what is an international bacheloret course?

by Dexter Stark 4 min read

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a two-year pre-college diploma program. Students can take Standard Level or Higher Level courses in one of six subject groups: the student's primary language, a second language, mathematics, experimental sciences, the arts and humanities. The course work is college-level.

International Baccalaureate, or IB, is a rigorous, two-year program that results in personal and academic development and, upon successful completion, a globally recognized diploma.

Full Answer

What is International Baccalaureate?

Mar 22, 2020 · The International Baccalaureate (IB) program was designed in Switzerland in the 1960s. Its purpose was to give students around the world a chance to earn a rigorous, internationally recognized diploma, which they could then use for entry into universities .

How many schools offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme?

May 19, 2021 · International Baccalaureate (IB) is a program for students from ages 3 to 19 that challenges them to excel and achieve in both their academic and personal lives. IB has four main educational programs: Primary Years: for students from age 3-12 Middle Years: for students from age 11-16 Diploma Programs (DP): for students from age 16-19

What is the IB Diploma?

Mar 22, 2020 · The International Baccalaureate (IB) program was designed in Switzerland in the 1960s. The program was meant to be a rigorous, internationally recognized diploma for entry into universities that students all around the world could earn.

What is an IB school?

Feb 02, 2022 · What are all the International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available to take? Here, we give you the complete list of all Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) IB classes. Every IB school is different, so your own school might not offer all the IB courses below. However, these are all the classes the IB has created a curriculum and test for.

What is an International Baccalaureate class?

The International Baccalaureate is a high school program that doubles as a highly respected college prep curriculum. The IB program encourages students to think broadly, beyond the boundaries of their communities, and to see themselves as members of a global society.

What subjects are in the International Baccalaureate?

IB students study a programme designed to develop breadth through the study of six subjects areas: English, mathematics, a science, a humanities subject, a language and a creative arts subject.

Is International Baccalaureate the same as A levels?

The IB Diploma is an alternative to A Levels for students aged 16-18 and requires no specific preparatory classwork, so can be undertaken directly from GCSEs. It offers a broad curriculum made up of six subject groups – students usually study three at a higher level and three at a standard level.

Is International Baccalaureate equivalent to Bachelor's Degree?

Baccalaureate Degree vs Bachelor's Degree: Overview This might come as a shock, but a baccalaureate degree is the same exact thing as a bachelor's (or four-year undergraduate) degree. In other words, "baccalaureate degree" is just another way of saying "bachelor's degree."Apr 23, 2020

Is International Baccalaureate hard?

The consensus among current IB students seems to be that IB is highly difficult. Lowering academic standards for admission would only worsen this problem. On the other hand, if the increase in supply of seats is complemented by an increase in demand for them, academic standards need not be changed.Jul 28, 2020

Are IB classes better than AP?

While the IB program seeks to foster creativity, critical thinking, and writing skills in students, the AP is more focused on subject-specific competency. AP courses are much more easily available in US high schools than IB courses, though IB courses are more popular internationally.Feb 10, 2022

Is IB harder than GCSE?

The myth probably comes from the fact that many students feel they absolutely must get an A* for every subject at GCSE, or at least most of them – only the top grade will do! A Level and IB are both clearly a lot harder than GCSEs – aim high by all means but do realise what it all means!

Is IB harder than AP?

Is IB harder than AP? It depends. Some students argue that IB is more challenging because of the emphasis on critical thinking and the more application-focused evaluations. However, both IB and AP classes are considered college-level courses that many students find challenging.Sep 9, 2021

Is International Baccalaureate equivalent to GCSE?

GCSE level education is required of students who want to appear for the IB or GCE advanced level. In the 1980s, the GCSE was a compulsory school graduate's exam. IGCSE is the international version of the GCSE. It can be taken all over the world.

How do I get an IB certificate?

To gain either an IIB certificate in teaching and learning or an IB advanced certificate in teaching and learning research, simply enroll in a program of study at one of our IB-recognized universities. Upon completion of your program of study, you may register for the applicable certificate with the IB.

Is baccalaureate the same as graduation?

The term generally refers to a non-denominational ceremony held a few days before high school or college graduation.

What are the benefits of an IB Diploma?

encouraged to think critically and solve complex problems. drive their own learning. a core part in educational programmes that can lead them to some of the highest-ranking universities around the world. more culturally aware through the development of a second language.

How Does College Credit Work For IB?

IB exams are recognized for college credit in a way similar to how AP exams are used. You don’t have to earn the IB diploma to get credit for indiv...

What Are The Benefits of The Ib Program?

One of the chief benefits of the IB program is that it provides academic preparation for college. IB courses are known for being interdisciplinary,...

What Are The 6 CORE Courses in The Ib Program?

To earn the full IB diploma, you have to take courses from six subjects, one each from groups 1-5, and either one from group 6 or a substitute from...

What Are The 3 CORE Requirements in The Ib Program?

In addition to IB classes and exams, there are three more core requirements students must complete to earn an IB diploma. Read about them below:

Ib vs AP: Key Similarities and Differences

We have a complete rundown of AP vs IB in this post, which includes a guide to deciding between the two programs. That being said, here are some of...

What is an IB school?

Technically, any school with an IB program is called an “IB school.”. Since “IB school” is used as shorthand, it’s important to ask how students participate in IB at any given school. It’s most straightforward at IB elementary schools, where IB is part of every class school-wide.

How many countries offer IB?

Created in Switzerland in 1968 for students in international schools, IB is now offered in 5,175 schools across 157 countries — with 1,852 public ...

How much does an IB cost?

Students may have to pay hundreds of dollars to participate in a school’s IB program and to take IB exams; for example, some schools ask students to pay a one-time fee of $172 plus $119 for each IB high school exam they take, and the full IB diploma program costs, on average, $745 per student.

What is the difference between IB and AP?

Even then, IB and AP classes tend to differ in teaching method and testing. Some see AP as more focused on rote learning and standardized tests. In contrast, IB classes and assessments tend to involve more research, writing, and hands-on evaluation. A key difference is the final exam.

What is an inquiry based approach?

At all levels, IB takes a global approach, looking at big ideas across disciplines, such as examining connections between the early 20th century novel The Jungle and communism or considering visual depictions of music.

What is the theme of IB?

For children ages 3 to 12, IB focuses on six themes: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. Students examine these ideas through a variety of prisms, by considering works that focus on language, social studies, math, arts, science, and personal, social, and physical education.

What is the significance of Anne Frank's diary?

In a Florida middle school, students reading The Diary of Anne Frank considered the implications of being a perpetrator, a bystander, and a witness of the Holocaust. In Yonkers, biology students develop their own experiments — a process that can leave classrooms stinky at times.

What is an IB?

The IB is a foundation, a legal entity under Swiss law which is constituted for a stated special objective. The IB is a nonprofit organization, selling its products and services to schools in a system analogous to a franchise network.

Where is the IB located?

The IB maintains its head office in Geneva, Switzerland. Assessment and grading services are located in Cardiff, Wales and the curriculum centre moved in 2011 to The Hague, Netherlands. Two other offices are located in Bethesda, Maryland and Singapore . The organization is divided into three regional centres: IB Africa, ...

Why are IB exams cancelled?

In March 2020, the IB announced that exams for the May 2020 session had been canceled as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It claimed that final grades would instead be calculated based on course work, students' teacher-predicted grades, and historic school data. "Prior to the attribution of final grades, this process was subjected to rigorous testing by educational statistical specialists to ensure our methods were robust. It was also checked against the last five years’ sets of results data," an IB spokesman said. In July 2020, the IB released its results for Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme candidates enrolled in the May 2020 session. Over 17,000 signatories signed an online petition calling for a clarification of the grading methodology, and for free remarking and retesting. Several educators have criticized IB's approach to the 2020 grading. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation stated it would "scrutinize" the grades. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority asked the IB to provide data under the General Data Protection Regulation.

When did IB change its name?

The organization's name and logo were changed in 2007 to reflect new structural arrangements. Consequently, "IB" may now refer to the organization itself, any of the four programmes, or the diploma or certificates awarded at the end of a programme. Just 0.65% of IBDP students attained the perfect score of 45 in 2019.

What is the theory of knowledge?

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) v. t. e. The International Baccalaureate ( IB ), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization ( IBO ), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme ...

How to get an IB diploma?

To earn an IB Diploma, you have to attend an IB-approved school, take courses in all 6 subjects, pass the respective exams, and complete additional core requirements. Please note some IB schools allow you to take IB classes without the pressure of pursuing the two-year IB program.

What is the IB program?

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a program for students from ages 3 to 19 that challenges them to excel and achieve in both their academic and personal lives. IB has four main educational programs: Primary Years: for students from age 3-12. Middle Years: for students from age 11-16. Diploma Programs (DP): for students from age 16-19.

Why is it important to take IB classes?

Taking IB classes and receiving great scores on the IB exams also shows a student’s ability to manage different areas of academic life, from time to workload. Furthermore, according to the IB Diploma Programme, graduates are more prepared to excel in studies, and are more likely to enroll in the highest-ranking schools around the world.

How long is the IB?

International Baccalaureate, or IB, is a two-year rigorous program (junior year and senior year) for high school students from 16-19 years of age. This program will develop students into experts with excellent breadth and depth of knowledge. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a globally recognized diploma ...

What is internal evaluation?

The internal evaluation method refers to teacher evaluation, which is often used in most IB courses. Under internal evaluation, there are several criteria that a teacher should look for in grading a student: The oral work in the language. The fieldwork in geography. The laboratory works in the sciences.

How many DP courses are required for CP?

CP students are required to take a minimum of 2 DP courses out of 6 subjects, on top of the core CP curriculum and an approved career-related study. The combination of two encourages and prepares students for higher education, an internship/externship, or an apprenticeship.

Is IB an international program?

Different from AP courses, which is an American-focused program created by the College Board, IB is an international program. United Kingdom universities and colleges accept the International Baccalaureate Diploma for entry to all first-degree courses and higher education institutions. In Australia, major institutions recognize IB Diploma, and even offer advanced placement, credit, and bonus schemes for DP students. Depending on the country you’re planning to study, an IB program will certainly have a significant impact on the quality of your application.

What is an IB diploma?

An IB Diploma is a credential issued to students by the IB, and is recognized by most colleges and universities (I'll go into more detail on this below). Not all students who pursue an IB Diploma will actually receive one, though.

How many schools offer IB?

In total, 5,263 schools around the world offer IB programs. This includes the Diploma Programme as well as the career program and programs specifically for elementary and middle school students.

What is an IB?

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program was designed in Switzerland in the 1960s. The program was meant to be a rigorous, internationally recognized diploma for entry into universities that students all around the world could earn. You can read more about the history and philosophy of the IB program on the official IB website.

How many students took AP exams in 2019?

In 2019, 2.8 million students took AP exams, with around 2.7 million of these being in the US. By contrast, only about 166,465 students took IB exams in May 2019, and 88,000 of those were in the US. IB is also more expensive than AP classes. For IB, there's a $119 fee per exam (if you're in the US).

How much does it cost to take the IB exam?

For IB, there's a $119 fee per exam (if you're in the US). Though this is a lot of money, it's much less than the tuition you would pay for the same intro-level college course. Many schools also have their own financial aid programs for IB. Some schools cover the cost of IB registration and exam fees.

Will IB exams be non-exams in 2021?

Because of the ongoing COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, May 2021 IB assessments will have two routes, exam and non-exam, depending on which your school chooses. Stay up to date with the latest information on what this means for IB diplomas, course credit for IB classes, and more with our 2021 IB COVID-19 FAQ article.

What is the first group of IB diploma courses?

The first group of IB Diploma courses are the language and literature ones . According to the IB, these classes hope to "develop a student's lifelong interest in language and literature, and a love for the richness of human expression."

What is the final course for IB?

In this course, "students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know." Students are assessed in TOK through an oral presentation and a 1,600-word essay. You must complete this course to receive your diploma and may take it online.

What classes do I need to take to get an IB diploma?

You must also complete what is known as the core, which includes an additional class called Theory of Knowledge (TOK).

What is the third group of IB diploma?

The third group of IB Diploma courses spans various social science subjects, such as social studies, psychology, and politics. This group's goals are for students to develop "a critical appreciation of human experience and behavior" and learn more about cultural institutions and the different types of environments people inhabit.

What is a history course?

A world history course based on a comparative, multi-perspective approach to history and focused around key historical concepts such as change, causation, and significance. Involves the study of a variety of types of history, including political, economic, social, and cultural. No. HL and SL.

What is the purpose of world religions?

Seeks to promote an awareness of religious issues in the contemporary world by requiring the study of a diverse range of religions. No.

What do biologists do?

Biology. Biologists investigate the living world at all levels using many different approaches and techniques. At one end of the scale is the cell, its molecular construction and complex metabolic reactions. At the other end of the scale biologists investigate the interactions that make whole ecosystems function.

How many subjects do students take?

It is possible to study more than two DP courses, depending on the nature of the student’s career-related studies and timetable.

How are DP courses selected?

IB World Schools select a number of DP courses as part of the CP framework. These courses can come from any of the subject groups in the DP and may be studied at standard or higher level.

What is the IB program?

The IB programmes focus on fostering critical thinking and building problem-solving skills, while encouraging diversity, international mindedness, curiosity, and a healthy appetite for learning and excellence.

When was IB founded?

Since it was founded in 1968, the IB’s mission has been built on a cornerstone of creating a better world through education. We believe that now more than ever, and are committed to ensuring that our educational programmes reflect this for the benefit of IB schools and students.

Why is IB important?

An IB education provides students distinct advantages as they enter a world where asking the right questions is as important as discovering answers. For over 50 years, our global community of world class educators and coordinators engage with more than 1.95 million students in over 5,500 schools across 159 countries.

What is the role of research in IB?

Research plays a central role in the development, quality assurance, and assessment of impact of IB programmes and services. The IB both conducts its own research and partners with leading universities and research institutions across the world.

Where can I study the International Baccalaureate Diploma?

You can visit the International Baccalaureate Organisation to search for schools that offer the IB.

How does it work?

The IB is a two-year course, and it’s made up of three core elements (that are compulsory) plus six subjects that you choose.

The core elements are

Theory of Knowledge (TOK): You’ll learn where knowledge comes from and how we know what we claim to know.

How is it assessed?

Your grades will depend mostly on written exams at the end of the course, just like A-levels.

How is it different to A-levels?

The biggest difference is that you’ll have more options when choosing subjects because you pick six, rather than three or four like most people do with A-levels. This could be a plus for you if you love a range of subjects.

What are the benefits of an IB Diploma?

Supporters argue that the IB teaches you excellent skills for life and prepares you really well for further study and for the world of work.

Are there any downsides to it?

Some people really like the way A-levels and vocational qualifications let you specialise in just three or four subjects after GCSE. With the IB you’ll have to take six subjects. This could mean that you end up studying subjects you’re not really into.

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Analysis

Programs

  • In-depth discussion controlled largely by students is what International Baccalaureate (IB) is all about. Created in Switzerland in 1968 for students in international schools, IB is now offered in 3,460 schools across 143 countries with 1,370 public and private schools (and counting) in the U.S. IB has gained popularity for setting high standards and emphasizing creative and critical thi…
See more on greatschools.org

Introduction

  • Technically, any school with an IB program is called an IB school. Since IB school is used as shorthand, its important to ask how students participate in IB at any given school. Its most straightforward at IB elementary schools, where IB is part of every class school-wide. But in middle school and high school that may not be the case. Some middle and high schools are 10…
See more on greatschools.org

Benefits

  • However, AP courses may carry extra benefits that not all IB courses do. For instance, AP class grades may be weighted (check with your local school), which boosts students GPAs for college applications, and passing grades on AP exams can provide college credit, whereas passing grades on IB course exams may not. As a result, many students who take IB courses and exam…
See more on greatschools.org

Philosophy

  • At all levels, IB takes a global approach, looking at big ideas across disciplines, such as examining connections between the early 20th century novel The Jungle and communism or considering visual depictions of music. No matter what theyre studying, students dig deep into subjects and try to find answers. In a Florida middle school, students reading The Diary of Anne Frank consid…
See more on greatschools.org

Themes

  • For children ages 3 to 12, IB focuses on six themes: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. Students examine these ideas through a variety of prisms, by considering works that focus on language, social studies, math, arts, science, and personal, social, and physical education.
See more on greatschools.org

Curriculum

  • The interdisciplinary approach continues in the Middle Years Program for students ages 11 to 16. Since this program doesnt align perfectly with U.S. middle school ages, students may complete their Middle Years studies during their sophomore year of high school. Students consider IBs five areas of interaction approaches to learning, community and service, human ingenuity, environm…
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Cost

  • Depending on how the program is financed in your district, students may need to pay for their own tests. For example, students might be asked to pay a one-time fee of $145 plus $100 for each IB high school exam they take. Pursuing an IB diploma often costs hundreds of dollars.
See more on greatschools.org

Safety

  • IB is not a magic bullet. Like any program, its success hinges on the general school atmosphere and the quality of teachers, students, and facilities, so be sure to look at the whole package.
See more on greatschools.org

Overview

The International Baccalaureate (IB), formerly known as the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme for students aged 15 to 19, the IB Middle Years Programme for students aged 11 to 16, and the IB Primary Years Programmefor children aged 3 to 12. To teach these programmes, …

History

When Marie-Thérèse Maurette wrote "Educational Techniques for Peace. Do They Exist?" in 1948, she created the framework for what would eventually become the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). In the mid-1960s, a group of teachers from the International School of Geneva(Ecolint) created the International Schools Examinations Syndicate (ISES), which would later become the International Baccalaureate Office (IBO), followed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) and t…

Organization

The IB is a foundation, a legal entity under Swiss law which is constituted for a stated special objective. The IB is a nonprofit organization, selling its products and services to schools in a system analogous to a franchise network. Schools buy products and services from the IB - assessments, publications, the right to use branding - and in turn schools act as distributors, reselling the products and services to families.

Governance

The IB governance is composed of an IB Board of Governors and six committees (access and advancement, audit, education, finance, human resources and governance). The Board of Governors appoints the Director General, sets the strategic direction of the organization, adopts a mission statement, makes policy, oversees the IB's financial management, and ensures autonomy and integrity of the IB Diploma Programme examinations and other student assessment. The str…

Reception

The IB Diploma Programme was described as "a rigorous, off-the-shelf curriculum recognized by universities around the world" when it was featured in the December 18, 2006, edition of Time titled "How to bring our schools out of the 20th Century". The IBDP was also featured in the summer 2002 edition of American Educator, where Robert Rothman described it as "a good example of an effective, instructionally sound, exam-based system."

Controversy

In March 2020, the IB announced that exams for the May 2020 session had been canceled as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It claimed that final grades would instead be calculated based on course work, students' teacher-predicted grades, and historic school data. "Prior to the attribution of final grades, this process was subjected to rigorous testing by educational statistical specialists to ensure our methods were robust. It was also checked against the last fi…

See also

• Cambridge International Examinations
• European Baccalaureate
• List of International Baccalaureate people
• List of International Baccalaureate schools by country

External links

• International Baccalaureate at Wikibooks
• Media related to International Baccalaureate at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website

• International Baccalaureate at Wikibooks
• Media related to International Baccalaureate at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website