The IB Diploma is a two-year programme and is complete ‘package’.  It is therefore different from A-Levels in many ways.

What do I have to take?  

• 3 Higher Level subjects

• 3 Standard Level subjects

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

• Extended Essay

• Creativity Action and Service (CAS)

How is it assessed?

• All subjects are graded out of 7 points:

7 (highest) to 1 (lowest) = 42 points

• 3 additional points available for TOK and extended essay

• Total possible = 45 points

 What are the choices?

Usually students select one subject from each of the following groups:

• Group 1: English

• Group 2: another modern or classical language (some at three different      levels)

• Group 3: A humanities subject e.g. Business & Management, Economics,    Geography or History

• Group 4: a science e.g. Biology, Chemistry or Physics

• Group 5: a Mathematics course (there are three different levels)

• Group 6: an arts course e.g. Music, Theatre Arts or Visual Arts

BUT

Instead of a group 6 subject, one extra subject is allowed from groups 2-4

(2 languages, 2 humanities, 2 sciences)

The system is therefore flexible enough to meet the requirements for those wishing to study a whole range of university course including medicine, languages, engineering etc.

Maths is taught at three different levels as are modern languages (including ab initio).

The groups are arranged in the IB hexagon.  The core areas that everyone does are in the middle.