IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
Program model
Students pursuing an IB Diploma must choose one course from each of the following subject groups:
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
Group 2: Language Acquisition
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
Group 4: Experimental Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The Arts or Electives (an additional course from a group listed above)
Normally three subjects are studied at higher level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), and the
remaining three subjects are studied at standard level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).
It is most important to bear in mind that an excellent knowledge of English is necessary for success in the IB
Diploma at ISF, particularly because all courses in Groups 3 to 6 above are taught in English (Groups 1 and 2
courses are taught in their specific languages).
At the end of the two-year course, students sit external examinations that account for between 50% and 80%
of the final awarded grade, depending on the course (the remaining percentage is based on assessments
completed during the two years of the class).
In addition to the six courses students must take, they must also fulfill the three core requirements of the IB
Diploma:
An Extended Essay
A substantial piece of university-level independent work of about 4,000 words in an area that interests the
student and in one of the subjects of the IB curriculum.
Theory of Knowledge (ToK)
A course exploring the nature of knowledge with the aim of helping students make sense of that which they
encounter and encouraging students to think critically about knowledge itself.
Creativity, Activity and Service Activities (CAS)
Activities designed to help develop the “whole” student that broadly cover the above-mentioned areas. These
activities are completed over the two years of the Programme, starting in September of 11th Grade.
The grading scheme in use for IB final grades is from 1 to 7 and is described as follows: 7: excellent; 6: very
good; 5: good; 4: satisfactory; 3: mediocre; 2: poor; 1: very poor. Please note that ISF also issues grades on a 1
to 7 scale for its report cards and does not “translate” these grades in any way to any other grading scale (e.g.
A to F) for any reason.
The awarding of the IB diploma requires a minimum total of 24 points in the six courses with no failing
condition, the satisfactory completion of the Theory of Knowledge course, completion of an Extended Essay,
and fulfillment of all CAS hours.