Curriculum in the International Track [DP]

​​The DP program of the International Track aims to “encourage students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”
It is respected in the best universities worldwide for its focus on service, communication, teamwork, leadership and critical thinking, as well as its ability to produce not just college ready students, but students ready to excel.

OVERVIEW

In the two year course of study during grades 11-12, students take six classes concurrently, in addition to core curriculum courses. The curriculum is made up of the DP core and six subject groups. 

DP students choose a course from each of the following six subject areas:

  1. Studies in Language and Literature
  2. Language Acquisition
  3. Individuals and Societies
  4. Sciences
  5. Mathematics
  6. The Arts (instead of a course in the arts, students can opt to study another science, individuals and societies, or a language acquisition subject)

Students generally study three subjects at standard level and three subjects at a higher level. At a higher level they are expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills.

Learn more about each of the subject groups below. On each subject page, you’ll find the relevant DP subject brief.

DP CURRICULUM | STUDIES IN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 

Offered in English and French

Language acquisition: Offered in English and French; Online available for other languages through Pamoja. Potentially we can also offer Mandarin, Spanish, German, and Latin if we have 4 or more students in a cohort interested. 

DP CURRICULUM | INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES

If enough interest: Economics, Global politics, or Psychology

3. SCIENCE

DP CURRICULUM | SCIENCE

DP CURRICULUM | MATHEMATICS

5. ARTS

DP CURRICULUM | ARTS

6. DP CORE

As well as the six subject areas, students complete three core parts of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme which are central to the philosophy of the programme. These are:

CHOOSING SUBJECTS IN THE DP

The IB provides course selection guidance to help you when choosing subjects. If you would like some examples of subject combinations, please take a look at these examples of diploma subject choices.

Students choose subjects from the following subject groups: studies in language and literature; language acquisition; individuals and societies; sciences; mathematics; and the arts.

Students may opt to study an additional sciences, individuals and societies, or languages subject, instead of a subject in the arts.

Students will take some subjects at higher level (HL) and some at standard level (SL). HL and SL subjects differ in scope but are measured according to the same grade descriptors, with students expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills at higher level.

Each student takes a minimum of three or a maximum of four subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level.

Standard level subjects take up 150 teaching hours. Higher level comprises 240 teaching hours.

ASSESSMENT IN THE DP

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) assesses student work as direct evidence of achievement against the stated goals of the Diploma Programme (DP) courses.

DP assessment procedures measure the extent to which students have mastered advanced academic skills in fulfilling these goals, for example:

  • analyzing and presenting information
  • evaluating and constructing arguments
  • solving problems creatively.

Basic skills are also assessed, including:

  • retaining knowledge
  • understanding key concepts
  • applying standard methods. 

In addition to academic skills, DP assessment encourages an international outlook and intercultural skills, wherever appropriate.

Student results are determined by performance against set standards, not by each student's position in the overall rank order.

Using external and internal assessment

The IB uses both external and internal assessment in the DP.

External assessment

Examinations form the basis of the assessment for most courses. This is because of their high levels of objectivity and reliability.

They include:

  • essays
  • structured problems
  • short-response questions
  • data-response questions
  • text-response questions
  • case-study questions
  • multiple-choice questions—though these are rarely used. 

Internal assessment

Teacher assessment is also used for most courses. This includes:

  • oral work in languages
  • fieldwork in geography
  • laboratory work in the sciences
  • investigations in mathematics
  • artistic performances.

Read further information on understanding DP assessment.