Welcome to I.B. Cookie Day

Welcome to I.B. Information for Grade 9 Parents and Students

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

IB Learner Profile

IB Hexagon

Three HL subjects are

studied at higher level - 240

hours

Three SL subjects are

studied at standard level - 150

hours

All three parts of the core—

extended essay, theory of

knowledge and creativity,

action, service are compulsory

and are central to the

philosophy of the Diploma

programme.

IB Courses at Western

►Group 1: English HL

►Group 2: Spanish: B or ab initio SL French: French B SL or HL, French ab initio (or Chinese school)

►Group 3: History of Europe HL, Philosophy SL

►Group 4: Biology SL/HL, Chemistry HL,

Physics SL

►Group 5: Math SL/HL, or Math Studies SL

►Group 6: Visual Art HL

(HL = higher level SL = standard level)

Full vs. Partial IB Full IB Diploma Student

(1 reg. fee, 6 exam fees)

► Must take 6 IB courses (3-4HL/2-3SL)

► Groups 1-5 are mandatory but group 6 can be replaced by a second course in another area (ie. language, science, philosophy)

► Must complete EE, ToK, and CAS over grade 11 and 12

► May qualify for automatic scholarships, early entrance to university …

► Bilingual diploma possible

Partial IB

(IB Courses Student)

► Must complete min. 2 IB courses to the exam level

► If these exams are written in different years, the IB registration fee must be paid twice

► You may drop from full IB to partial IB (only at the end of courses)

*fees are only paid in exam years (grade 11 and / or 12)

Other Benefits of the full IB Programme

►Children’s neural connections are still being “pruned” until they are 20 years old.

►A broad – based education will exercise parts of the brain that would otherwise shrink with disuse.

►If something is hard (or not your favourite class) you need to work that part of your brain extra hard before age 20 to maximize its potential for the rest of your LIFE.

Misconceptions of IB

►“It is only for gifted students.”

►“I can’t be well-rounded in IB because I won’t have any time for outside interests.”

►“The homework is WAY more than the regular program.”

►“There is no flexibility.”

►“IB is only for people who want to go to school overseas.”

►“IB and AP are the same.”

What full IB students don’t normally have time for:

►CTS in grade 10 pre-IB year

►Phys-Ed after grade 10

►Other options that are not offered “outside the timetable” the way that band, choir, and art can be offered (Non-IB have 3 options.)

►3 IB Sciences can not be taken by full IB students.

►CALM is usually taken on-line during grade 11

Potential French Immersion Plan Group Grade 10

Grade 11 Grade 12 IB Exams

1 English 10 preIB

English 20 IB English 30 IB & 35 IB

Eng A1 HL

2 FLA 10 preIB & Spanish 10 preIB or Spanish 20IB*

FLA 20 IB Spanish 20 IB or Spanish 30IB

FLA 30 IB Spanish 30 IB or Spanish 31IB

French B HL Span ab SL or Span B SL

3 Social 10F preIB

Social 20F IB Social 30F IB & 35F IB

History HL (for bilingual IB diploma)

4 Science 10 preIB

Biology 20 IB& 30 IB

(Optional Bio 35 IB)

Biology SL

5 Math 10F preIB & Math 20F IB

Math 30F IB& Math 31F IB

Math SL (or Math Studies SL)

Phys-Ed 10

Two options (eg. may finish Math, CALM, take Spanish 31 IB or a 2nd Science)

Potential Double Languages Plan

Group Grade 10


1 English 10 preIB


Eng A1 HL

2 French 10 preIB or French 20 IB * & Spanish 10 preIB or Spanish 20IB*

French 20 IB or French 30 IB & Spanish 20 IB or Spanish 30IB


French ab SL French B SL & Span ab SL Span B SL

3 Social 10 preIB

Social 20 IB Social 30 IB & 35 IB

History HL

4 Science 10 preIB


Biology 35 Biology HL

5 Math 10 preIB & Math 20 IB

Math 30 IB& Math 31 IB

Math SL (or Math Studies SL)

Phys-Ed 10 One option

Potential Plan with Visual Arts Group Grade 10


1 English 10 preIB


Eng A1 HL

2 Language 10 pre-IB (or 20 IB with experience)

Language 20 IB (or 30 IB)


French SL or Spanish SL (ab or B)

3 Social 10 preIB

Social 20 IB Social 30 IB & 35 IB

History HL

4 Science 10 preIB


(Biology 35) Biology SL (or HL)


Math 30 IB& Math 31 IB

Math SL or Math Studies

6 Art 10 pre-IB Visual Art 20 IB Visual Art 30 IB & Art 31 IB

Visual Arts HL

Phys-Ed 10

Potential Plan for a Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) Focus

Group Grade 10


1 English 10 preIB


Eng A1 HL

2 Language 10 pre-IB (or 20 IB with experience)



French SL or Spanish SL (ab or B)

3 Social 10 preIB

Social 20 IB & Philosophy 20/ 30IB

Social 30 IB & 35 IB

History HL & Philosophy SL

4 Science 10 preIB & Chem 20IB

Chem 25 IB or Bio20 IB& 30 IB or Physics 20 IB & 30 IB

Chem 35 IB & Chem 30 IB Or Biology 35 IB

Chemistry HL or Physics SL or Biology SL (or Bio HL)


Math 30 IB SL& Math 31 IB SL OR Math 30 IB HL & Math 31 IB HL

Math 35 IB

Math SL (or Math Studies SL) OR Math HL

Phys-Ed 10

One option

Potential Math / Science Focus Group Grade 10


1 English 10 preIB

English 20 IB English 30 IB & 35 IB Eng A1 HL

2 French 10 preIB or French 20 IB & Spanish 10 preIB or Spanish 20IB*



French ab SL French B SL & Span ab SL Span B SL

3 Social 10 preIB

Social 20 IB Social 30 IB & 35 IB or **Philosophy 20 / 30IB

History HL or Philosophy SL

4 Science 10 preIB & Chem 20IB

Chem 25 IB & Bio20 IB& 30 IB or Physics 20 IB / 30 IB

Chem 35 IB & Chem 30 IB (Biology 35 IB)

Chemistry HL & Physics SL or Biology SL or Bio HL

5 Math 10 preIB & Math 20 IB Math 30 IB SL& Math 31 IB SL OR Math 30 IB HL & Math 31 IB HL

(Math 35 IB)

Math SL (or Math Studies SL) OR Math HL

Phys-Ed 10

One option (could be French 31IB, Spanish 31IB, CALM, HL Math or HL Bio)

Application Process

►Students apply to CBE area IB school for their primary residence with a full application (link from our website or go to main CBE website) by January 13th.

►If you live in our IB area but attend a private school, charter school, or a separate school you may apply directly to Western.

►If you live outside of Calgary you may apply directly to Western.

Application Evaluation

►All IB schools use the same system to rank applications based on marks, extra-curricular activities, well-roundedness, study habits, and global perspective.

►Results letters are sent by mid-February

►Acceptance letters get sent with information on registration night (March), and dates for the Math and Science diagnostic tests (May).

University Recognition of IB

Most universities have benefits for IB grads

University of Alberta

Counts a “7” as a 98% for admission.

Gives advanced credit for HL and some SL classes

University of Calgary

Gives advanced credit for HL

*Both give credit for full IB diplomas*

Extended Essay

►4000 word in-depth original research paper on a topic of your choice.

►You have a teacher-supervisor but all the ideas and work is yours.

►A significant portion of your reading / preparation is done the summer before grade 12.

Theory of Knowledge

►Unique to I.B.

►100 hour seminar course

that integrates all groups.

►Critically examines how

knowledge is acquired in

different disciplines and

our ways of knowing.

Creativity – Action - Service

Extra-curricular component of I.B.

►Creativity is…artistic or creative

►Action is…physical or healthy

►Service is volunteering or service learning

What I.B. Students have said…

►“Grade 11 is the hardest year.”

►“Try full I.B. to keep your options open.”

►“First year university was a piece of cake.”

►“Don’t procrastinate!”

Documents

Welcome to I.B. Cookie Day