Introduction

The International Baccalaureate Diploma, or IB as it is widely known, has been much in the news; Universities across the world value it and a rapidly growing number of schools — both private and state — are adopting its programs.

The holistic nature of the IB emphasizes high academic standards in the mandatory areas of first and second language, mathematics, humanities, science and arts. Academic excellence is coupled with emphasis on personal development in areas such as philosophy, social awareness and the arts. The IB is unfettered by individual national demands, which allows it to act as a powerful guarantor of assessment procedures. This explains why universities across the world hold IB graduates in high regard, and why an ever increasing number of schools are adopting it as their senior school curriculum.

​

The IB offers high quality programmes of international education to a worldwide community of schools. There are 5,000 IB schools in 153 countries. In 2017 alone, there are more than 174,000 candidates taking the IB diploma-level exam. [Quoted from http://www.ibo.org on 8-April-2019].

​

The Diploma combines academic rigour with breadth, ensuring that each student finishes the program literate and numerate, capable in a foreign language, knowledgeable in science and a humanistic discipline, and be artistically accomplished . In addition, students will follow a course in critical thinking (Theory of Knowledge), write an Extended Essay, and meet eight learning objectives in Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) activities.

​

The IB aims to produce young people who are intellectually curious, with proven ability in a range of academic fields, as well as being creative, active and compassionate members of the wider community.

Since its founding, the IB Diploma has become a symbol of academic integrity and intellectual promise. The model is based on the pattern of no single country but incorporates the best elements of several, and this makes it an exciting and attractive senior school option. The student who satisfies its demands demonstrates a strong commitment to learning, both in terms of subject content and in the development of the skills and discipline necessary for success in a competitive world.

​

The International Baccalaureate is administered from Geneva by the IBO, and further information can be obtained by visiting their website at https://www.ibo.org/

​

To learn more about the benefits of the IB, click here: https://www.ibo.org/benefits/