Distinction between Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) classes

The exact difference in terms of content, standards, and requirements of class taken at the SL or HL varies between subjects. In some subjects, HL and SL vary substantially in degree of difficulty and material covered. However, for most subjects, the levels differ primarily in the amount of material covered rather than the degree of difficulty.

SL courses require approximately 150 class hours while HL courses require approximately 240 class hours. In practice, SL students have additional in-class study time, cover fewer units, and/or have fewer demands with regard to their Internal Assessment (IA).

Students who pursue any course at HL should do so because they have a particular aptitude or high-level of motivation in this class. In making the final decision about the level of coursework, students need to carefully balance their interests and abilities with projected university entrance requirements.

Assessment

All DP subjects are assessed through a mix of externally assessed components (usually exams) and Internal Assessments (coursework or IAs).

Internal Assessment (20 - 30%): throughout Year 1 and Year 2

• a major project or assignment in each subject

• assessed internally by AIS subject teachers

• moderated externally by IB examiners

External Assessment (70 - 80%): in May of Year 2

• exams and coursework are externally assessed by IB examiners

Each subject is graded on a 1 – 7 scale

• 7 points for each of the 6 subjects (7 X 6) = 42 points maximum

• 3 TOK + EE matrix points = 42 + 3 = 45 points maximum IBDP score

• As a guide, 24 points minimum is required to receive the full IB Diploma

The AIS DP Admission Policy

Students will automatically be eligible to enter the IB Diploma Programme at AIS if they are awarded a total of five ‘C’ grades or higher from their IGCSEs and/or their first language course (Vietnamese, Korean or Chinese).

In addition, Year 11 EAL students will need to have achieved the EAL exit benchmarks in the Semester 2 EAL examinations.

Students who do not achieve five ‘C’ grades or higher and/or have not achieved the EAL exit benchmarks will be treated on a case-by-case basis based on the profile of their results. The options will be

Either provisional entry to the IB Diploma Programme

Or entry to IB Courses.

Eligibility for IB subjects

In general, students should achieve:

• at least an IGCSE ‘B’ grade in order to study the equivalent subject at IB Higher Level

• at least an IGCSE ‘C’ grade in order to study the subject at IB Standard Level.

For Mathematics:

• students who wish to study Maths AA or Maths AI at Higher Level should gain a grade ‘B’ or higher for IGCSE Extended or Additional Mathematics.

• Anyone scoring lower than a grade ‘B’ in IGCSE Extended or Additional Mathematics should choose AA or AI Standard Level.

Students may study English A Language and Literature if their mother tongue is English or they have studied IGCSE First Language English and/or IGCSE Literature in English:

• Students who wish to study English A at Higher Level should gain a grade ‘B’ or higher for IGCSE First Language English or Literature in English.

• Anyone scoring lower than a grade ‘B’ in IGCSE First Language English or Literature in English should choose English A Standard Level.

Students who studied IGCSE English as a Second Language will study English B:

• Students who wish to study English B at Higher Level should gain a grade ‘B’ or higher for IGCSE English as a Second Language.

• Anyone scoring lower than a grade ‘B’ in IGCSE English as a Second Language should choose English B Standard Level.

Students who have passed IGCSE French, Spanish or Chinese may not take the equivalent subject at Ab Initio; they may choose to study it as Language B.

Students who wish to study Art & Design, Design Technology or Digital Society at either HL or SL level should have studied these subjects (Art & Design, Design Technology or ICT) at IGCSE level. Students who have not completed the IGCSE course in these subjects will need to seek special permission from the appropriate Head of Department.

Maintaining a place in the IB Diploma Programme

Students and parents sign a ‘Behaviour and Academic Performance Contract’ at the start of Year 12. This confirms that:

• Overall IB grades* will be assessed throughout the two-year Diploma programme. To maintain a place in the Diploma Programme students must maintain an overall grade of 25 points or higher.

• If by the end of Semester 1 in Year 12:

1. A student’s overall grade is 25 or lower, they will be moved to IB Courses.

2. A student’s overall grade is 26 or 28 they will be placed on probation and if by the end of Semester 2 their overall grade remains below 26 points, they will be moved to IB Courses.

• If during Year 13 a student’s overall grades are assessed at 26 points or lower, a meeting will be held with the IB Coordinator with a view to moving to IB Courses.

* The overall grade is the total of the grades achieved in a student’s six IB subjects and does not include any predicted bonus points.

Admission for new students is recommendation based and will consider aspects of personality, levels of English, potential and performance such as:

• The student’s academic ability to meet the demands of the IB program. Supporting evidence may come from IGCSE grades, school report cards or teacher recommendations.

• The potential of the student to benefit from the course(s) offered.

• An appropriate level of academic English as determined by the school. For students new to AIS a score of 61% in the Oxford Online Placement Test administered during the admission process is the guideline for entry to the full IB Diploma Programme and a score above 40% for entry into the IB Course programme (‘certificate’). Students scoring below these absolute minimum levels may not have yet developed the academic English to fully access the program and so their acceptance will be determined at interview.

AIS offers Language A in five main languages: English, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Chinese. All students must study English as either language A or language B.