The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why take the IB Diploma Programme? Hide

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, based upon research into the best practices from national systems of education around the world, was designed to provide students an education credential that could be recognised by universities throughout the world as a leading entry avenue to study at their institutions. Numerous research documents that the Diploma Programme has soundly achieved this goal.

• The Diploma Programme educates the "whole person." There is a strong focus on understanding the privilege and responsibility to the world that an IB education brings to the student.
• The Diploma Programme encourages students to appreciate cultures and attitudes other than their own and to be informed, respectful of and willing to communicate with others.
• The IB approach to education is on developing inquiry and critical thinking skills; helping students to learn how to learn and how to analyse.
• The Diploma Programme provides a broad general education while still allowing specialized study in areas corresponding to the individual's particular interests and plans for the future.
• The Diploma is increasingly being viewed as a strong indicator of academic promise and achievement. IB Diploma graduates students can have an advantage in the admissions process at selective universities.
• World wide many Universities grant a credit to students who have earned the International Baccalaureate Diploma based on subject results.

What are the requirements for earning an IB Diploma? Hide

The IB Diploma programme is very demanding and not everyone who tries receives a diploma. Worldwide the pass rate is 80%. The St Paul’s pass rate over the last five years is 95%.

Specifically, students must at a minimum:

• Complete the extended essay, Theory of knowledge and CAS
• Complete all six additional courses
• Accumulate a minimum of 24 points

There are a number of important conditions that must be met in addition to the above to pass the Diploma.

Students of Australian nationality who do not pass the Diploma do not receive a University Entrance score equivalent and do not receive offers to Australian Universities under normal circumstances.

What is the Diploma Programme like at St Paul's? Hide

St Paul’s has been authorised by the IB Organization to offered the Diploma programme since 1990. It is the oldest November session Diploma programme school in the state of New South Wales and offers the largest range of subjects of any school in the State.

The Diploma programme is studied by approximately one hundred and thirty students (about half of the students in their final two years of the senior school.)

The strength of the Diploma Programme at St Paul’s is the unparalleled staff experience in the Diploma Programme spanning twenty years with significant IB experience.

The school has previously hosted workshops for the Asia Pacific Regional office with over two hundred and twenty teachers from more than twenty countries attending workshops in all three IB Programmes.

The Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) programme has a strong local and international focus. Locally students work with those in our community with less opportunities than our students. Internationally we have substantive links with schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where our students raise awareness and funds that pay for the running of an orphanage that clothes, feeds, educates and cares for 130 children. St Paul’s students and teachers travel to Tanzania each year to work with orphans.

How experienced are the IB Diploma teachers at St Paul’s? Hide

The school has one of the most experienced staff of any IB School with approximately twenty (more than half the Diploma staff) being examiners, senior examiners, senior moderators or moderators for the International Baccalaureate Organization. Three teachers are Diploma Programme Teacher training Workshop Leaders for IB Asia Pacific, training teachers in best practice teaching of the Diploma Programme in Biology, English A1 and Visual Art. One teacher has been a member of Authorisation

St Paul’s teachers have been involved in IB Curriculum Review meetings for the development of worldwide documentation for Biology, Group 4 Internal Assessment, Dance and Music. The Director of International Baccalaureate is the Chair of the Association of Australasian International Baccalaureate Schools (AAIBS). Two previous teachers from the school were held the position of Chair. The Director of International Baccalaureate is a member of the consultation team for the production of the Implementing the Diploma Programme document, a flagship document for the Organization, guiding schools as they join the IB World school community.

Two teachers are guest lecturers in the University of Sydney Master of Teaching programme, the only practicing IB teachers to work with trainee teachers studying the IB Diploma programme as undergraduates in NSW.

What is the academic achievement of the school? Hide

The school has had over three hundred graduates from the Diploma Programme. Despite the fact that students are not academically selected for the programme at St Paul’s, the school’s average Diploma result over the last five years has been IB 34. (Australian University Admission Rank equivalent of 93 out of 100). The world average is IB 26 (UAR equivalent of 75).

The dux in 2007 achieved IB 43, joint duxes in 2006 and the dux in 2005 achieved IB 44.

What subjects are offered? Hide

Students study six courses selected from six subject groups. At least one subject must be chosen from groups 1-5. Diploma students must study at least three subjects at Higher level with the balance at Standard level.

St Paul’s offers the following subjects. (unless otherwise stated all subjects are offered at both HL and SL).

Group	Name	Subjects	Notes
1	Language A	English or Chinese HL	The school supports mother tongue language as much as possible, so other language A1 subjects are available upon request
2	Language B	Chinese B SL, French B SL, Spanish Ab SL, French Ab SL, Latin SL, English B HL	The school supports mother tongue language as much as possible, so other language B subjects are available upon request
3	Individuals and their Society	Business and Management, Economics, Geography, History, Psychology, Environmental Systems and Societies SL	Environmental Systems and Societies meets the group 3 and group 4 requirements in the one subject.
4	Sciences	Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies SL	Environmental Systems and Societies meets the group 3 and group 4 requirements in the one subject.
5	Mathematics	Higher Level, Standard Level and Mathematical Studies SL, Computer Science.
6	The Arts	Dance, Film, Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Art.	Two Arts may be studied if Environmental Systems and Societies is chosen to meet the Group 3 and 4 requirements.

In addition all students:

• study Theory of knowledge,
• prepare an extended essay of 4,000 words and
• complete their CAS programme.

How is eligibility for the program determined? Hide

An information evening held in May each year informs the school’s Year 10 community of senior school options; NSW Higher school Certificate and IB Diploma. Students are encouraged to choose the course of senior study that best meets their interests and needs. The senior school is approximately half HSC and half IB Diploma. The school does not favour or promote either programme over the other.

Meetings with students in small groups allow them to discuss their preference and reason for their choice as they make their decision. The school guides students where its experience tells it that students may have difficulty with their choice.