International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP): Difference between revisions
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French, Spanish, German, and Chinese. | French, Spanish, German, and Chinese. | ||
SSVM Institutions proudly offers the IBDP as part of its Shared Academic Programmes, | SSVM Institutions [[Ruh Continuum School]] K-12 Campus proudly offers the IBDP as part of its Shared Academic Programmes, | ||
preparing students from its campuses to meet the highest global standards of academic | preparing students from its campuses to meet the highest global standards of academic | ||
excellence, critical thinking, and ethical development. | excellence, critical thinking, and ethical development. | ||
Revision as of 06:17, 18 February 2026
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a rigorous, internationally recognised two-year pre-university academic programme for students aged 16 to 19, developed and administered by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), a non-profit educational foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Established in 1968, the IBDP is now offered in more than 5,700 schools across 160 countries, taught in English, French, Spanish, German, and Chinese.
SSVM Institutions Ruh Continuum School K-12 Campus proudly offers the IBDP as part of its Shared Academic Programmes, preparing students from its campuses to meet the highest global standards of academic excellence, critical thinking, and ethical development.
Overview
The IBDP was created with the mission of developing internationally minded young people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. The programme is celebrated for its academic breadth, intellectual rigour, and holistic approach to education, combining six subject disciplines with three transformative core components.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme Type | Pre-University (Grades 11–12) |
| Target Age Group | 16 to 19 years |
| Duration | 2 Years |
| Total Subjects | 6 (one from each subject group) |
| Maximum Score | 45 Points |
| Minimum Score for Diploma | 24 Points |
| Languages of Instruction | English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese |
| Exam Sessions | May (Northern Hemisphere) & November (Southern Hemisphere) |
| Awarding Body | International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) |
| Global Recognition | Accepted by universities in 100+ countries |
Programme Structure
The IBDP consists of two interconnected parts: the Six Subject Groups and the DP Core. Together, these form a comprehensive educational framework that ensures students develop academic knowledge alongside essential life skills.
Six Subject Groups
Every IBDP student must study six subjects, one from each of the following groups. Students choose three to four subjects at Higher Level (HL) and the remaining at Standard Level (SL).
| Group | Subject Area | Examples of Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Studies in Language and Literature | Language A: Literature; Language A: Language and Literature; Literature and Performance |
| Group 2 | Language Acquisition | Language B (English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Tamil, etc.); Language ab initio |
| Group 3 | Individuals and Societies | History; Economics; Geography; Psychology; Business Management; Global Politics;
Philosophy; Social and Cultural Anthropology; Digital Society |
| Group 4 | Sciences | Biology; Chemistry; Physics; Environmental Systems and Societies; Computer Science;
Sports, Exercise and Health Science; Design Technology |
| Group 5 | Mathematics | Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (AA); Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (AI) |
| Group 6 | The Arts | Visual Arts; Music; Theatre; Film; Dance (students may also choose an additional
Group 3 or Group 4 subject instead) |
The DP Core
The DP Core is mandatory for all IBDP students and consists of three essential components that sit at the heart of the programme. Together, they develop critical thinking, independent research, and the spirit of service.
1. Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
Theory of Knowledge is a unique, interdisciplinary course that challenges students to critically examine the nature of knowledge itself and how we come to know what we claim to know. It is one of the most distinctive features of the IBDP and has no equivalent in most other pre-university programmes.
- What students explore: Ways of Knowing (Sense Perception, Language, Reason, Emotion,
Intuition, Imagination, Faith, Memory) and Areas of Knowledge (Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, Mathematics, History, The Arts, Ethics, Religious Knowledge, Indigenous Knowledge)
- Assessment:
- TOK Essay – A 1,600-word essay written on one of six prescribed titles set by the IB
- TOK Exhibition – Students create an exhibition of three objects linked to a core
theme, demonstrating how TOK connects to the real world (assessed internally)
- Grading: A to E (A = Excellent, E = Elementary)
- Contribution to Score: TOK grade, combined with EE grade, can contribute up to
2. Extended Essay (EE)
The Extended Essay is an independent, self-directed research project that gives students the opportunity to investigate a topic of personal academic interest in depth. It is a defining feature of the IBDP and serves as excellent preparation for university-level research and writing.
- Word Count: 4,000 words
- Subject: Any IB-approved subject; must connect to the student's chosen subject group
- Process: Students select a research question, gather and analyse primary and secondary
sources, and write a scholarly essay with proper citations and referencing
- Supervision: Guided by a school-appointed supervisor who provides three formal
reflection sessions
- Assessment: Externally marked by IB examiners on a scale of A to E
- Contribution to Score: Combined with TOK grade for up to 3 bonus points (see matrix above)
Popular EE Subject Areas at SSVM:
- History – Causes and consequences of significant historical events
- Economics – Market analysis, policy impact studies
- Biology/Chemistry – Laboratory-based investigations
- Literature – Comparative analysis of literary texts
- Business Management – Entrepreneurship and organisational studies
3. Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
CAS is the experiential learning core of the IBDP. It requires students to participate in a range of activities alongside their academic studies, fostering personal and interpersonal development. CAS is not formally graded but must be completed satisfactorily for diploma award.
| Strand | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity | Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance | Painting, writing, photography, music composition, drama, video production, coding projects |
| Activity | Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle | Sports, yoga, martial arts, hiking, dance, swimming, community fitness programmes |
| Service | Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an identified need | Teaching underprivileged children, environmental clean-up, fundraising, community outreach |
- CAS Project: Students must undertake at least one collaborative CAS project involving
planning, implementation, and reflection
- Reflection: Students maintain a CAS portfolio documenting their experiences, evidence,
and reflective journals across all three strands
- Duration: CAS activities run throughout the entire two-year IBDP
CAS Learning Outcomes (Students must demonstrate all 7):
- Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
- Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken
- Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
- Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences
- Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively
- Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
- Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions