IB Curriculum

IB Diploma Programme students choose to study six subjects in addition to three core requirements that are integral to the curriculum:

Students attending The Sultan’s School have the opportunity to enter  for the full International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), a demanding course of study that is designed for highly motivated students aged 16 to 19. The qualification has a high reputation and allows access to the world’s leading universities.

At the heart of the IBDP are three core requirements that are integral to the curriculum and make the programme unique:

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

– an internally and externally assessed interdisciplinary component exploring the different concepts of knowledge found in the subject areas;

Extended Essay

– an externally assessed, independent research assignment of 4,000 words. In this way IBDP students can specialise in a subject area as preparation for university studies and gain valuable experience of writing academic papers;

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

– a minimum of 150 hours of participation over the two years in creative, physical and service activities in the local community allowing students to gain real life experience beyond the classroom.

In addition to the core requirements students will also choose six subject based courses (see IB Diploma Programme Diagram): they will study one course from Group 1, one course from Group 2, one course from Group 3, one course from Group 4 and one mathematics course from Group 5.   They will then choose one additional course from either Group 3 or Group 4 or Group 6.   Subjects will be taken at either standard level (SL) or higher level (HL).  Subjects at Standard Level will have four periods per week on timetable while subjects taught at higher level will have six periods per week.

To enter for the full IB Diploma, students must study three of their subjects at standard level and the other three subjects at higher level.

The final grades awarded to candidates in each of the six subjects are on a scale of 7 points down to 1 point, with 7 being the highest. Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay are graded on a scale of A to E, with A being the highest grade. TOK and the Extended Essay contribute to the overall points through a matrix system which awards up to 3 bonus points. The CAS programme is compulsory but does not contribute to the student’s point total.

The full IB Diploma is awarded for a minimum overall score of 24 points, as long as other defined standards and conditions are met. Students who fail to satisfy the entire set of requirements are awarded individual certificates for each of the subjects completed.