High School | Course Offerings
Requirements for the IB Diploma and IB Courses
The curriculum contains six subject groups together with a core made up of three separate parts.
Students study six subjects selected from the subject groups. Normally three subjects are studied at higher level, and the remaining three subjects are studied at standard level.
All three parts of the core - the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge course and the Creativity, Activity & Service programme, are compulsory for the full IB Diploma and are central to the philosophy of the programme.
Students must study one subject from each of Groups 1 to 5. The sixth subject may be selected from Group 6 (the Arts) or may be a second subject from groups 1, 2, 3 or 4.
ISL offers the following subjects in each group at both higher and standard level unless indicated otherwise:
Group 1:
- English A Literature
- English A Language & Literature
- French A Language & Literature
- German A Language & Literature
- School-Supported Self-Taught Literature (various languages)
Group 2:
- English B
- French B
- German B
- Spanish B
- French ab initio (beginner level)
- Spanish ab initio (beginner level)
Group 3:
- Business Management
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- Psychology
Group 4:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Design Technology
- Physics
- Sports, Exercise and Health Science
Group 5:
- Maths Analysis & Approaches HL
- Maths Analysis & Approaches SL
- Maths Applications & Interpretations HL
- Maths Applications & Interpretations SL
Group 6:
- Film
- Music
- Theatre Arts
- Visual Arts
Student work is assessed both internally and externally. Internal assessments form at least 20% of the final mark. In each IB examination, the student is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum).
The award of the diploma requires students to meet defined standards and conditions. These include a minimum total of 24 points and the satisfactory completion of three compulsory core components: 1) Theory of Knowledge (TOK); 2) Extended Essay; and 3) Creativity, Activity & Service (CAS).
Thus, the programme has the strengths of a traditional and broad curriculum, augmented by the three requirements shown at the centre of the programme model above.
Worldwide, approximately 80% of students are awarded the diploma. A student who does not satisfy the requirements of the full Diploma Programme, or who has elected to take fewer than six subjects, is awarded a certificate for the examinations completed.
Prior to enrolling in the IB Programme, students are issued with the ISL Guide to the IB Diploma Programme detailing all the necessary information related to obtaining the IB Diploma at ISL. Throughout the entire two year programme, the Dean of External Programmes (IB and IGCSE) provides information, advice, resources and support to students and parents.
Detailed information about all aspects of the IB Diploma Programme is available on the website of the International Baccalaureate Organisation.
All information above relating to the IBDP © 2008 IBO, Geneva, Switzerland.