How is work assessed?

The International Baccalaureate assesses student work as direct evidence of achievement against the stated goals of the IB Diploma courses.

IB Diploma assessment procedures measure the extent to which students have mastered advanced academic skills in fulfilling these goals, for example:

• Analysing and presenting information

• Evaluating and constructing arguments

• Solving problems creatively Basic skills are also assessed, including:

• Retaining knowledge

• Understanding key concepts

• Applying standard methods

In addition to academic skills, IB Diploma assessment encourages an international outlook and intercultural skills, where appropriate.

All subjects have an internal component and an external component. The internal component varies from subject to subject and could involve the development of portfolios, essays, oral presentations, etc. The external assessment component in most subjects are the November examinations at the end of Year 12, unless a student anticipates a subject, in which case the final examination would be in November of Year 11 or May of Year 12.

Criterion-based assessment is used for all subjects and each subject is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). Each grade represents a range of marks that varies slightly from subject to subject and year to year.

Up to three additional points can be gained on the performance in the Extended Essay (EE) and Theory of Knowledge (ToK), while Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) must be completed satisfactorily. The award of the IB Diploma requires a minimum of 24 points (with a maximum of 45 points).

The following failing conditions apply to IB Diploma students:

• CAS requirements have not been met.

• Student’s total points are fewer than 24.

• An 'N' has been given for Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay or for a contributing subject.

• An 'E' grade has been awarded for one or both of Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.

• There is a grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

• Grade 2 has been awarded three or more times (HL or SL).

• Grade 3 or below has been awarded four or more times (HL or SL).

• Student has gained fewer than 12 points on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).

• Student has gained fewer than 9 points on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).

• Student has received a penalty for academic misconduct from the final award committee.