International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) was founded over 30 years ago with the philosophy of helping schools to develop a comprehensive, challenging, balanced curriculum that provided students with international-mindedness and responsible global citizenship. The IBO’s underlying emphasis is on the ideals of critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.
The IBO is centrally administered from Geneva, Switzerland, both directly and via regional offices. Ravenswood is a part of IB Asia-Pacific (IBAP), which is administered from Singapore. The IB Diploma Programme is a two year rigorous course, which is recognised internationally as university matriculation, providing access to tertiary education worldwide. The programme is assessed both internally and externally, culminating in examinations taken at the end of the second year.
What type of student is suited to the IB?
The IB Diploma Progamme requires a study of six subjects, one from each of the following groups:
- Language A1 English
- A second Language (either one continued from Years 7 – 10 in French, German, Japanese and Latin, or Spanish ab initio (beginner’s Spanish)
- Individuals and Societies: either Social and Cultural Anthropology, Economics, Psychology or History
- Experimental Sciences: Biology, Chemistry or Physics
- Mathematics: Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL or Mathematical Studies SL
- The Arts: Music, Theatre or Visual Arts or instead of a subject from The Arts, students may select an additional subject from Groups 2 to 4.
In addition to these subjects, IB students must also participate in an interdisciplinary course, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), submit an extended essay on a topic of their own choice, and participate in a programme of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS).
