1. International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Brooke Point High School
An IB World School

2. What is the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP)?
“Education for a better world.”
It is a rigorous, two-year liberal-arts program that leads to exams in six different subject areas and is aimed at developing global citizens and life-long learners.
The program offers a balanced, inquiry-based curriculum noted for its depth, challenge, and international perspective.
Beyond completing the courses, students are required to engage in community service, individual research, and an inquiry into the nature of knowledge.

3. Growth and Development of the IB Diploma Programme
Began in 1968 in Europe
First programs in the U.S. in the early 70s
First program in VA at George Mason High School in Falls Church in 1981
Currently 717 Diploma Programme schools in the U.S. and 37 in VA

4. IB Learner Profile Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators
IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
Open-minded
Caring
Risk-takers
Balanced
Reflective
IB programmes promote the education of the whole person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth through all domains of knowledge.

5. What makes IB special? Students are encouraged to:
ask challenging questions
work hard
learn how to learn
develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures
become independent, self-motivated learners.

6. What goes on in a typical IB classroom?
Student-centered discussion
Student-generated inquiry
Whole-class instruction
Critical thinking and writing
Student-designed project development
Problem-based learning
Simulations and investigations
Collaborative activities

7. What universities say about IB:
The College of William and Mary : The International Baccalaureate program is extremely rigorous, the best possible preparation for both college work and life in the twenty-first century.
Dr. Eugene Carson of Virginia Tech states: IB students who attended [Virginia Tech] as freshmen significantly outperformed all other freshmen, including students who had taken Advanced Placement courses.
The Admissions Director of Harvard states: GPA is not nearly as important a factor in university admission as the IB Diploma. If a student has to choose, choose the Diploma over protecting the GPA.

8. The Full IB Diploma
The IB Diploma is a comprehensive, two-year liberal-arts program of study aimed at developing global citizens and lifelong learners.
IB Diploma graduates earn a nationally and internationally recognized diploma as they simultaneously earn an advanced studies diploma.

9. A Typical IB Diploma SIX IB courses*, ONE from each subject group:
Group 1, English
Group 2, World Language
Group 3, Individuals and Societies
Group 4, Experimental Sciences
Group 5, Mathematics
Group 6, Arts
PLUS
Completion of the IB DP Core:
Theory of Knowledge course
Extended Essay
150 Creativity, Action, and Service hours
PLUS – at least two regular BP electives
*MOST IB courses span TWO YEARS (11th and 12th grade).

10. *courses we hope to add in the next two years
BP IB Diploma Courses
Group 1, Language A1 – English
Group 2, World Language – French, German, Latin, Spanish
Group 3, Individuals – History, Anthropology, and Societies Psychology
Group 4, Experimental Biology, Chemistry (Environmental Sciences – Systems and Societies*, Physics*)
Group 5, Mathematics – Math Studies, Mathematics (Computer Science* )
Group 6, The Arts – Visual Art,
Theatre, Music
*courses we hope to add in the next two years

11. IB Diploma Core Theory of Knowledge Extended Essay
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)

12. ToK -Theory of Knowledge
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
Inquiry into the “ways of knowing”
What does it mean to know something?
Does the perception of what is TRUE change with different cultures?
Do people with different cultural or linguistic backgrounds live, in some sense, in different worlds?
Interdisciplinary – stimulates critical reflection on connections between concepts across all subjects

13. EE – Extended Essay Independent research essay
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
Independent research essay
Student works with a supervisor but guidance is limited
Approximately 4,000 words (~16 pages typed, double-spaced)
Topic chosen by student in one of more than 20 prescribed subjects
For example: politics, design technology, history, painting or sculpture, physics, biochemistry, mathematics, psychology, world religions, world cultures, etc.
Sample topics from actual student essays:
“Gait compensations in students with pronounced leg-length discrepancy” (Biology)
“Hip-Hop Culture: The Modern Form of Slavery” (Politics)
“Exposing Vermeer: His Use of the Camera Obscura to Perfect His Paintings” (Visual Art)

14. CAS – Creativity, Action, Service
The IB Diploma Core Elements:
“...if you believe in something, you must not just think or talk or write, but must act.”
- Peterson (2003)
CAS is designed to “challenge and extend the individual student to develop a spirit of discovery and self-reliance… to inspire an awareness, concern and responsibility to serve the community…”
Diploma students must complete and document at least 150 hours.
Creativity – arts, designing and implementing projects “beyond school walls”
Action – designing sport and fitness activities, expeditions, local and international projects
Service – community and global social service activities

15. A Full IB Diploma Student’s 4-Year Plan
9th & 10th grade ‘pre-IB’
honors English 9 & 10
world language II & III
honors biology & chemistry
honors/AP World History
government /AP Gov.
PE/Health 9 & 10
advanced algebra or geometry, math analysis
fine art 1 & 2
electives
11th & 12th grade IB
IB English
IB world language
IB experimental science
IB history
IB math
IB fine art or IB elective
other electives
ToK (over 2 years)
EE (over 2 years)
CAS (over 2 years)
Combined “IB Block”

16. IB Assessment
Students complete internal assessment tasks, which are internally marked by their IB teachers and then are sent off to be moderated by external IB examiners.
Students take written examinations (external assessments) at the end of each course, marked by external IB examiners.
Marks range from A 4 is usually considered “passing.”
Assessment is criterion-based rather than performance-based. The range of scores has remained consistent over time.
Universities value the rigor and consistency of the Diploma Programme assessment practice.

17. IB Certificate Option for Students
Students may take individual IB courses to challenge themselves in areas of strength or interest if they do not choose to pursue the full diploma.
These students participate in all assessments for the course – internal and external. If they receive at least a 4 on the 7-point scale on the final external assessment examination, they may receive an IB certificate for that course. This may earn them college credit at most colleges and universities, similar to a 3 on an AP test.

18. Cost of IB Exams
IB charges each student a fee (for final IB course exam only) – this year’s fee: $96 per exam.
Fee is due in October of the year the exam will be taken.
Students who qualify for the free or reduced lunch program may receive reduced or waived IB exam fees.
Any student may request an installment payment plan for IB exam fees.

19. What do I do now? In 8th grade:
Take advanced math and a world language.
Find out about IB courses and full diploma requirements.
IB Info Night
IB page on BP’s website
Talk to Ms. Stemple ( or phone) and counselor
Register for appropriate advanced and honors courses for 9th grade.
Fill out IB application (available online) and turn it in to Ms. Stemple at BP by April 1 to ensure proper sequence of courses.

20. Preparing for IB Courses
In 9th and 10th grades:
“IB-Prep Years”: Continue to take advanced and honors courses to prepare for the content and challenge of IB.
Monitor progress; modify IB goals as needed.
Students fill out an IB intent / scheduling form when they register for 11th-grade classes.
*IB courses are taken in 11th and 12th grades.*

21. How does IB compare with AP?
Recognized internationally for rigor
Individual courses or full comprehensive program
IB score based on multiple assessments over time
Both internal and external assessments
Process-driven
Recognized nationally for rigor
Individual courses only
AP score based on one exam at end of course
External assessment only
Content-driven

22. How does IB compare with CGS?
Recognized internationally for rigor
Individual courses or full comprehensive program
IB score based on multiple assessments over time
Both internal and external assessments; process-driven
Integrated into BP student body
Recognized statewide for rigor
Comprehensive but no partial participation
Students take AP exams
Specifically includes field experiences
Students travel to CFHS or NSHS; school-within-a-school

23. Do IB courses earn college credit?
Awarded credit is determined by individual colleges and universities.
Go to – click on “The IB in…” and click on the country and university IB credit policy you’re interested in (also in brochure).
Senate Bill 209 (2010) requires Virginia’s colleges and universities to have comparable college-credit policies for both standard and higher-level IB courses and AP courses.

24. Why IB? ~Kristi Huckabone, IB Diploma graduate MVHS, 2008
“Once I began International Baccalaureate classes I was … encouraged to ask more questions and think for myself…One day it struck me that I can actually have an opinion different from the standard as long as I can back it up with evidence and a good argument…[T]he most valuable thing I learned in IB…[was] how to learn.”
~Kristi Huckabone,
IB Diploma graduate
MVHS, 2008

25. Why IB?
Students don’t have to be brilliant to succeed in IB, but they must be willing to work hard, to open their minds, to take risks, to think, and to act on their thinking.
The IB curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity and inquiry in order to cultivate students’ spirit of discovery in learning – it focuses on educating the whole person.
IB’s challenge is worth the risk: Research has shown that the intensity and quality of coursework in high school is the single greatest indicator in students’ completion of a bachelor’s degree in college, far outweighing the GPA.

26. Is there life outside IB?
IB courses require a true commitment to learning and to taking on challenging work; however…
Other kids will be taking these courses with you; support each other!
Teachers will also work together to help you.
Good time management is essential – and makes a life outside of schoolwork definitely possible.

27. Sources
Evans, Rosemary. International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at Branksome Hall. August 2008.
Watts, Sue. IB at Mountain View. February 2008.
Google images

28. Contact Emails Julie Stemple, IB Coordinator
Wendy Payne, Principal
Revised