1. IB Parent School – Session 2 “What is the Diploma Programme?”
Terry Parker High School IB Diploma Programme
7 December 2017

2. Welcome to IB Parent School!
OBJECTIVE: Over the next six months, equip the parents of our IB Diploma and Pre-Diploma students with the knowledge they need to support our IB students as they pursue the IB Diploma!
Six sessions:
9 November – “What is the IB?”
7 December – “What is the IB Diploma Programme?”
18 January – “What is the IB Diploma Programme Core?”
8 February – “How is the Diploma Programme assessed?”
9 March – “How do you get the IB Diploma?”
12 April – “What lies beyond the IB?”
10 May – IB Parent Exams

3. Session 2 – “What is the Diploma Programme?”
MAJOR TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
The Diploma Programme Model aka the Hexagon
IB Courses vs. AP Courses
Higher Level vs. Standard Level

4. The Diploma Programme Model (aka the Hexagon)

5. The Diploma Programme Model
The Diploma Programme consists of two items: subjects and core elements.
Students select ONE subject each from groups 1-5 and ONE additional subject from any group.
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 4: Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The Arts
Students complete all THREE Core Elements. (more on those next month!)

6. The Diploma Programme Model: Subject Offerings
Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature
Language A: Literature (55)
Language A: Language and Literature (16)
Group 2 – Language Acquisition
Language B (23)
Language ab initio (from the beginning) (12)
Classical languages – Greek and Latin
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
Business and management
Economics
Geography
History
Information technology in a global society
Philosophy
Psychology
Social and cultural anthropology
World religions
Group 4 – Sciences
Biology
Chemistry
Design technology
Physics
Computer science
Sports, exercise, and health science
Group 5 – Mathematics
Mathematical studies
Mathematics
Further mathematics
Group 6 – The Arts
Music
Theatre
Visual arts
Dance
Film
Interdisciplinary Subjects
Literature and performance (groups 1 and 6)
Environmental systems and societies (groups 3 and 4)

7. The Diploma Programme Model: Subjects at Terry Parker
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Language A: Literature – English
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Language B – Spanish
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
History – The Americas
Information technology in a global society
Psychology
Group 4: Sciences
Biology
Physics
Sports, exercise, and health science
Group 5: Mathematics
Mathematical studies
Mathematics
Group 6: The arts
Visual arts
Film
Interdisciplinary subjects
Environmental systems and societies
Proposed future additions at Terry Parker
Group 4: Computer science
Group 6: Music
Group 6: Theatre

8. IB Subjects vs. AP Courses
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Courses usually last two years, but can last one year.
Courses are reviewed on a constant six year cycle by a panel of educators from around the world.
Teacher’s syllabi are reviewed every five years to ensure alignment with the IB.
Courses are assessed via multiple forms of assessment, including written papers, research projects, oral presentations, interviews, experiments, exhibitions, films, and other forms. Most formal assessments are essays.
Assessments are criterion-referenced.
Recognized in over 150 countries as the gold standard for pre-University curriculum.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Courses last one year.
Courses are reviewed on an as-needed basis by a panel of educators from around the United States and Canada.
Teacher’s syllabi are only assessed during the initial course audit review.
Most courses are assessed via one assessment in May, 50% multiple choice and 50% free responses. Some courses are assessed via performance, but they are the minority.
Assessments are norm-referenced.
Recognized mainly in the United States and Canada.

9. AP Offerings at Terry Parker
Calculus AB
European History
United States History
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
United States Government and Politics
Comparative Government and Politics

10. Higher Level vs. Standard Level
IB Subjects are taught at one of two levels:
HIGHER LEVEL (HL)
Courses consist of 240 hours of instruction over two years.
HL courses require more in-depth study, a higher expectation of research, and a deeper level of analysis.
HL courses typically are equivalent to two years of collegiate study in a subject area.
STANDARD LEVEL (SL)
Courses consist of 150 hours of instruction over one or two years.*
If a course is one year, the school must prove how we will hit the 150 hours – we only have 135 hours in a school year.
SL courses are more introductory, and have lesser requirements than HL courses.
SL courses are typically equivalent to one year of collegiate study in a subject area.

11. Higher Level vs. Standard Level Example: Language B - Spanish
Spanish B SL
Curriculum (150 hours)
Core (communication and media, global issues, social relationship)
Two options (cultural diversity, customs and traditions, health, leisure, science and technology)
Assessment
Paper 1 (1.5 hours) – Text Handling Skills
Paper 2 (1.5 hours) – Writing Skills, one exercise
Written Assignment ( words + rationale)
Individual Oral (8-10 minutes, choice of subject)
Interactive Oral
Spanish B HL
Curriculum (240 hours)
Core (same as SL, but more in depth)
Two options (same as SL, but more in depth)
Two works of literature
Assessment
Paper 1 (1.5 hours) – Text Handling Skills
Paper 2 (1.5 hours) – Writing Skills, two exercises
Written Assignment ( words + rationale)
Individual oral (8-10 minutes, no choice)
Interactive oral

12. Higher Level vs. Standard Level Example: History
History SL
Curriculum (150 hours)
Prescribed subjects (teacher chooses one/five)
World history topics (teacher chooses two/twelve)
Historical investigation
Assessment
Paper 1 (1 hour) – Source-Based Paper on the Prescribed Subjects
Paper 2 (1.5 hours) – Essay Questions on World History Topics
Historical Investigation
History HL: The Americas
Curriculum (240 hours)
Prescribed subjects (same as SL)
World history topics (same as SL)
HL options (teacher chooses region of the world)
Historical investigation
Assessment
Paper 1 (1 hour) – Same as SL
Paper 2 (1.5 hours) – Same as SL
Paper 3 (2.5 hours) – Essay Questions on Regional Options
Historical Investigation

13. Higher Level vs. Standard Level Example: Biology
Biology SL
Curriculum (150 hours)
Core (six topics – 95 hours)
Options (teachers choose one/four – 15 hours)
Practical Scheme of Work (labs, investigations, Group 4 – 40 hours)
Assessment
Paper 1 (45 minutes) – Multiple Choice questions on Core
Paper 2 (1.25 hours) – Short/Extended responses on Core
Paper 3 (1 hour) – Short/Extended responses on Core and Options
Individual Investigation
Group 4 Project
Biology HL
Curriculum (240 hours)
Core (same as SL)
Options (same as SL, but 10 more hours in depth)
Additional HL Options (five additional topics – 60 hours)
Practical Scheme of Work (same as SL, but 20 more hours in depth)
Assessment
Paper 1 (1 hour) – Multiple Choice questions on Core and AHL
Paper 2 (2.25 hours) – Short/Extended responses on Core and AHL
Paper 3 (1.25 hours) – Short/Extended responses on Core, Options, and AHL
Historical Investigation
Group 4 Project

14. The Diploma Programme Model: Subjects at Terry Parker
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Language A: Literature – English (HL only)
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Language B – Spanish (HL or SL)
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
History – The Americas (HL or SL)
Information technology in a global society (SL only)
Psychology (HL only)
Group 4: Sciences
Biology (HL or SL, SL recommended)
Physics (HL or SL, SL recommended)
Sports, exercise, and health science (SL only)
Group 5: Mathematics
Mathematical studies (SL only)
Mathematics (SL only)
Group 6: The arts
Visual arts (HL or SL)
Film (HL only)
Interdisciplinary subjects
Environmental systems and societies (SL only)
Proposed future additions at Terry Parker
Group 4: Computer science
Group 6: Music
Group 6: Theatre

15. INTERNAL ASSESSMENT For Session 2 (QUESTIONS to consider…)
Do you know your child’s SIX subjects?
Do you know which three are their HL and which three are their SL?
Do you know how your child decided on which HL and SL subjects they would take?