade 2 at higher level, (f) there are no more than two grades 2 at standard level, (g) overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below, (h) at least 11 points have been gained on higher level subjects (i) at least 8 points have been gained on standard level subjects (j) the final award committee has not judged the candidate to be guilty of malpractice. As we have reached the end of your son’s Year 11 IB studies, it is important that we speak in order to work on strategies for improvement in his IB studies. Could you please contact me by email [email protected] ; leave a message on 9286 9528 or with Sue Koenig on 9009 5433, and I will return your call. Kind regards, Sharon Munro International Baccalaureate Coordinator


APPENDIX 5: IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME GRADE BOUNDARIES – NOVEMBER 2016

SUBJECT LEVEL GRADE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 English A1 HL 0-17 18-32 33-45 46-57 58-70 71-81 82-100 SL 0-15 16-29 30-41 42-54 55-67 68-79 80-100 English B HL 0-14 15-28 29-43 44-57 58-70 71-83 84-100 Japanese A SL 0-16 17-30 31-43 44-56 57-68 69-81 82-100 Mandarin ab SL 0-13 14-27 28-43 44-58 59-71 72-85 86-100 French ab initio SL 0-14 15-30 31-43 44-57 58-69 70-83 84-100 French B SL 0-13 14-29 30-45 46-58 59-71 72-84 85-100 HL 0-16 17-30 31-50 51-63 64-73 74-86 87-100 Spanish ab initio SL 0-12 13-26 27-42 43-57 58-69 70-85 86-100 Business & Management HL 0-13 14-27 28-38 39-48 49-58 59-69 70-100 History HL 0-09 10-21 22-29 30-42 43-53 54-65 66-100 Philosophy HL 0-10 11-22 23-39 40-53 54-67 68-81 82-100 Psychology HL 0-09 10-19 20-33 34-45 46-57 58-68 69-100 Biology HL 0-14 15-25 26-37 38-51 52-64 65-77 78-100 SL 0-14 15-28 29-40 41-50 51-62 63-74 75-100 Chemistry HL 0-16 17-30 31-42 43-53 54-64 65-75 76-100 SL 0-14 15-27 28-40 41-52 53-63 64-74 75-100 Maths Studies SL 0-16 17-30 31-43 44-55 56-68 69-80 81-100 Maths SL SL 0-14 15-30 31-42 43-55 56-67 68-80 81-100 Music HL 0-15 16-32 33-48 49-57 58-67 68-76 77-100 Visual Arts HL 0-12 13-26 27-41 42-55 56-71 72-85 86-100 SL 0-12 13-26 27-41 42-55 56-71 72-85 86-100 Theatre HL 0-10 11-21 22-33 34-49 50-65 66-81 82-100 SL 0-09 10-20 21-31 32-48 49-65 66-81 82-100

SUBJECT GRADE E D C B A

TOK 0-4 5-10 11-16 17-22 23-30 Extended Essay 0-7 8-15 16-22 23-28 29-36

Please note that grade boundaries in all subjects are subject to change from one examination period to the next. This chart is published as a guide only.

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE STUDENT / PARENT AGREEMENT FORM

Please return the signed copy of this form to the Director of Learning: IB Diploma

AGREEMENT ON UNDERSTANDING THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES AT ST ANDREW’S CATHEDRAL SCHOOL The Assessment Requirements must be fully understood before Assessments begin. When you are satisfied that you understand the procedures concerning assessments and the implications for you, please sign the acknowledgement set out below and return this to IB Coordinator as soon as possible. I have received a copy of the St Andrew’s Cathedral School IB Diploma Programme Assessment Handbook. I have also been notified of the due dates for Year 11 assessment tasks. I have read and understood the regulations concerning IB Diploma Programme Assessments. I understand my obligations concerning absenteeism, illness, submission of tasks and requirements for medical certificate etc. I understand the implications of misconduct for any Assessment Task. Student Name: Parent Name: _______________________________ _________________________________ Student Signature: Parent Signature: _______________________________ _________________________________ Date: ___________________________

St Andrew’s Cathedral School Sydney Square, Sydney NSW 2000 ABN 34 429 367 893

phone +61 2 9286 9500 fax +61 2 9286 9550 email [email protected]

CRICOS Registration: The Council of St Andrew’s Cathedral School 02276M

St Andrew’s:

Located in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, St Andrew’s is an independent, Anglican and coeducational school for students in Kindergarten to Year 12.

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