International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a two-year rigorous course, which is recognised internationally as university matriculation, providing access to tertiary education worldwide. Ravenswood has offered the IB Diploma Programme since 2005 with authorisation by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

The holistic approach of the IB Diploma appeals to many students, along with the opportunity to take subjects not on offer in the HSC, for example Psychology, Global Politics, Sports, Exercise and Health Science and Spanish ab initio (for beginners). The IB Diploma is valued for its record of academic achievement and progression into university, its inter-disciplinary approach and its support of students to become self-directed, confident and internationally-minded. The Mission Statement of the IB sits seamlessly alongside both our Guiding Principles of Excellence, Respect, Optimism, Courage and Compassion, and the ethos of the Uniting Church.

The IB Diploma provides a liberal educational experience across six subjects, allowing for focus to occur in the Higher Level subjects and breadth to occur in the Standard Level subjects. Students are required to take one subject from each of the six subject groups below, three (or four) of these must be taken at Higher Level and three (or two) at Standard Level:

• Studies in Language and Literature
• Language Acquisition
• Individuals and Societies
• Sciences
• Mathematics
• The Arts (may substitute with a second subject from Language, Acquisition, Individual and Societies or Sciences)

In addition, students undertake the three core elements of the IB Diploma Programme below:

1. Theory of Knowledge
   An interdisciplinary study with emphasis on the development of critical thinking skills that develops a coherent approach to learning, to unify the academic disciplines.
2. Creativity, Activity, Service
   Education of the whole person is addressed here. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Activity seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Service to the community offers a vehicle for a new learning with academic value.
3. Extended Essay
   Students engage in independent research and write a 4000 word essay, reflecting an area of special interest to them, relating to one of the subjects they are studying. This process develops the skills expected at university.

The IB is assessed both internally and externally, culminating in examinations taken at the end of the second year.

Ravenswood has a history of achieving outstanding results in both the IB Diploma and HSC final examinations. To review the latest results, please click here.