The AHS IB Programme:

A Guide for Students and Parents

Presented by Shelly Holmes, AHS IB Coordinator

and the AHS IB Faculty and Students

An IB Student…

• Constructs meaning and makes sense of the world

• Shows compassion to others

• Views learning as a lifelong task

• Is articulate when speaking and writing

• Addresses his or her own emotional, social, and physical needs

• Is an active participant in local, national, and global communities

IB Courses- Hours of Instruction

• Higher Level (HL) = 240 hours (2 years)

• Standard Level (SL) = 150 hours (1 year or 2

years)

• Students must take either

– 3 HL and 3 SL courses, or

– 4 HL and 2 SL courses

Earning an IB Diploma

Complete IB coursework in 11th-12th grades:

1. HL English Language & Literature

2. HL or SL second language at least through Level IV (French, German, or Spanish)

3. HL History of the Americas/20th Century Topics

4. HL or SL Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

5. HL or SL Math, SL Math Studies

6. Elective (HL/SL Art, SL Music, HL/SL Psychology, or a second science course)

Complete Theory of Knowledge (TOK) (2 years)

Research and write the Extended Essay

Complete CAS (Creativity-Activity-Service) experiences

CAS: Creativity-Activity-Service

• Designed to strengthen and extend students’ interpersonal learning.

• Intended to span both years of the IB programme.

• Students enter personal reflections on their experiences into ManageBac; these are reviewed by CAS Supervisors

• 11th grade supervisor: George Cornelius

• 12th grade supervisor: John Garrott

• Students complete a one-month project

• Senior CAS Project deadline: March 29

• Senior CAS reflections deadline: April 30

About the IB Diploma: Points

• Candidates need 24 (out of a possible 45) points from exam scores, TOK, and the EE; complete CAS

– Exams are scored 1-7; 7 is highest

• Candidate work is assessed internally and externally

• TOK and the EE can earn 3 bonus points

• Particulars:

– No 1s on any exam

– No more than two 2s

– No more than three 3s

– At least 12 points must come from HL exams

– At least 9 points must come from SL exams

IB Assessments

Internal Assessment (IA):

• Based on work candidate completes during the IB course.

• Assessed by teacher according to IB criteria.

• Teacher awards marks even if the work is incomplete or missing entirely.

• The IA accounts for a percentage of the overall exam score for the course.

• IB requests some/all (depends on the IA) student work for the purpose of moderating marks.

Types of IAs

• Written work (investigations, labs, research)

• Group IV Science Presentation

• Projects

• Portfolios

• Oral work in languages

• TOK Presentation

• Music- Solo or Group Performance

• French/German/Spanish Written Task

External Assessments

Assessed by the IB and not by the teacher:

– May exams (papers)

– Extended Essay

– TOK Essay

– Lang/Lit Written Assignment

– French/German/Spanish Written Assignment

– Visual Arts Comparative Study/Process Portfolio

– Musical Links Investigation

EE and TOK Points Matrix

AHS Graduation Requirements

In addition to IB requirements--

1. Health (one semester)

2. PE (one year)

3. Fine Art (one year)

4. **Economics (one semester) (Gov’t waived for IB candidates)

5. Pass End-of-Course exams English 1, English 2, Algebra 1, Biology, US History

6. Take courses for endorsement

** Economics will be offered at no cost to IB candidates June 4-7 2018, 8AM-3PM at AHS.

Grades in Courses

• Grades are not final until the end of each

semester.

• We want students to value learning over grades!

• GPA is one data point and does not determine

university admission. (There are many other

factors.)

• Extreme pressure to earn high grades is

unhealthy and often leads to poor choices.

Academic Dishonesty (Cheating)

• Teachable moment when it happens.

• Students are expected to complete work independently and to cite all sources for research.

• TurnItIn

• Honor code: Office referral, parent contact, conference with IB Coordinator, potential zero on assignment (N on an IA), potential for rescinding of rec letters or no rec letters.

• Any/all cheating is taken seriously.

Student Resources

• IB teachers!

• CIBS: Community of International

Baccalaureate Scholars- meets once per month

• Adopt-a-Junior

• House counselor: Graduation-related items,

Naviance, counselor rec letters, mental health

issues

• Mrs. Holmes: Anything and everything else!

IB Seniors: Our Experiences

Madison Polk

Chase Taylor

IB Exam Registration and Fees

• Exams are May 2-18.

• Registration opens Oct 16; ends Nov 10

• Juniors in a one-year SL course and seniors

finishing HL and SL courses will test

• AISD pays $172 candidate fee

• Fee per exam is $125 ($20 per exam for F/R

lunch)

• Payment plans are available!

IB Exam Credit at Universities

• Check the university’s credit table– there are NO

universal policies for IB credit acceptance! Every

school (and country) is different.

• Remember that college preparedness is the goal!

2017-2018 IB Events/Deadlines 9/29 Senior EE due

10/4 Junior IB Candidate Induction

10/16 Exam registration opens

10/24 Junior TOK Field Trip (Meadows/Bush)

11/10 Exam registration closes

11/10 Juniors begin EE

2/1 Group IV Science Presentations

3/21 Junior EE draft due

3/29 Senior CAS Project deadline

4/10 Senior TOK Field Trip (Perot)

4/30 Senior CAS deadline

5/2 IB exams begin

6/1 Graduation

7/5 IB Exam Results Arrive/Deadline to request IB transcripts at no cost

Parents: How You Can Help

• Make sure your child is sleeping enough and

eating properly.

• Monitor cell phone/computer usage.

• Do not react to every grade posted in Skyward

(consider turning the alerts off)

• Discuss college and long-term goals in a positive

way. College admission is a huge stressor for our

students.

IB Parent Cadre

• Email me if you would like to volunteer.

• Meets monthly except for December, May, June,

July, and August

Shelly.Holmes@allenisd.org

Questions?