The International Baccalaureate at South Wolds

The Diploma Programme Model

Group 1 - English and World LiteratureGroup 2 – a Foreign LanguageGroup 3 – History or GeographyGroup 4 – Biology or ChemistryGroup 5 - Mathematics or Mathematical StudiesGroup 6 – Music or Visual ArtsAll students then complete the following:

Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and Creativity, Action and Service (CAS).

In addition to the timetabled subjects IB In addition to the timetabled subjects IB Diploma students will be expected to Diploma students will be expected to carry out the following …carry out the following …

• approximately three hours of approximately three hours of Creativity, Action and Service per Creativity, Action and Service per week, 150 hours over the two week, 150 hours over the two yearsyears

• An independent study of An independent study of approximately forty hours to write approximately forty hours to write an Extended Essay on a topic of an Extended Essay on a topic of their choicetheir choice

•to study an exciting course entitled the Theory of Knowledge

Time allocation

• Four hours per week for Higher Level subjects• Three hours per week for Standard Level

Subjects• One hour per week for the Theory of Knowledge

Grand total of 22 periods per week out of a possible 25!

A level students - 5 hours per week per AS plus 1 hour enrichment = 21. Not much difference!

Support Systems – for the extended essay

• How to do research from multiple sources – sessions in South Wolds LRC and in Nottingham University Library

• Supervisor – from the chosen subject area will be available for discussion and to set regular deadlines

• Summer term – week off-timetable for completion of first draft

Support systems - general

• IB Coordinator – role to give guidance and find out answers to questions from students, parents and subject teachers

• Sixth Form tutor – will monitor progress and pass on concerns to the Coordinator

• Head of Sixth Form - will be kept informed of all that is going on

Workload

• 22 timetabled hours

• CAS – approximately 3 hours per week, 150 hours in total over the two years

• Homework – recommended 15 hours per week

• EE – approximately 40 hours of independent study in year one of the course

Assessment

• Exams in each of the six subjects at the end of the two years (May of year 13)

• Coursework in each of the six subjects, assessed by the subject teacher

• ToK - an essay of 1,200-1,500 words plus a 10 minute class presentation

• A log-book showing 150 hours of CAS with student evaluation

UCAS and the IB

• Maximum point score is 45 points, i.e. 7 points from each of the six subjects plus 3 for the Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay

• 24 points is a pass so university offers start here. Most common offers are 30 to 36 points with the stipulation of a 6 or a 7 in certain subjects where appropriate

• From 2008 universities may use the new UCAS tariff which says that 24 IB points = 280 UCAS points up to 768 for 45 points. Wow!

Comparison of IB and A level scores

IB24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 45

280 326 442 535 698 768

Majority of offers made Top 5%

A levelCCD BCC ABB AAA AAAA+220 260 320 360 480+

Qualities needed

• Determination to succeed• Time-management and personal-organisation

skills• An interest in the world around us and a desire

to know more• A keenness to develop a strong sense of one’s

own identity and culture alongside developing the ability to communicate with, and understand people from other countries and cultures