The IB Diploma Programme (DP

Sha Tin College

The IB Diploma Programme (DP)

The DP is a two-year pre-university course. It is best summarised by the programme model.

• All students in the DP must study six subjects chosen from the following areas:

Group 1 Studies in Language and Literature

Group 2 Language Acquisition

Group 3 Individuals and Societies

Group 4 Sciences

Group 5 Mathematics

Group 6 The Arts

• Three of these subjects are taken at the more demanding Higher Level (HL), and three at Standard Level (SL). While we actively encourage our students to pursue an Arts subject, at STC they may choose to take an additional subject form Group 3 or 4 in Group 6. In addition to studying six subjects, all students will study the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) course, complete an Extended Essay (EE) and fulfil the learning outcomes for Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS).

• The DP is scored out of 45 points. Each of the six subjects is worth a maximum of 7 points, making a combined total of 42. The remaining 3 points are awarded form the Core and are based on the student’s performance in ToK and EE. Although there are no points awarded for CAS, failure to meet the learning objectives will result in the diploma being withheld.

• Grading in the DP is criterion referenced. This means that each student’s performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement, which are consistent from one year to the next. All students must achieve at least 24 points, submit an EE and ToK assessments which are at least a D grade, and meet the CAS learning objectives to be awarded a diploma. IBDP candidates take their final examinations in May of Y13 and receive their results in early July of the same year.

• For many students, once individual subjects are chosen, the greatest difficulty is deciding what level of study is appropriate: Higher or Standard Level. Students need to balance carefully their own interests and abilities with university requirements. Students are urged to speak with their teachers to find out about the differences between the two levels. In some subjects the difference is mainly about the amount of work in the syllabus, while in others it is a variation in the degree of difficulty.