The IB is designed for students to take 3 HLs. Universities will make offers based on points. It is a really rigorous programme and we would not recommend 4HLs. Please contact Helen Devine Costa if you are considering this.
In light of the pandemic and travel restrictions, is the overseas placement for The Engineering Programme still on offer?
We are currently on hold with this and using local contacts. When the travel opens, we will resume with our overseas link.
In the last cohort what % split did IBDP and IBCP please
It varies slightly each year but 80% IBDP, 9% IBCP, 10% ID 1% Extended Engineering
HOW ARE THE DIFFERENT COURSES ASSESSED?
BTEC is 100% coursework assessed along with some timed assessment pieces to be completed over a number of lessons. IB courses are usually 75 -80% exam and 20 - 25% coursework although it can vary slightly between subjects and most Arts subjects are 100% coursework based.
Btech is new for me. Is this something that is widely accepted in Canada should students choose to look towards there for university? Or is it more catered towards a UK/European pathway?
Typically, the Canadian higher education institutions that award bachelor's degrees prefer the IBDP. On the other hand, some Canadian higher education institutions, like community colleges and polytechnic (vocational) institutions, would accept the General Diploma/ IBCP curriculum. Both are widely accepted in the UK and some parts of Europe. Please contact your Higher Education Counsellor in the Careers Department for details.
my son/DAUGHTER wants to do chemistry and Biology, but they are in the same group, can he do that?
Yes, but you will need to show evidence that this is a requirement for a University course he/she is interested in.
Can we skip a subject from any group and replace it with a subject from another group?
You must do group 1,2,3,4,5. If there is a University requirement to do two group 3 or two group 4 subjects instead of a group 6 subject, that is allowed.
Can a student take two subjects from Individuals & Societies?
Very few universities if any require this. It is better to develop your skills across a range of subjects.
what are the career options if a student take global politics in IB?
I studied Politics and Economics and became a Principal! International Relations - Communication, Law, Policy advice... the list is endless. The real skill is literature and essay writing. Please contact the Higher Education team for more information.
Can we take all three science subjects - Biology, Chemistry and Physics?
This would be very unusual. We would have to apply to IB for a non regular diploma and this is only granted if evidence is given to support the need for the request. i.e a university course that insists upon a certain combination of subjects.
To clarify about Maths: AA is more for people who may choose Maths, engineering, physics at uni and AI more for people who may choose social sciences, business, medicine, psychology at uni, correct?
Your direction of thinking is correct, however it is worth thinking about specific institutions that you are interested in and looking at what their specific requirements are. For example Canadian universities prefer AA. If you speak to the Higher Education and Careers Team, they can give you more specific information.
Is it correct that you decide on a subject class to go ahead depending on the number of students?
We try to ensure that all courses we offer can run. Occasionally it is just not viable to run a course as there are only a few students enrolled. This is decided on a case by case basis to ensure breadth in the curriculum.
How is Environmental Systems and Societies counted if it sits in both Group 3 and 4? Can a student tick two boxes with the one course?
Yes. It can be the group 3 or group 4 subject or count as both and free up an extra choice. They must still choose 6 IB subjects in total.
What’s the maximum number of students in a Science HL class?
There is not a maximum size, but usually the classes are 12-16 students.
should a student require or want to take 2 sciences, could they take arts outside externally, where the universities would look at this when considering for the faculty applied for or character assessment?
If your child wants to take a medical degree or a degree that wants two sciences, we will support their move in that direction. Students doing this often engage in the Arts as part of their CAS programme.
Will we have a webinar where we go through each subject so we can better understand each option before our kids choose?
There are taster sessions in school for your children to take part in. If you look through the Post 16 Options website, there are videos from all the subject teachers that explain their courses.
Is it possible to have a one on one discussion with both the student and parents with a guidance COUNSELOR?
Yes. These will be arranged in early January.
Some students are unable to come to taster lessons due to other commitments or sickness, is it possible we get a copy of the material used in those taster lessons? (eg. PowerPoint about the course used by teacher in taster lesson)
The nature of the taster sessions will vary. Some may have resources whilst others may run a Q&A forum. The best thing to do is to contact the head of department directly who can share any resources or answer any specific queries.
Can I pursue medicine or engineering without doing higher Math?
Medicine can be pursued without Math HL, but some of the top ones, such as some Cambridge colleges, may require Math AA HL, or in Imperial's case, just Math AA/AI HL. Look at the courses you are interested in to see specific requirements. For Engineering, Math HL is strongly recommended. If students find Math AA HL difficult to cope with, they should do Math AI HL, but that may limit the students from applying to some of the top universities. Given how Math heavy Engineering is, if the student is not good at Math, they should carefully consider if Engineering is the right course for them because the Math content is only going to get harder at university.
IBDP is out of 45, how does the IBCP work in terms of IB score please?
Each subject has it's own University point score - The information can be found her
How does the BTEC equate to IB scores?
A table showing university equivalence can be found here
From a university's perspective what is the difference between HL and SL. Do you get different university points for example?
All the IB points are weighted equally and add up to a total out of a maximum of 45pts (7 per subject and 3 points for the core). However, from a university perspective the HL subjects are worth more and universities will often require a total point score along with a certain combination of HL grades e.g. 38 pts with a 6,6,5 in HL subjects.
Will WIS advise the correct Higher level / standard course to ensure entry into University ?
Yes, students will be assigned a higher education counsellor and they will work really closely together on university applications. Students can drop in to discuss issues by emailing their counselor. Subject teachers will also advise students on the correct level of study .
How much is the IBDP Core worth?
A total of 3 bonus points is available from the EE and TOK.
What is TOK and how is it graded?
TOK is Theory of Knowledge and it is part of the core. There are three extra points on offer for the extended essay and TOK. Students are graded with letters A-E but it will equate to a maximum of 1.5 points.
Students explore what and how they know things. It includes lots of discussion and questioning.
How is the EE graded?
The Extended Essay is also graded on a scale form A-E and will equate to a maximum of 1.5 pts.
How is CAS graded?
CAS is not graded but is recorded on a CAS profile and reviewed by a series of interviews between the students and their tutor.
Do I have to take one subject from every group in the IBDP?
Yes. The IBDP is designed so that students study one subject from every discipline. The group 6 Arts subjects are electives and can be removed if there is a need for a student to 'double up ' in another area to gain university entry e.g. if someone wants to study Medicine they will have to take Biology and Chemistry. Requests to remove the arts subject are treated on a case by case basis and need to be supported by university entrance requirements and current academic performance.
What is an Ab initio language?
There are three levels at which languages of acquisition (second languages) can be studied. Ab initio is for complete beginners to the language. This means a student opting for Ab initio must not have studied that same language at GCSE. Every year we offer Ab initio French, Spanish and Chinese. Please note that not all the Ab initio courses will run every year as it depends on how many students opt for each language. Languages can also be studied at HL and SL. Students who have studied a language at GCSE level can continue with that same language at Higher or Standard level. The subject teachers will advise on which level is the most suitable challenge for a student.
What is the equivalence of the qualifications in terms of university admissions?
Each country has its own university application system. The UK system allocates University tariff points and is a clear way to show the equivalence of grades between different qualifications.
What are the entry requirements for the various pathways?
What are the entry requirements for the various pathways?
IBDP and IBCP - 5A* - C at GCSE, ID 4 A*-C at GCSE, Extended Engineering 4A*-C including a grade 6 in Maths and Physics. NB: students wishing to study HL maths will need a minimum grade 8 at GCSE.
How do I get a bi-lingual diploma?
Students who have a native first language other than English can study Literature or Language & Literature in their chosen language alongside their English Literature or English Lang & Lit course. In the past we have had students study first language Chinese, Dutch, German, French, Korean, Japanese. This is done either with the ESF language school or by using private tutors. Ms Koshy coordinates this in school. Please contact [email protected]for more details.
Does environmental studies span both humanities and science, or only science?
ESS can be counted as a Science or a Humanity.
What is the difference between Math AA and Math AI and which is more suitable for a student interested in pursuing medicine in University?
Medicine does not specify which one of the Maths courses they prefer. Students will need to take Chemistry and Biology. The Maths department will recommend the course that will suit students. The AA is more pure Maths and the AI is more applied maths. However, they are worth the same points.
Do EU universities recognise BTEC? Holland in particular?
There are two type of universities in the Netherlands:
Research universities
Universities of the Applied Sciences
For BTEC/IBCP students they should be looking at the University of the Applied Sciences. Some will consider it but it will be case by case. Also need to make sure that they're looking at the English taught programmes.
Do you have examples of students who do not go to universities?
We do have students who take gap years and seek work experience that leads to job opportunities. In the last few years: Blanche Macdonald Centre in Canada for a course in Make Up, Phoenix East Aviation in Florida for Aviation - pilot training, Discovery Education (TV company)- virtual reality design and educational programme design.
If students take a gap year, do they still get HE help for applications the year after?
Yes - we keep all information on file and students are encouraged to make an appointment to come in and work with their HE counsellor.