Year 10 IB Diploma Preparation Course Guide 2023

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME International Baccalaureate Schools:

Whilst a student does not have to be exceptionally academic to undertake the IB Diploma Programme with success, it will be necessary for students to have strong levels of literacy and numeracy given the demands and assessment requirements of the programme (see prerequisite table on page 13). Assessment in the IB Diploma Programme at Year 11 and 12: In all but two subjects (Visual Art and Music) all IB Diploma Programme students will sit for external exams at the end of Year 12 in November. Exams for ab initio Italian take place in May of Year 12 . In most of the IB Diploma Programme subjects, these exams are weighted (70% to 80% of two senior years’ work) and are sat for by students across the world. The exams are criterion referenced and are not scaled. Students wishing to enter the IB Diploma are encouraged to start in the Pre-Diploma Year 10 programme.

Somerset College is one of a select group of schools in Queensland to offer the IB Diploma Programme, yet there are over 71 IB Diploma schools in Australia, many of which are the leading academic schools in the country. In addition, Somerset is one of a handful of schools in Australia to offer all three IB programmes, from Primary Years Programme to Middle Years Programme to the Diploma Programme in senior school. Currently in the world, there are 7,500 IB programmes, offered worldwide across 5,500 schools in 160 different countries. In 2023, the College will offer, for the 24th year, the internationally benchmarked Senior Tertiary Entrance Qualification called the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. This distinguished pathway provides an academically challenging pre-university matriculation course. Next year, students at Somerset in Year 10 may elect to study the IB Diploma Preparation Programme in preparation to undertake the IB Diploma Programme course completed over Years 11 and 12. The IB Diploma curriculum emphasises both breadth and depth of knowledge and provides a broad, liberal education suited to study an any tertiary institution. The Year 10 IB Diploma preparation pathway will immerse students in their pre-diploma subjects, preparing them for the rigour and skill set required to successfully complete their subjects and achieve the IB Diploma credential at the end of Year 12. Students undertaking this pathway will engage in a broad-based pattern of study. Students are required to choose a subject from Mathematics, Languages, English, Humanities, Sciences and the Arts. They also have the option study an additional science or humanities, instead of an arts course. While students will be introduced to the IB Core in their Year 10 preparation programme, when they commence their Year 11 and 12 IB Diploma studies, they will also undertake a subject called the Theory of Knowledge, complete a research Extended Essay over the two years, and make a formal commitment to undertaking a sport/activity, a cultural creative activity and aspects of community service. This component of the IB Diploma Programme is called "Creativity, Activity and Service" (CAS).

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