Gaining entrance into a university is becoming more
and more difficult. Program requirements have become increasingly competitive, which means that students need
to prepare for their post-secondary education to ensure that they get into the university of their
choice.
Getting a leg-up on academics is a great way to make sure your child gets an advantage during the application
process. Extracurricular activities like community service and volunteer work have also always been
favourable options for students. However, another option to seriously consider — particularly for students
whose families have or are relocating overseas — is working towards getting the International
Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.
The IB diploma program is an internationally recognized qualification for students. There are currently about
752,000 students in more than 130 countries following the IB diploma program. Designed as an
academically challenging and balanced program of education, it works by teaching students through a more
detailed academic study of a wide range of subjects. The subjects include: languages, the arts, science,
maths, history and geography.
The curriculum requires students to study six courses at a standard level or a higher level. Students must
choose one subject from a range of groups. This ensures that students gain experience in a variety of areas
of study. In addition to the six courses, students also need to complete three core requirements — included
to challenge them further academically.
One of these core requirements is an extended essay, which engages students in independent
research. Usually students are asked to write this essay based on a question relating to one of the subjects
they are studying. This is generally done through an in-depth study. A “theory of knowledge” course is
another requirement.
It encourages students to reflect on learning how to learn, through the study of emotion, perception,
language and reason. Different kinds of knowledge, like artistic and historical, are also examined. The
“creativity, action, service” requirement encourages students to be active participants in their communities,
through the process of actively learning from their experiences doing things beyond the classroom.
The goal is that going through these core requirements enriches a student’s education, as well as their lives
in general — much more than regular advanced placement courses can.
At the end of the two years, students go through an examination process. The diploma is awarded to students
who gain at least 24 points. These points are subject to certain levels of performance across the whole
program, as well as to the participation in the creativity, action, service requirement.
The highest total that a student can be rewarded is 45 points. For the most part, students who complete the
IB diploma program go on to higher education. Some students have also used their qualification as the route
to a job, or to work-based training.
According to the IB organization, their aim is not only to educate students at an accelerated level, but also
to “promote intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and
national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century.”•
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