Senior School Prospectus.
2024-2026
The Two Year Programme
IB Assessment and Moderation Procedures
Consistent with the general and subject-specific objectives of the IB Diploma Programme, assessment procedures are designed to emphasise process rather than content and to achieve a balanced assessment of a candidate’s performance. Various assessment methods are used in order to take account of different learning styles and cultural experience, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. Conventional external examination techniques are complemented by internal assessment of coursework conducted by teachers.
Assessment of Subjects
The method of subject assessment is defined with reference to specific assessment criteria and will consist of some or all of the following:
External Assessment: Written Examinations
• These may include essays and short answer questions, document and data-based questions, multiple choice tests, comprehension exercises, etc.
Oral Examinations
• These are conducted according to procedures established by the IB
Internal Assessment
• According to the requirements of the subject, this may take the form of guided coursework, project work, fieldwork, practical and/or laboratory work
• All Internal Assessment is subject to external moderation by the IB, which is rigorously conducted and reported upon
Extended Essay
• The Extended Essay must be based on one of the subjects of the IB Diploma curriculum under the supervision of a qualified teacher at the school
• The Extended Essay is externally assessed
• Extended Projects for the DP Courses students are internally assessed
Theory of Knowledge
• ToK is assessed by an externally marked essay and an internally marked exhibition
Creativity, Activity and Service
• CAS is designed and implemented by the school and all CAS experiences are monitored by the CAS Coordinator and the IB Diploma Coordinator
IB Grading System and the Award of the Diploma
• The award of the final grade in each subject is the responsibility of the Chief Examiner
• In each subject a part of the programme may be internally assessed and externally moderated by the Chief Examiner
• A grade will not be awarded for a candidate in any subject for which any of the required assessment components have not been completed, except in exceptional circumstances
• The grading scheme in use for IB Diploma examinations is a 1 to 7 scale, where 7 is an excellent performance
Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay Points
According to the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and Extended Essay (EE) matrix, 3 points may be added to the total score awarded for the individual subjects. A candidate who writes a good Extended Essay and whose performance in Theory of Knowledge is judged to be satisfactory will be awarded + 1 point. A candidate who fails to submit any work for Theory of Knowledge or the Extended Essay will be awarded N, will score no points,
and will not be awarded an IB Diploma. Performance in either the Extended Essay or Theory of Knowledge of an elementary standard is a failing condition for the IB Diploma.
Conditions for awarding or not awarding the IB Diploma
The IB Diploma will be awarded to candidates whose total score reaches or exceeds 24 points. Apart from this simple condition there are 9 fail codes:
CAS requirements have not been met.
Candidate’s total points are fewer than 24.
An N has been given for theory of knowledge, extended essay or for a contributing subject.
A grade E has been awarded for one or both of theory of knowledge and the extended essay.
There is a grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.
Grade 2 has been awarded three or more times (HL or SL).
Grade 3 or below has been awarded four or more times (HL or SL).
Candidate has gained fewer than 12 points on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
Candidate has gained fewer than 9 points on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).
Excluding conditions
The IB Diploma cannot be awarded, whatever the total score, to candidates who have:
• not submitted an Extended Essay
• not followed a course in Theory of Knowledge
• not engaged in CAS experiences to fulfil IB requirements
Arbitration
The Arbitration Committee will review the results of candidates whose performance may have been affected by special circumstances duly reported by the school to the IB.
Award of the IB Diploma: Bilingual Diploma
Candidates who have taken examinations in at least one of the subjects from Groups 3 or 4 in a language other than their first Language, or who have taken two first languages, will be awarded a ‘Bilingual’ Diploma.
Award of IB Courses
Candidates who do not fulfil the requirements above for the award of the IB Diploma will receive a document from the IB indicating the results obtained in each subject. Passes in individual subjects are treated with respect by many institutes of higher education.
Internal Assessment and Reports
Students will regularly be assessed using IB Diploma subject-specific criteria. The scale is a 1 to 7 scale similar to that used in the IB MYP, where 7 represents the highest grade awarded. Students in every subject area are given a copy of the subject-specific assessment components at the beginning of the course.
