How to Earn the IB Diploma

You may have heard of a local school that is offering or considering offering the International Baccalaureate, or IB diploma. The IB diploma is designed to serve as a college preparatory course that is recognized worldwide. If you are interested in pursuing this diploma, here is how you can go about getting one.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Attend a school certified by the International Baccalaureate. Only these schools can issue an IB diploma. The school is required to complete an authorization program that lasts nearly 2 years, which consists of a feasibility study and a campus visit. Each school has to be re-accredited every 5 years.
2. Take your Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. This 100-hour course is designed to teach you how to examine evidence and assert your point of view in a rational argument.
3. Divide up your time in the creativity, action and service (CAS) component of the IB program. Generally, you will equally split your required 150 hours in one creative pursuit (such as theater or music), one sports activity and one community service activity.
4. Decide what topic you will investigate in depth, in consultation with an academic advisor. You will then prepare a 4,000-word essay on it.
5. Select your core classes from six different subject groups. You will be expected to do in-depth study in at least 3 of 6 groups and what is called "standard" level in the remaining groups. Each group has an assigned numbers. Group 1 covers your own language, group 2 covers another language, group 3 covers topics under the heading individuals and societies (philosophy, economics, business, management, psychology, social anthropology, geography and history), group 4's topics are termed the experimental sciences (physics, chemistry, biology and environmental systems), group 5 covers mathematics and group 6 topics are arts and electives (dance, music, painting, film and theater arts).
6. Score at least 24 points towards your IB diploma. You will earn three for your TOK, CAS and your 4000 word essay. Your remaining points will be determined on how well you do in your subjects from the six groups. These points are granted based on how you do in the classes themselves and how you perform on an exam to be graded by someone other than your instructors.

Tips & Warnings

• The IB Diploma is a 2-year program offered only to students between 16 and 19 years of age. There are programs for younger children, but they will not lead to a diploma.
• Most of the points awarded for your six groups of study will be based on how well you do on the exams, which are generally offered every May in the northern hemisphere and every November in the southern hemisphere.
• The International Baccalaureate program is not a part of the much more popular Advanced Placement program offered by public and private high schools.