GRADE 11 & GRADE 12

The DP curriculum

The Diploma Programme (DP), for students aged 16 to 19 (Grade 11 and Grade 12), is an academically challenging and balanced program that has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities. The DP has been devised to prepare students for success in higher education, and to be active participants in a rapidly changing global society. The program also addresses the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of the students.

The DP has six subject groups and students must choose one subject from each group: studies in language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts.

These subjects are taught in conjunction with the DP’s three core elements, which encourage students to reflect on the nature of knowledge, complete independent research and to apply their knowledge and skills as they undertake an Extended Essay research project.

Analysis has shown that the Extended Essay improves students’ approaches to learning in higher education, and one study has shown that compared with their peers, DP students are better at coping effectively with demanding workloads, time management and at meeting the expectations placed on them.

diploma programme core

Theory of Knowledge (ToK)

The TOK course develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

CAS involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the DP. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Action seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Service in the community offers a vehicle for new learning with academic value. The three strands of CAS enhance students’ personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable journeys of self-discovery.

Extended Essay

The Extended Essay asks students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of questioning relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. The World Studies Extended Essay option allows students to focus on a topic of global significance which they examine through the lens of at least two DP subjects.

Assessment

At the end of the program students are required to take written examinations, which are marked by external IB examiners. These examinations form the basis of the assessment and have high levels of objectivity and reliability. In addition to the examinations students also complete assessment tasks in school. These are either marked initially by teachers and then moderated externally by the IB, or else sent directly to the external examiners. 

Student performance is measured against pre-specified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject. The marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results in Theory of Knowledge (ToK) and the Extended Essay. 

The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole program and to satisfactory participation in the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) requirement. The highest total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points. Universities value the rigor and consistency of the Diploma Programme assessment practice.