For starters...
There's two main types of IB students and it's important to identify which one an IB student is. Why? The type of IB student someone is determines what they have to specifically have to do. The first type of IB student is one who simply takes IB classes. The second type is an IB student who is enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme. Both students are able to receive college credit for their IB classes, but only IB Diploma Programme students are eligible to receive an IB Diploma. Additionally, IB Diploma Programme students have to fulfill a certain curriculum and certain requirements.
The IB Diploma Programme is a two year long program that, in the U.S., traditionally occurs in the Junior and Senior years of high school. Our school doesn't require any specific pre-requisites to join our IB program but students should try to take classes in their Sophomore and Freshman years that prepare them for the classes they'll be taking while in it.
To join West Valley's IB program as a Diploma Programme student, simply email your counselor and request to join. To join West Valley's IB program as a student who simply takes IB classes, just sign up for IB classes when the time comes to enroll in your classes.
The IB Diploma Programme is a two year long program that, in the U.S., traditionally occurs in the Junior and Senior years of high school. Our school doesn't require any specific pre-requisites to join our IB program but students should try to take classes in their Sophomore and Freshman years that prepare them for the classes they'll be taking while in it.
To join West Valley's IB program as a Diploma Programme student, simply email your counselor and request to join. To join West Valley's IB program as a student who simply takes IB classes, just sign up for IB classes when the time comes to enroll in your classes.
IB Classes Offered at WVHS:Studies in Language and Literature: Language Acquisition: Individuals and Societies: Sciences: Mathematics: The Arts: Theory of Knowledge*
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* Theory of Knowledge is only open to IB Diploma Programme students
"SL" stands for standard learning and is a class that has a duration of one year. "HL" stands for higher learner and is a class that has a duration of two years. IB Diploma Programme students are required to take at least one class in each of the subject groups minus The Arts (but you must take another IB class in a different subject group to take its place) along with Theory of Knowledge. Additionally, they must take at least 3 HL classes and at least 3 SL classes throughout the two years. Fun fact! Students who take IB History of the Americas HL will be rewarded Government and Economics credits along with History credits and won't have to take those classes senior year. **Another fun fact! Students can take the AP test for the corresponding IB classes they are in. However, it's the student's responsibility to study and account for the differences in the course content of that class. ** Currently under review, may be subject to change. |
Additional IB Diploma Programme Requirements:
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)CAS is an element of IB that allows for students to go through personal development by learning through experience and reflection. It provides opportunity for students to develop the 10 attributes valued by IB and a way for them to counterbalance their academic pressures.
150 hours of CAS activities accompanied with meaningful reflections and evidence are required. Additonally: diploma students must complete a CAS project, which is a long-term, ongoing, and meaningful project. Basically, it is a more complicated CAS activity with more thought put into it. |
Extended Essay (EE)The extended essay is a 4,000 word research paper written independently by a student. Students can choose any subject to write about, but it is suggested that they write about a subject they have taken as an IB class.
Additionally, students must do three reflections about their EE (500 words maximum, cumulatively). The first two are written and the final one, called viva voce, is oral. |
Exams:
IB exams are where the score for an IB class comes from. IB exams consist of two main parts: the internal assessment (IA) and the external assessment (EA).
What the internal assessment is depends on the subject (for example, in Biology it's an investigative essay completed over the span of a few months but in Literature it's an oral completed within minutes), but basically it's an assessment done and graded by the teacher of the class. It can be things such as artistic performances, oral presentations, or investigations presented in essays.
The external assessment is similar to other tests (such as the AP test) as it is graded by and conducted by the organization. It consists of things such as essays, short-response questions, and multiple choice questions.
The IB score is a combination of the student's scores in the IA and EA. The EA tends to weigh more heavily in the scoring as the IB considers it more objective and reliable, but how heavily it weighs depends on the class.
What the internal assessment is depends on the subject (for example, in Biology it's an investigative essay completed over the span of a few months but in Literature it's an oral completed within minutes), but basically it's an assessment done and graded by the teacher of the class. It can be things such as artistic performances, oral presentations, or investigations presented in essays.
The external assessment is similar to other tests (such as the AP test) as it is graded by and conducted by the organization. It consists of things such as essays, short-response questions, and multiple choice questions.
The IB score is a combination of the student's scores in the IA and EA. The EA tends to weigh more heavily in the scoring as the IB considers it more objective and reliable, but how heavily it weighs depends on the class.
IB Diploma Point Requirements
In order to receive the IB diploma, students must reach a certain threshold of points.
The points are rewarded in two ways: the score earned in each subject group (maximum six scores) and the score earned from TOK and EE.
The score earned in a subject group is just the IB score the student receives for that class and is graded on a scale of 1-7 (with 1 being the worse score and 7 being the best score).
The points are rewarded in two ways: the score earned in each subject group (maximum six scores) and the score earned from TOK and EE.
The score earned in a subject group is just the IB score the student receives for that class and is graded on a scale of 1-7 (with 1 being the worse score and 7 being the best score).
The score earned from TOK and EE is based off how the student did in both areas and can reward up to 3 points.
6 IB classes times a maximum of 7 points each = 42 plus the 3 maximum points from TOK and the EE = a maximum possible score a student can receive of 45. However, only 24 points are required for the diploma.
Additionally: at least 12 of the points are from HL classes, at least 9 of the points are from SL classes, there are no more than 2 IB scores of "2" rewarded, there are no more than 3 IB scores of "3" rewarded, there's no IB scores of "1" rewarded, there's no "E" grade rewarded for either TOK or the EE, all CAS requirements have been met, and the student has not received any penalties for academic misconduct.
6 IB classes times a maximum of 7 points each = 42 plus the 3 maximum points from TOK and the EE = a maximum possible score a student can receive of 45. However, only 24 points are required for the diploma.
Additionally: at least 12 of the points are from HL classes, at least 9 of the points are from SL classes, there are no more than 2 IB scores of "2" rewarded, there are no more than 3 IB scores of "3" rewarded, there's no IB scores of "1" rewarded, there's no "E" grade rewarded for either TOK or the EE, all CAS requirements have been met, and the student has not received any penalties for academic misconduct.
For any more information, check out the official IB website: https://www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/
(Fun fact: towards the top right corner there's a drop down menu where you can select to translate the website into either French or Spanish)
(Fun fact: towards the top right corner there's a drop down menu where you can select to translate the website into either French or Spanish)