Beau Soleil School - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)

The IB Diploma Programme provides a broad, rigorous preparation for future university studies. It is designed to strike a balance between breadth and depth of study. Students must choose six subjects for study, and these must include at least two languages, a social science, an experimental science, mathematics and either an arts subject or an additional option. In addition all students must study Theory of Knowledge, complete an Extended Essay and fulfil the requirements of the Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) component of the programme. Students at Beau Soleil are entered for the full IBDP, in which they must offer three subjects at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). In exceptional cases and on the recommendation of the Academic Director, only they may be prepared for IB certificates in individual subjects at standard level only. Students who meet the established standard are eligible for a Beau Soleil High School Diploma.

All students throughout the school are required to participate in Creativity, Action and Service, as defined within the IB Diploma Programme.

There are three features of the IB Diploma Programme which are not usually found as compulsory elements in national curriculum systems: CAS (Creativity, Action, Service), ToK (Theory of Knowledge) and the Extended Essay.

CAS

The IBDP requires all candidates to complete a minimum of 150 hours of Creativity, Action and Service during the two years of the programme. This constitutes a weekly average of 3 hours. Beau Soleil students will comfortably exceed this expectation. (See co-curricular section).

Theory of Knowledge

All students must follow this course for three periods a week for the first four terms of the course. The ToK programme is central to the philosophy of the IB. It challenges teachers and their students to reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and areas of knowledge, and to consider the role played by knowledge in a global society. It encourages students to become aware of themselves as thinkers, to become more aware of the complexity of knowledge, and to recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected world.

Extended Essay

All students are required to complete the Extended Essay. In the case of candidates entered for the full IB Diploma Programme, the essay is approximately 4000 words in length. It offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest and acquaints students with the independent research and writing skills required at university.

ToK and the Extended Essay are both externally assessed. Failure to complete these elements prevents the award of an IB Diploma.

Award of the IB Diploma

In order to be awarded an IB Diploma, students must take examinations in three higher level subjects and three standard level subjects, and complete the CAS, Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay components. Each of the subject courses is marked on a scale from 0-7 (see grading section). The Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge combine to provide up to 3 bonus points. Students must collect a minimum of 24 points from a maximum possible score of 45. Students who successfully complete subjects in more than one language are awarded a bilingual International Baccalaureate Diploma. There are a number of passing conditions, which are designed to penalize students who perform very poorly in one or more subject areas. Details of these can be obtained directly from the school.