The International Baccalaureate (IB diploma programme) is an academically challenging and rewarding programme that prepares students for university life and their future career. IBDP students will study 6 subjects including 2 languages, mathematics, experimental sciences, and social sciences. At SISD our curriculum follows the framework of the IB program. So, what is the IB programme all about and why is it deemed the gold standard of education?

The IB Diploma Programme

The IB diploma is open to students aged 16 to 19 and is recognised by universities around the world. The programme challenges and prepares students for university and their future careers. Students can choose from six different subject groups, including an art subject and two languages. The programme consists of an extended essay of 4,000 words, which is focused on one of the six chosen subjects. Using their own research, the extended essay allows students to delve deeper into the chosen subject.

Another element of the IB Diploma is theory of knowledge, or TOK. It focuses on applying critical thinking to the knowledge presented in the studied subjects and is assessed with a 1,600 word essay.

The final parts of the diploma are creativity, activity and action. Creativity focuses on the student’s creative thinking through their art subject. Activity focuses on activities that run alongside the diploma that are physically exerting and help towards a healthy lifestyle. These activities hone in on the student’s self-determination and also gives them opportunities to collaborate with their fellow students. And finally, service is the part of the diploma that involves unpaid volunteering and encourages selflessness and autonomy in the student.

Students will also take 6 exams at the end of the 2 years, which are graded from 1 to 7. The maximum number of points a student can achieve is 45. With bonus points be awarded for the theory of knowledge course and the extended essay. To pass, students need to reach a minimum of 24 points.

The gold standard of education

The director of the International Baccalaureate, Professor George Walker has described the IB as the “gold standard of education”. With alternative curricula becoming popular, the strength of the International Baccalaureate diploma is becoming more apparent. For example, A levels have seen a level of grade inflation making the results less reliable each year. This has led universities to become more in favour of the IB during admissions.

By allowing students to study 6 subjects, it widens their horizons and opens up more possibilities for future careers. However, with other curricula such as A Levels or French Baccalaureate, students are more restricted in their choices. They often must choose between scientific and more artistic subjects, the IB gives students the option to try out a wide array of subjects. By developing skills in various areas this gives our students more opportunities in the future. Additionally, the International Baccalaureate is recognised across the globe as a reputable high standard qualification.

At SISD we strive to offer our students the best by following the IB diploma curricula, and pride ourselves on offering what we consider the gold standard of education. Through their 6 subjects, our students develop their skills academically but the multilinguals environment we offer at SISD offers our students the unique benefit of strengthening their additional language(s) and becoming open-minded, global citizens. With over 100 nationalities, SISD is the perfect combination of a gold-standard education and a gold-standard multilingual learning environment.