Year 12 for the IB Diploma
Marc Whitehead IBDP Coordinator
New in Semester 2 for Year 11
What does Semester 2 look like for Year 11 students
Year 11 is mostly the same with some slight differences.
Students will start HL Subjects in Semester 2
Students will begin some of their Internal Assessments
Students will begin the Extended Essay
Students will begin the TOK Exhibition
Key Decisions and Questions
Which subjects should I study at Higher Level (HL)?
Choose subjects that you are passionate about.
Use assessment grades to help inform areas that you excel at.
Do your research. Which subjects will aid your university studies?
Key Decisions and Questions
The difference between HL and SL
Some subjects have more challenging concepts as an addition Some subjects are designed with less challenging concepts in mind.
Extra Examinations or Assessments to complete Assessments and Examinations may be shorter in length
Many aspects of Higher Level and Standard Level are the same. This depends on the subject. It is a good idea to have a discussion with the subject teacher to understand the similarities and differences.
Why are there levels?
The philosophy of the IB is that they are preparing you past your high school education.
They created HL in preparation for university, not only to achieve well in Secondary School.
They foster a philosophy of "lifelong learning".
The courses are designed to set you on a longer journey past the need to solely pass Secondary School or gain a high ATAR.
IB Diploma aims to bridge the gap between secondary school and university reducing dropout rates.
Theory of Knowledge
Consideration of the central question: How do we know?
Compulsory, interdisciplinary requirement promoting student:
• Critical reflection on diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge
• Awareness of themselves as thinkers
Awareness of the interpretative nature of knowledge
Preparation for tertiary education
100 hours over 2 years
The TOK Exhibition – Exhibition on 3 Objects/images based on prescribed prompts from the IB
Essay on a prescribed title (up to 1600 words)
https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/new-structure/recognition/pdfs/core-tok-2022-en.pdf
TOK Questions develop critical thinkers!
In the acquisition of knowledge, is following experts unquestioningly as dangerous as ignoring them completely? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.
Is it problematic that knowledge is so often shaped by the values of those who produce it? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.
Is it always the case that “the world isn’t just the way it is, it is how we understand it— and in understanding something, we bring something to it” (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.
Extended Essay
Independently written research paper
Opportunity to explore an academic area of personal interest from a DP subject
Students demonstrate their enthusiasm, intellectual initiative and creative approach for chosen topic
Develop transferable skills such as research, critical thinking and self-management.
Preparation for tertiary education
Introduced in Year 11 and completed in Year 12
Upper limit of 4,000 words
Recommended 40 hours private study
Three compulsory formal reflections with supervisor
https://www.ibo.org/contentassets/5895a05412144fe890312bad52b17044/extended-essay-brief-2016-en.pdf
The IB Diploma
What will be different in Year 12?
Unlike SACE, IB is a 2 Year Programme - students will continue with their subjects in Year 12.
Students will complete the majority of their internal assessments by September.
Examinations will take place in November 2025
Deadline Calendar and Expectations
What will we be the outcome at the end of year 12?
The IB Diploma focusses on skills and inquiry, which prepare students for university and the workplace.
Holistic learning through breadth and depth. More subjects from different skill domains aids in student development.
The IB design their courses with the needs of university education in mind.
Unique approach to critical thinking through Theory of Knowledge.
Aims to ensure that students think about where knowledge comes from.
Strong focus on developing Thinkers rather than "Doers".
https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/discover-why-ib-students-succeed/
Dispelling some Myths
ATAR advantage
ATAR conversion for IB
• Final IB scores are reported on a whole number scale between 24 and 45
• An IB Admissions Score (IBAS) provides more precise values that considers their average place in grade boundaries in each subject.
• The IBAS is then used to determine the equivalent ATAR (referred to as a combined rank) for Tertiary entry.
• Full conversions from IBAS to ATAR can be accessed in SATAC publications
https://www.satac.edu.au/satac-publications
*examples of 2024 conversions
4s and 5s are equivalent to B/C in SACE, but very achievable as you only need 40-50% knowledge in some courses
Adjustment Factors
There are two schemes which provide adjustment factors to applicants
The 3 South Australian universities as well as Torrens University, Tabor College and Charles Darwin University in NT may add adjustment factors to a student’s university aggregate to calculate a selection rank for entry to their courses.
There are two schemes which provide adjustment factors to applicants
• Universities Equity Scheme and
• Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme
These schemes are described on
• Pages 36 & 37 in the SACE Tertiary Entrance Booklet (Orange)
• Pages 13 & 14 in the IB Tertiary Entrance Booklet (Green)
Adjustment Factors
Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme
This scheme encourages students to strengthen their preparation for undergraduate studies by undertaking a language other than English or specified English and Mathematics subjects.
Students will be awarded two points (up to a total maximum of four points) for successfully completing a subject in any one of 4 categories:
• Language other than English
• English, English Literary Studies or IB English A: Literature
• Mathematical Methods or IB Mathematics A&I HL
• Specialist Mathematics or IB Mathematics A&A (SL or HL)
https://www.satac.edu.au/adjustment-factors
Adjustment Factors
Universities Equity Scheme
This scheme provides adjustments in 2 ways: adjustment for students in certain specified schools and adjustment for individuals in other schools.
Mercedes College is not eligible for school-based adjustment but in relation to Individual adjustments, applicants will be eligible providing:
• they or their parents are in receipt of a Commonwealth means-tested income support payment or
• they or their parents are holders of a Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or
• they are the holder of a School Card under the Government of South Australia’s School Card Scheme.
University Recognition Scheme
University of Adelaide
Myths and misunderstandings
• Predicting the ATAR and misleading websites.
• UCAT and UCAT preparation workshops – someone always has a story about ‘the inside track’. Companies offering workshops: ‘buyer beware’.
• Which universities are best and why?
• There is a lot of advice – how much of it is based on credible research? Access this website: https://www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au/
• The universities work very hard to provide information to Year 12 students about applying to university: access valid sources.
https://www.satac.edu.au/satac-publications
