The Curriculum
The IB Diploma Programme curriculum consists of six subject groups:
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Group 1 Studies in Language and Literature At BISC, we offer English Literature, and English Language and Literature in Group 1. The course is literature-based and students study a range of texts from different genres and localities. |
Group 2 Language Acquisition Students study a modern foreign language, there are several options available. Language B is usually offered in Arabic, French and Spanish and is a course designed for students who have been studying the target language for 3 – 5 years. There is also a beginners course available, in Spanish or French, known as Ab Initio. |
Group 3 Individuals and Societies Group 3 offers students the chance to study a subject from Humanities or the Social Sciences. There are several options available in this group at BISC, Business Management, Economics, Geography, History, Global Politics and Psychology. |
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Group 4 Experimental Sciences The Diploma Programme also requires students to study a Science course. At BISC, students can choose from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science and Physics. |
Group 5 Mathematics All students study Mathematics in the Diploma Programme. There are two Mathematics courses at IB and each can be studied at Standard Level or Higher Level: Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL & HL) Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (SL & HL) |
Group 6 Electives This subject group offers students the chance to study Visual Arts, Music, or Theatre Studies at BISC. However, students may opt for a second subject from Groups 3 – 4 if they wish, depending on the option blocks. |
All IB Diploma candidates are required to study one subject from each of the groups, apart from Group 6. A sixth subject may be selected from Group 6, Groups 3 or Group 4, depending on the option blocks. At least three and not more than four of the six subjects are taken at Higher Level, the others at Standard Level. Higher Level courses offer greater depth and subject specialisation than Standard Level courses. Students should make the choice of Higher or Standard Level courses based upon their university plans.
You should note there are additional requirements at BISC to facilitate the blocking of subjects:
- You can only study 1 Language option from Group 2
- You cannot study both HL English & HL Maths
- You cannot study Physics and Biology together
THE CORE ELEMENTS
Awarding of the Diploma also depends on the satisfactory completion of three additional core requirements: the Extended Essay of 4,000 words which provides experience of individual research; a course entitled Theory of Knowledge (ToK) which explores relationships among the various disciplines and ensures that students engage in critical reflection and analysis of the knowledge acquired within and beyond the classroom; and the compulsory participation in CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) – extra-curricular, community service activities.
Students receive two lessons of ToK each week. In addition, time is set aside for CAS based activities and initiatives to be run within the school community. The Extended Essay is completed independently, but all students are assigned a teacher who offers guidance on their chosen area of interest.
AWARD OF THE DIPLOMA
Each examined subject is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum) and an additional three points are available for combined performance in Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Therefore, the maximum score possible is 45. The award of the Diploma requires a minimum total of 24 points and to pass a student must aim to score 4 points or more in each subject; completion of the CAS component is also a condition for the award of the Diploma. If a student scores less than 12 points in their Higher Level subjects, or less than 9 points in their Standard Level subjects, the Diploma will not be awarded.
If a student achieves an E grade in either ToK or the Extended Essay, they will have to achieve 28 points to pass the Diploma. An E grade in both components is a failing condition.
Each subject requires students to complete an internal assessment, much as they did at IGCSE level. The format of the internal assessment varies from subject to subject and more information can be found in the course descriptions later on in the handbook. An internal assessment map is drawn up in discussion with Heads of Department to ensure that the workload is spread as evenly as possible throughout the course.
Approximately 80% of all Diploma candidates worldwide earn the Diploma, with an average score of 30 points. Students who do not satisfy the requirements of the full programme are awarded a certificate for the examinations completed. To date, over 98% of BISC candidates have been awarded a full Diploma.
Our successes over the last nine years:
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2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
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Grade Average |
5.36 |
5.19 |
5.52 |
5.63 |
5.57 |
5.14 |
5.49 |
5.39 |
5.28 |
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Point Average |
34 |
33 |
35 |
36 |
35 |
33 |
35 |
34 |
33 |
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty is a set of values and skills that promote personal integrity and good practice in teaching, learning and assessment. It is influenced and shaped by a variety of factors including peer pressure, culture, parental expectations, role-modelling and taught skills. In the Sixth Form MLA 8 is the preferred citation system, apart from in Business and Management and Economics. In these two subjects the Harvard method of referencing is taught and used.
Academic honesty is an integral part of school life and it is important that students become familiar with the educational and moral standards upon which academic honesty is based. It is the responsibility of all members of our community to create and maintain an ethos where academic honesty is the norm and practices relating to referencing and citing sources are an essential part of working life. Students will be taught the skills and values to allow them to succeed and develop appropriate working practices. Malpractice, plagiarism, collusion and duplication of work are not tolerated at BISC. They are unacceptable in work that is internally marked, class work and homework, and in work that is externally assessed by the IB and the UK examination boards.
