What is the Diploma Programme?
The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.
The German International School Sydney has been teaching the IB Diploma programme since 2002 and the bilingual IB Diploma (in English and German) since 2003. Due to a unique agreement between the International Baccalaureate Organisation and The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education in Germany (KMK), the GISS IB Diploma is recognised as an equivalent to the Abitur by German speaking universities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
The curriculum
The curriculum model is a hexagon with six academic areas surrounding the three core requirements.
IB Diploma Programme students study six courses at higher level or standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5.
In addition the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding.
The extended essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.
Theory of knowledge is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).
Creativity, action, service requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.
Summary
Over the course of the two-year programme, students:
- · study six subjects chosen from the six subject groups
- · complete an extended essay
- · follow a theory of knowledge course (TOK)
- · participate in creativity, action, service (CAS).
Three of the six subjects are studied at higher level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).
Assessment
Students take written examinations at the end of the programme, which are marked by external IB examiners. Students also complete assessment tasks in the school, which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.
The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, service requirement. The highest total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points.
For further details about our IB Diploma Programme please download our IB Student Handbook.