IB Full Diploma Parent/ Student Information Required reading for Full Diploma Students and Parents

Important information This presentation walks through important points regarding IB and school policies relating to the full IB diploma. Please read through these and use the link at the end of the presentation to access the signed form required to be officially registered for IB classes and IB exams. Why IB? IB Class Structure IB Assessments and Tests IB Grades and HOPE scholarship IB Fees EE, CAS, TOK General Regulations for Authorized Schools Where to Find More Information

Why IB? The benefits of pursuing an IB full diploma are far reaching. Below are some quotes from St. Andrew’s first graduating class of IB diploma students: “…The program definitely helped me get into the harder colleges that I wanted to get into… A friend and I both applied to the same schools with about the same SAT and GPA, but she was not in the IB program. I got into the school while she didn’t, so IB definitely helped me in that respect.” “The program helps students learn how to think for themselves and interpret on their own, if they are willing to put the work in, rather than just repeating back what a teacher has drilled into your head, which helps in college.” “…It teaches you how to think and respond (to) rigorous study… Thus it makes you more prepared for a stressful college atmosphere and you can be more comfortable. The program is also seen very highly across the board in colleges. This was seen as I got into all 6 schools I applied to.”

IB Class Structure There are two types of IB courses, standard level (SL) and higher level (HL). Standard level courses cover less content than higher level courses and have less extensive (usually shorter) IB exams than higher level courses.

IB Class Structure It is expected that any student who has a course listed on their schedule as an “IB” course is taking the IB exam at the end of the course. As an authorized IB school, we are not allowed to list courses as IB courses unless the student registers and takes the IB exam at the end of the course.

IB Class Structure Most IB classes are designed to be delivered over 2 years, 11th and 12th grade. Therefore, students take tests and final exams that contribute to their grade on their St. Andrew’s report card/ transcript throughout the course of their 11th and 12th grade years. They then take an “IB exam”, graded primarily by an outside examiner at the end of their senior year. There are is only a few IB course that we deliver in one year, Economics SL, IB Geography, and IB Environmental Systems and Societies, therefore students may take the IB exam at the end of their junior year if they choose.

IB Grades and Exams As stated earlier, students in IB classes receive a “St. Andrew’s grade” that appears on their report card/transcript that is based on classroom work and tests and is what is sent to colleges and universities during the application process. This grade is a percentage grade out of 100%. Because of the extra challenge involved in IB courses, St. Andrew’s awards extra points to students taking IB courses. Students taking a SL course receive and extra 2 points on their semester average for the course and students taking a HL receive and extra 3 points.

IB Grades and Exams Students in IB classes also receive an IB grade that is based on two components. The first component is the Internal Assessment (IA). This is a major paper or project that is completed during the two year class and is graded by the classroom teacher. These grades are sent to IB and compose approx. 25% of their overall IB grade. The second component is the External Assessment. The external assessment are the exams that students take in May of the final year of the class. These tests are designed and graded by IB graders outside of the school and compose approx. 75% of their overall IB grade. English, Art, and Theatre have components to these exams that are completed during the course but then graded by outside examiners. In each course, students receive a grade of 1 to 7. These grades are not awarded until July following the students’ senior year and do not appear on their St. Andrew’s transcript or report card. It is a student’s decision whether to share their IB grade with colleges and universities.

IB Grades and Exams To achieve the IB full diploma, students must have achieved a total of at least 24 points from exams in their IB classes (at least 12 points in HL classes and at least 11 points in SL classes). Full diploma students are not eligible to receive the full diploma even if they receive 24 points if any of the following apply: *they have received a score of 1 in any subject *they have receive a score of 2 in a higher level subject *they did not successfully complete and document their Creativity, Action, and Service Hours *they did not successfully complete their Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge requirements If a student does not earn enough points to receive the full diploma, they still receive IB certificates for their achievements in individual classes that can still be possibly used to gain some advance standing at the college level depending on the score in each course.

IB Grades and Exams Since IB exams are taken in May and sent off to be graded, IB grades are issued during the first week of July. Therefore, colleges do not know your IB grade until after you have been admitted and sometimes after registering for first semester classes. Students may choose whether or not to share these grades with colleges after they have received them. Information on college credit policies for IB scores can be found at: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/recognition/ Information on requesting IB transcripts be sent to colleges can be found at: http://www.ibo.org/iba/transcripts/index.cfm Since IB exams are taken in May and sent off to be graded, IB grades are issued during the first week of July. Therefore, colleges do not know your IB grade until after you have been admitted and sometimes after registering for first semester classes. Students may choose whether or not to share these grades with colleges after they have received them. Information on college credit policies for IB scores can be found at: http://www.ibo.org/diploma/recognition/ Information on requesting IB transcripts be sent to colleges can be found at: http://www.ibo.org/iba/transcripts/index.cfm

IB Grades and HOPE Scholarships The classroom percentage grades that are given by teachers in IB courses are used for the purposes of HOPE scholarship averages. Students taking IB classes and exams are given an extra 0.5 weighting in their HOPE calculations for both SL and HL classes. For example, if a student is taking IB History SL and receives an 85% in the class, HOPE calculates this as a B average, a 3.0, and adds 0.5 because it is IB, making it a 3.5 .

IB Fees The school pays an annual fee to IB that provides services such as access to materials, resources, and personnel that support our IB program at St. Andrew’s. There is a fee for each student based on the number of exams they are taking that pays for the cost of the test, the grading of the test, and any services related to results of the exams such as transcripts and certificates and diplomas. The registration fee for 2012- 2013 (an administrative fee charged one time for full diploma students) is $ 151.00 . The fee per exam for 2012-2013 (one for each IB course a student is registered for) is $104.00 . There are late fees that apply and will be charged for changes in IB class registrations after November 1 of the year a student is taking the exam. Refunds: There are refunds given for exam fees if a student withdraws prior to December 15. There are no refunds available for registration fees. If IB exam fees make the program cost prohibitive for you, please contact Dr. Waldron.

TOK, EE, and CAS These three components are considered the “core” of the IB program. Theory of Knowledge is a course students take both years that ties together their other courses and asks them to critically reflect on how they learn and how knowledge is established in the academic disciplines. Students complete a 1,500 word essay and a 15 minute presentation in this course. Students receive a grade of A-E on this component and must receive a D or higher to be eligible for the full IB diploma. This course is also the class we use to facilitate the Extended Essay and the documentation of Creativity, Action, and Service hours.

TOK, EE, and CAS The Extended Essay is an individual research paper that is completed during the second half of 11th grade and the first half of 12th grade. It is a research question that is researched in one of the academic disciplines, resulting in a paper of approx. 3,000 – 4,000 words. Students receive a grade of A-E on this component and must receive a D or higher to be eligible for the full IB diploma. Instruction on research methods begins in January of students’ junior year in TOK. Students spend the second semester of junior year planning their topic and gathering resources. A rough draft of the essay is due mid-September their senior year and the final draft is due mid-October.

Creativity, Action, and Service Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) hours are required in recognition of the fact that students learn valuable lessons from many of their activities outside of the classroom. Students must complete approx. 150 CAS hours over their 11th and 12th grade years. Students should turn in all hours to the IB Coordinator by utilizing the CAS form in the CAS guide. These are documented according to the CAS guide which can be found on the school website at: https://www.saintschool.com/podium/default.aspx?t=109846 Students must successfully complete and properly document their 150 CAS hours to be eligible for the IB full diploma, regardless of performance in IB classes.

Academic Honesty All school rules regarding academic honesty and plagiarism apply to IB students. However, IB also states that any student that commits academic dishonesty of any sort on an official IB assessment (copying, assisting during an IB exam, or plagiarism) will not only not receive an IB grade in that particular course but may also jeopardize their ability to receive an IB grade on any component of their IB classes.

General Regulations for Authorized Schools Each IB school is required to share the document entitled General Regulations for Authorized Schools. This document is found at: http://www.ibo.org/documentlibrary/regs_ibworldsc hools/index.cfm The highlights of this document were included in this presentation. By signing the referenced form at the end of this presentation, you are acknowledging that you understand and agree to these rules.

Form for official IB course registration Please download, sign, and return the following form to Dr. Sisserson prior to September 30, 2012. Any student who does not turn in one of these forms may be removed from their IB classes or charged any late fees incurred for late registrations for IB exams. This form can be found at: https://www.saintschool.com/podium/default.aspx? t=121970