IBDP at Charterhouse: An Introduction

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

Is the IBDP the right pathway for me?

Suits all-rounders with a breadth of academic interests and strengths

Maya Bayliss (F23) is reading Geography at the University of Edinburgh

HL Geography

HL French

HL History

SL English Literature

SL Mathematics A&I

SL Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)

“ The main thing about the IBDP is to deconstruct the myths associated with it. Like the myth that IB pupils are always working. This just isn’t true: I had time to do so many other things at Charterhouse; I was in two shows, I captained the 1st XI football team, and I was a Senior House Monitor.”

“ You don’t need to be super-academic to do IBDP. Fundamentally you need to be passionate about one or two subjects and the others tend to follow...”

“ A lot of the IBDP is about coming to your own conclusions based on your knowledge... I found this really helpful because it’s what both universities and future employers are looking for...”

A choice between two World-leading Programmes

In the Charterhouse Sixth Form Specialists can choose to follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma or an A Level curriculum. Both offer the opportunity for increased specialisation albeit with slightly different emphases.

Although A Levels have long been considered the gold standard in the UK, the value of a broader Sixth Form curriculum is becoming increasingly evident.

The IBDP Diploma offers greater breadth than A Levels, so that pupils can keep their academic options open for longer. Specialisation is nevertheless a feature of the Programme with 3 of the 6 subjects selected at the more demanding Higher Level. The IBDP is recognized the world over for its ability to develop young people who are intellectually curious, well-rounded and internationally-minded.

The IB Diploma: Reasons for choosing this world-class programme

The IBDP is renowned internationally for the incredibly broad range of skills it develops in young learners.

The Diploma explicitly develops the critical thinking, innovation and creativity, and the global perspective identified consistently by leading employer surveys as keys to success in the modern business world.

These give students a distinct advantage at university and into their future careers. Charterhouse’s IBDP alumni have told us repeatedly of how their independent study skills and experience in academic writing, have put them far ahead of undergraduate peers.

Carthusians benefit from the greater breadth offered by the IBDP. They are better able to make connections between areas of their learning in a world of work that increasingly requires those who can function effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. The IBDP helps students to develop into the sort of intellectually curious, well-rounded and internationally-minded young people who are able to grasp the opportunities that come their way.

“ The IBDP diploma is a fantastic course that prepares young people for the independence of higher education. It allows pupils to explore a broad range of subjects despite still focusing on the ones of most interest to them. I found it genuinely mind-opening since it focused on creating inclusive individuals who are able to think critically. It also gives credit to pupils for cultivating their interests outside of the classroom through the CAS programme. The IBDP is an amazing option for teenagers since it provides them with great education without limiting their horizons.”

Andrea, Old Carthusian

IB Diploma vs A Levels –Unravelling the distinctions

The IBDP is as academically challenging as A Levels

Academic rigour is similar at HL, but with less content covered

• Both A Levels and IBDP require consistent levels of motivation and organisation

• What is required is a commitment to being organised and diligent in your study

IBDP Pupils have coursework for each subject

• Although IBDP pupils study more subjects, each includes coursework, or an Individual Assessment (IA) that allows pupils to get credit in the bank before sitting their exams

Universities worldwide recognize the IBDP

• The IBDP has been accepted in UK universities for 50 years, and Carthusian Diploma pupils are more likely to achieve places at Russell Group institutions

• Research from 2013-19 has shown that UK IBDP graduates are 44% more likely to get into a Top 20 university than A Level pupils with comparable grades. Universities understand well what IBDP pupils can offer.

• Mathematics is the only university course where A Level Maths and Further Mathematics are likely to be preferred, but the IBDP is excellent preparation for courses like Medicine that require well-rounded undergraduates.

IBDP Subject Groups

Pupils following the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) study six subjects drawn from the groups opposite. Each pupil selects 3 subjects to take at Higher Level (6 lessons per week) and 3 at Standard Level (4 lessons per week).

Higher Level (HL)

Higher Level contains both greater content and difficulty. The intellectual demand of Higher Level is similar to that of A Level, but syllabus content is lighter, in recognition that 6 subjects are being studied.

Pupils studying for A Levels have 8 lessons per subject per week, and are expected to undertake a substantially higher volume of independent additional work than IBDP pupils.

Standard Level (SL)

Standard Level subjects have a reduced level of content and difficulty but provide the additional breadth that is a hallmark of the IBDP.

Overall composition

All IBDP pupils continue to study Maths, English Literature and a foreign language until the age of 18, a pattern seen across most of the world. This ensures that all begin undergraduate study with a balanced set of skills.

Subjects offered in the IBDP

Group Category

Group 1

Studies in Language and Literature

Group 2

Language Acquisition

Group 3

Individuals and Societies

Group 4

Group 5

Group 6

Experimental Sciences

Mathematics

Arts / Electives

Subjects available

English Literature A

Language and Literature A: Italian, German and Mandarin

Language B: French, German, Latin, Mandarin and Spanish (HL and SL)

Language ab initio (SL only): Italian, Mandarin

Business and Management, Economics, Geography, Global Politics, History, Philosophy and Psychology

Biology, Chemistry (HL only), Environmental Systems and Societies (SL only) and Physics

Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches

Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation

Visual Arts (Option A) HL and SL

Music and Drama can be made available in Group 6 if there is sufficient interest.

Notes

Language Acquisition

• We offer a second ‘native’ language for bilingual pupils in Italian and Chinese (and will do so in other European languages where there is demand)

• Continuation language courses are available in French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Latin for non-native speakers

• Beginners’ courses are available in Italian and Mandarin Mathematics

• Analytics and Approaches (A&A) is a more algebraic course with similarities to A Level while Applications and Interpretation (A&I) is more numerical, focusing on the application of numeracy to statistics, probability etc

The IBDP Core

The IBDP ‘Core’ comprises 3 compulsory areas of experience that contribute a total of three additional points towards the final Diploma.

Theory of Knowledge (ToK)

Theory of Knowledge holds the IBDP Diploma Programme together by exploring the claims that we make about knowledge. Pupils explore how they come to know what they claim to know and determine what constitutes good, persuasive evidence. In an era of ‘fake news’, it encourages a healthy scepticism requiring learners to be discerning about what they are taught. It is examined through an Exhibition curated by the pupils and in a 1600 word essay.

Extended Essay (EE)

The Extended Essay is a further element that allows for specialisation. Pupils select their own topic drawn from a subject of their choice. The EE requires each pupil to undertake research with the support of an essay supervisor and is thus highly prized by universities, as it provides first-class preparation for the independent research and academic writing skills demanded of undergraduate study.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

CAS gives pupils credit for the sporting, cultural and volunteering activities that are a fundamental part of the Charterhouse Sixth Form offer. Pupils complete a journal of their CAS activities over two years and undertake an individual project within the field. Activities that can be counted include undertaking an expedition, charity fund-raising, playing in a sport teams, performing in the School orchestra or helping in primary school outreach activities.

There are dedicated coordinators in all three of these areas who work closely with the IBDP Coordinator to support pupils throughout the course.

University Entrance

UK universities have over 50 years of experience with IBDP Diploma candidates and fully understand the Programme and its grading system. Research carried out in the UK has found that Diploma graduates have a slightly higher chance of attending a top 20 ranked university than A Level pupils. Carthusian IBDP graduates have found that they are better prepared for undergraduate study than their peers owing to superior organisational and research skills.

More Carthusians are choosing to attend university overseas. The USA is by far the biggest market for the IBDP globally, where its broader knowledge base prepares pupils well for undergraduate study there. Charterhouse IBDP pupils have been more successful in USA applications than their A Level counterparts.

Is the IBDP the right pathway for me?

Suits

pupils who wish to keep their career / university choices open

Elliot (Old Carthusian)

HL English Literature

HL Spanish

HL History SL Biology

SL Mathematics A&I SL Economics

42 points: Law at Cambridge University

“ Choosing the IBDP for my Specialist studies was the best decision I could have made. I am fascinated by many different subject areas and the academic breadth that the IBDP structure provides afforded me the opportunity to branch out.”

“ The IBDP encourages you to see your work in a global context and garner an appreciation for various cultures.”

“ By studying six subjects, you come to appreciate how various disciplines intertwine and the links between your Economics essay and the causes for an event you are studying in History, or the evaluative techniques in your Maths IA and Biology fieldwork become more apparent.”

IBDP

Three Higher Level Subjects

Main courses, in greater depth

A Level

Three A Levels

Three Standard Level Subjects

Core (CAS/TOK/ Extended Essay)

Additional Courses to add breadth and interest Connected Learning

Fourth A Level or Electives

EPQ (Extended Project Qualification)

Charterhouse Entrepreneurship Diploma –Level 3 Professional qualification in Applied Entrepreneurship