International Baccalaureate is a rather unusual course of study that allows students to enter world recognized universities. It is believed that the beginning of this system was laid by the French teacher Marie-Thérèse Morette. The IB system is based on three techniques: the principle of international culture, the principle of world history and the principle of bilingualism. The learning process is carried out in a foreign language: you can choose a program in English, Spanish or French. Under the IB program, 2,718 international schools of the world operate in 125 countries. It is represented by three agreed programs for students from 3 to 19 years old:
- primary school program for children from 5 to 11 years old
- basic program for children from 11 to 16 years old
- high school program for students aged 16-19.
Studying process
The program contains 6 disciplines that are chosen by the student from 6 groups of academic subjects:
- language and literature, literature and theater
- foreign language (modern languages, classical languages ─ ancient Greek or Latin)
- man and society (economics, geography, history, business and management, psychology, philosophy, global politics, world religions, social and cultural anthropology)
- sciences (biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, design and technology, ecology and society, sports and health)
- mathematics (higher mathematics, mathematical research)
- art and optional subjects (music, visual arts, choreography, theater, cinema).
Three subjects are studied at an advanced level and three at a standard level. Main groups: native language, foreign language, technical sciences, research knowledge, subjects related to society, creative courses. If you do not want to study creativity, you can choose any subject from another group.
An obligatory point is the study of the theory of knowledge, which includes critical thinking, logic and others, the skills of practical application of theoretical knowledge in life. Each student is encouraged to spend 150 hours developing creativity, fitness, and active participation in philanthropy and environmental protection.
Graduate work
At the end of the training, you should submit a thesis, a kind of research report, of 4000 words or more, reflecting the skills to analyze, the ability to come up with your own theories and draw conclusions. This is a mandatory requirement for obtaining the International Baccalaureate certification.
At the end, exams are taken. The maximum possible number of points that can be collected is 45. Each subject is evaluated on a seven-point system. An additional 3 points are given for an excellent thesis and for a project on the theory of knowledge. The minimum number of points required to obtain a diploma is 24, subject to participation in the creative program. Refusal to participate in the program of creative, sports and spiritual development, unfulfilled thesis, copying someone else's ideas may become a reason for refusal to receive a diploma.
IB Schools abroad
IInternational baccalaureate diploma is considered equivalent to a certificate of complete secondary education.
An International Baccalaureate Diploma opens up great opportunities for students. In some foreign universities, in the presence of such a diploma, they immediately admit to the second year without the need to pass exams, while in others it is an alternative diploma for an applicant entering any university abroad. The main advantages of such a program are a unique teaching methodology, high quality education, interesting teaching, high objectivity of assessment.
