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The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is offered at Cayman International School to students in Grades 11 and 12 (however, not all students will choose to participate in the program). The IB Diploma Programme is a demanding, challenging and comprehensive two-year international curriculum, during which time students prepare for international external exams in late April and May of their final school year. Successful performance on these exams can lead to advanced standing in American, Canadian, and European universities and colleges, and other institutions across the globe.
Students who participate in the IB Diploma Programme will be extremely well prepared for the rigors of university courses.
The IB Diploma Programme provides highly motivated students an opportunity to pursue a rigorous liberal arts type curriculum. Students may either pursue the full IB Diploma, or may opt to take a selection of IB Courses. Successful completion of the IB Diploma requires achieving minimum scores on external exams across six subjects from a range of disciplines, three at a higher level and three at a standard level, and completion of the Extended Essay, the Theory of Knowledge course, and the Creativity, Activity, Service component.
Students pursuing the Courses route would not be eligible for the IB Diploma but would receive an IB transcript listing each IB course they take, potentially still allowing them to earn the associated college credit. The course requirements for the IB Diploma are equivalent to those of most universities.
IB Diploma Programme Advantages:
- Challenging classes that focus on writing, thinking and communicating
- Understanding of the interdisciplinary aspects of learning
- Rigorous and comprehensive education based on a global perspective
- Opportunities for community involvement, leading to a well-rounded, compassionate person
- High teaching standards
- Advanced course placement at colleges and universities around the world
- Eased transition into university level courses.
10 Reasons Why the IB Diploma is Ideal Preparation for University
Frequently Asked Questions
The Diploma Programme is a curriculum framework designed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for students in the last two years of high school.
IB students graduating with the IB diploma are able to study at universities all around the world, often with advanced credit. Students report that their involvement with the IB has given them the tools needed to succeed at college. In particular, students comment on their sense of preparedness, self-confidence, research skills and their ability to manage their time. Even more important, they have developed a sense of the world around them and their responsibility to it.
Full IB Diploma students study six subjects (three at standard level and three at higher level) over two years and complete three additional requirements: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), the Extended Essay (EE) and at least 150 hours of Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) tasks outside of the classroom. In addition to these requirements, students must earn a minimum of 24 points out of a possible 45 points on the final assessments which are externally marked and moderated by the IB, in order to receive an IB Diploma.
Additionally, some students decide not to take the Full IB Diploma courses and instead are Diploma Programme Students. These students can take any number of IB courses but have chosen not to do the full IB Diploma.
Theory of knowledge (TOK)
TOK is an interdisciplinary course designed to help students question and understand how they know what they know. Students study how individuals from various disciplines view the world in order to develop their own ways of thinking.
By stimulating analysis of knowledge across disciplines, TOK seeks to help students make sense of school and the world.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
CAS is an experiential learning component of the Diploma Programme. Students complete a wide variety of extracurricular, community service and athletic options to fulfill this requirement.
Extended essay (EE)
The EE introduces students to the demands and rewards of independent work. Emphasis is placed on doing personal research and communicating ideas effectively in order to write a 4,000-word essay in an area of personal interest.
IB Diploma Courses
English: Literature or Language and Literature
Language: Spanish B, French B, Spanish Ab Initio (SL) and French Ab Initio (SL)
Social Sciences: Economics, Business Management, History, Geography, Psychology, Philosophy (SL only), and Digital Societies
Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies, and Computer Science
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches or Applications and Interpretations (SL only)
Arts: Visual Arts, Music, Film (SL only)
EE, TOK, and CAS are required for full IB Diploma students
These include courses taken online through Pamoja.
The DP is internationally recognized as representing one of the highest standards in university preparatory education. More than 1,000 colleges and universities in North America have recognition policies on how they weigh it in admissions, advanced standing, college credit and scholarships.
A list of colleges and universities that grant credit, scholarships and/or advanced standing for DP diplomas and certificates is available at www.ibo.org.
The DP is a rigorous course of study for motivated students. That said, prior academic success is less an indicator of ability to earn the diploma than are a student’s determination to do his or her best, willingness to be organized in order to complete the work while leading a full, balanced life, and a strong commitment to learning in and beyond the classroom.
Absolutely. Most successful Diploma Programme students lead very full lives. They are often members of athletic teams and involved in a wide range of activities. Time management and organization are key skills the IB develops in students.