Understanding the International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is widely recognized by universities, but many are unsure of what it truly entails—this article will uncover all the ins and outs of the IB Diploma Program, explaining how it works and what makes it unique.
IB EXAMS CONTENT | IB DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT | IB EXAMS SCHEDULE
The IB Diploma is awarded at the end of high school and serves as a gateway to universities. It is completed over a two-year cycle—DP1 (Grade 11) and DP2 (Grade 12). To earn the diploma, students must complete both years, meaning it’s not possible to join the program in Grade 12 alone.
At MIS, English is the language of instruction - as it is in many IB schools. However, the IB allows schools to offer the program in multiple languages, depending on the region and the language of the student body.
The International Baccalaureate is highly regarded by universities globally due to its emphasis on critical thinking, research skills, and self-management through a challenging curriculum. This prepares students for the independent learning environment of higher education. As a result, IB graduates are well-equipped to apply to top universities not only in Europe, but also in the United States and around the world.
IB EXAMS CONTENT
To achieve the IB Diploma, students have to cover 6 subjects chosen from 6 areas of study, as well as completing the IB Core Elements: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS.
6 subject groups
The IB Diploma requires students to study six subjects, one from each of the following groups:
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Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
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Group 2: Language Acquisition
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Group 3: Individuals and Societies
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Group 4: Sciences
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Group 5: Mathematics
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Group 6: The Arts (students may also choose another subject from the previous five groups if they prefer not to study an arts subject)
Three of these subjects is studied at either Higher Level (HL) and three at a Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses involve more content and require more study time, while Standard Level courses cover the material in less depth. This allows students to focus on subjects that they are considering for university, while still gaining general knowledge in other areas.
For more information about the subjects offered at MIS, please go to our IB Diploma page.
Core Components
In addition to the six subjects, the IB Diploma program has three core components that all students must complete:
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Theory of Knowledge (TOK):
TOK is a critical thinking course where students explore the nature of knowledge, different ways of knowing, and how knowledge is acquired. Students must write an essay and give an oral presentation as part of this course. -
Extended Essay (EE):
The Extended Essay is an independent research project on a topic related to one of the student's six subjects. The essay is typically around 3,000-4,000 words and requires students to engage in in-depth research, develop an argument, and write a formal academic paper. The EE allows students to develop research skills and prepares them for university-level academic work. -
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS):
CAS requires students to participate in a range of extracurricular activities that involve creativity (e.g., art, music), physical activity (e.g., sports, exercise), and service (e.g., volunteering, community projects). Students need to reflect on their experiences and document their participation in CAS activities over the two years of the program.
For more information about the subjects offered at MIS, please go to our IB Diploma page.
IB DIPLOMA ASSESSMENT
External vs. Internal Assessments
Assessment in the IB Diploma Program is a mix of internal and external evaluations:
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External Assessments: These are typically exams held at the end of the two years. The exams are designed to assess students' understanding of their subjects and are standardized across all IB schools worldwide. Exams account for a significant portion of the final grade in each subject.
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Internal Assessments: These are projects, presentations, or assignments completed during the course and graded by the teacher. Examples include science lab reports, oral presentations in language courses, and essays in humanities subjects. These assessments are moderated by IB examiners to ensure consistency across schools.
Grading & Diploma
To be awarded the IB Diploma, students must meet the following conditions:
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Achieve a minimum of 24 points across all six subjects, with certain conditions on how these points are distributed. Students must also meet the minimum performance requirements in the core components (TOK, EE, and CAS).
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Points from subjects: Each of the six subjects is graded on a scale from 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest. Therefore, the total possible points from the subjects alone is 42 (6 subjects x 7 points).
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Subject Grade Conditions:
Students must not have more than one grade of 3 across their subjects. A grade of 1 in any subject results in not being awarded the IB Diploma.
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Points from TOK and EE: Students can earn up to 3 additional points for the combined performance in the Theory of Knowledge course and the Extended Essay. If a student receives an E in either TOK or the Extended Essay, they will not be awarded the IB Diploma, even if they meet the requirements for their subject grades.
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| TOK/EE Grade Combination | Bonus Point Awarded |
|---|---|
| A/A | 3 |
| A/B or B/A | 2 |
| B/B | 1 |
| C or lower | 0 |
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CAS Completion:
Students must fulfill the CAS requirements by actively engaging in the Creativity, Activity, and Service activities throughout the program. These activities must be documented and reflected upon in a portfolio.
Here are different scenarios where students would NOT obtain the IB diploma:
| Subject Grade | TOK | EE | CAS | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/6/2/7/5/5 - 28 pts | B | D | Completed | a D in the EE |
| 3/3/7/6/6/7 - 32 pts | A | A | Completed | More than one 3 |
| 1/4/6/4/7/7 - 29 pts | B | B | Completed | One grade below 2 |
| 4/6/5/4/3/6 - 28 pts | B | A | Not Completed | CAS not completed |
| 4/4/3/2/4/4 - 21 pts | A | A | Completed | Subjects Grades total below 24 |
Students who do not meet all the requirements may still receive individual certificates for the courses they complete.
IB EXAMS SCHEDULE
The International Baccalaureate (IB) follows a standardized exam schedule for all its Diploma Program (DP) students, regardless of where they are located.
The IB exams are held in May and November each year, and the exact dates are the same for all schools offering the IB Diploma Program worldwide. This is done to ensure fairness and consistency in the assessment process. Since the IB Diploma is an internationally recognized qualification, having a standardized exam schedule allows for uniformity in evaluation, and it helps maintain the integrity of the IB assessment system.
Time Zones and Exam Scheduling
Although the exams are held at the same time globally, the time zone differences mean that the exams are taken at different local times in each region. For example, a student in Brussels may take their IB exam at a different local time than a student in Tokyo or New York, but the content and difficulty of the exam remain the same.
To accommodate the time zone differences, the IB provides a window of time during which the exams take place. This ensures that all students, regardless of their geographical location, take the same exam on the same day, just at different local times.
Coordination and Exam Administration
Since IB schools are spread across many countries, they follow a well-coordinated procedure to administer the exams. Each school is responsible for ensuring that their students are properly registered for the exams, and the schools follow strict rules set by the IB for exam integrity, security, and fairness.
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MIS Community
At Montgomery International School, most of our students come from abroad, speak two or three languages and add much to the character of the school. We also attract Belgian families and long term expats who are looking for international openness and quality teaching and learning.