IB Application Guide
For International Baccalaureate Diploma or Diploma Program Course students
The International Baccalaureate Program at TASIS
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a comprehensive and rigorous two-year curriculum leading to examinations for students aged between 16 and 19. Based on the educational structure of no single country, it is a deliberate compromise between the specialization required in some national systems and the breadth preferred in others. The general objectives of the IB are to provide students with a balanced education, to facilitate geographic and cultural mobility, and to promote international understanding through a shared academic experience. It is highly valued as a preparation for university studies and is an important factor in admissions to selective universities around the world. More information on the latter can be found at “Pathway to University and Employment”.
In 1996, TASIS began offering students the opportunity to take examinations in the IB program, leading to the full IB Diploma or individual Diploma Program (DP) Courses (previously called Certificates). A full Diploma student chooses six academic subjects, three of which must be at Higher Level and three at Standard Level. Students must also complete the core elements; a 4000 research paper (the Extended Essay or EE), a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, and participate in Creativity Activity Service (CAS) throughout the two years. Each of the six subjects is marked on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum) giving a total of 42 subject points. Three extra points can be obtained from a combination of the TOK essay/presentation and the EE. The maximum score for an IB Diploma is 45 points. In general, the award of the Diploma requires a minimum overall total of 24 points plus the satisfactory completion of the core requirements. More information is available at the IB website.
- Who should apply to be an IB student at TASIS?
- The application process
- IB Fees and Diploma Program General Regulations
- Remaining in the IB Diploma Program
Who should apply to be an IB student at TASIS?
The application process
IB Fees and Diploma Program General Regulations
Remaining in the IB Diploma Program
Choosing IB Courses
The following is intended to assist in the choice of courses for the IB Diploma or DP courses and should be used in completing the TASIS IB application form. All returning students (DP course as well as Diploma) should also consult with the IB Coordinator, their teachers, Department Heads, and the College Counselors. New students should follow the guidelines below and address questions to the IB Coordinator at ib@tasis.ch. You may find the following matrix of IB prerequisites containing general guidelines a good starting point but requirements for specific program requirements can change. It is essential that students conduct their own research to ensure their IB subject package meets their needs.
How do university plans affect IB course choices?
While many students do not have a clear idea of their future higher education plans before studying the IB at TASIS, some awareness of the country, institutions, and subjects for post-TASIS education will help determine the best choice of IB courses. It is best to make subject choices which meet the most likely university choices, but which also leave as many other higher education options open as possible. For those wishing to study a particular subject in a particular country, the choice of IB subjects must follow requirements established by that country or a particular institution in that country (IB Recognition Statements by Country). As each country, and even individual universities within a country, has different requirements, it is essential that these requirements are checked on the IB website, directly with the universities and with the IB Coordinator and TASIS College Counselors. Countries and individual universities can, and often do, change their IB entry requirements, and the following is only a brief guide to some countries popular with TASIS students.
United States and Canada
It is a common myth that the IB is more suited to applications to Europe than North America. Nearly 70% of all IB students study the IB in the US and Canada and IB data suggests that IB students are twice as likely to be accepted to competitive US universities than non-IB students. These universities look first at the degree of difficulty of a student’s academic program and the grades they have achieved. Entry to US universities is therefore enhanced for students who have taken the challenging Diploma or DP courses and who have done well during the two years of the program. In addition, advanced placement can be obtained from many US universities for high IB scores. More and more US universities are allowing Diploma students direct entry into the second year. US universities do not usually expect students to have studied specific IB subjects. The IB Diploma is recognized throughout Canada as an admissions credential. Some of the most selective universities may require it for the admission of students who have been studying outside Canada.
United Kingdom
For undergraduate degrees at British universities (see UCAS), the IB diploma is a recognized entry qualification. The choice of subjects and level may be crucial when seeking admissions. For example, students wishing to study medicine should take IB Biology and IB Chemistry at HL. Law students would be recommended to take IB History HL. Art courses will require a portfolio of artwork produced in IB Visual Arts. Some subjects are considered less suitable by some universities and need to be avoided. For each course at each university there will be a minimum number of points required on the IB Diploma and even specific subject scores. DP Course students may obtain entry to one-year pre-degree Foundation Programs.
German universities require that all IB courses are taken in the last two years of high school education i.e. no anticipated exams and that a student has completed 12 years of education. There are certain requirements regarding languages, mathematics, and science courses and certain subjects are not recognized. Spain and France recognize the IB Diploma and no longer require university entrance exams. Swiss state universities require a total of 32 points (without the core points earned from the extended essay and TOK), and have specific subject requirements and exclusions. Competency in the language of instruction at the university is expected, and a language exam may be required. The two Swiss polytechnics require 38 points and certain subject combinations. Independent universities and hospitality schools in Switzerland have their own separate entry requirements. The IB Diploma is recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education for university entry if it meets certain subject combinations which are the equivalent of the Italian high school diplomas. TASIS students can, with the correct choice of subjects and levels, receive a diploma recognized by the Italian authorities in the sciences, languages or human sciences. Bocconi University recognizes the IB diploma and does not require specific IB subjects.
Use the following section to choose six academic subjects
At least three must be at Higher Level and three must be at Standard Level
IB Diploma applicants should work though the following pages choosing 3 HL and 3 SL subjects with one in each of the six groups. IB DP Course (Certificate) applicants should select as many individual subjects and levels as they wish to take. At the end, the subjects can then be transferred to the IB online application form.
Descriptions of all of the IB subjects are available on the IB Resources page under the menu “Diploma Programme subject briefs”.
General requirements for IB Diploma students:
- All students must take at least two languages including English, 1 science, 1 mathematics, and 1 Group 3 subject.
- Students must choose a subject in each of the six groups, with 3 at Higher Level and 3 at Standard Level, and the core elements of TOK, CAS, and the extended essay.
- Subject choices must allow students to meet TASIS graduation requirements; please see the Course Offerings Book.
Group 1 – A First Language: Language A
An A Language is the student’s native language and there are three types of A language courses available at TASIS.
Language A Literature HL or SL. The program of study focuses on the reading and critical discussion, orally and in writing, of literary texts in the target language. Currently this is offered in English and Italian (see Language A Language and Literature below). Other languages may be taught when enrolment is sufficient.
Language A Language and Literature HL or SL. In this class the emphasis is on developing the student’s command of both the language and literature in the target language and is suitable for highly proficient users of the language.
School-Supported Self-Taught Language A Literature SL can be taken in most other languages. The support of the School is provided in a half-credit class led by an English teacher. All students are expected to arrange private tutorial assistance locally, via Skype, or at home during the vacations to master the self-taught aspects of the course in the target language. This tutoring is at the family’s expense. Among self-taught languages that students have studied in recent years are Bulgarian, Chinese, Dutch, German, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Romanian, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian.
Given sufficient enrollment, a self-taught language class may be offered as a full-credit taught class. Please ask the IB Coordinator if this is likely to be the case with your native language.
Now choose ONE Group 1 subject on the following table:
First Language |
English A Literature |
HL or SL
|
Group 2 – Language B HL or SL, Language ab initio or a second A language
All IB Diploma students must study a second language.
Q. Which language should I choose if I have chosen my best language in Group 1?
A. Choose your second-best language or a language you wish to start from the beginning in the IB program.
Q. What is my choice if I am not studying English in Group 1 above?
A. All TASIS students must take an English course each year to graduate. If your Group 1 language is Italian A or a School-supported Self-taught language A, you must choose English A Literature or English A Language and Literature for Group 2 if you have a native command of the language. Otherwise you must choose English B HL.
Q. Can I study a second A language in Group 2?
A. Students who are bilingual may study more than one Language A course. One must be English A.
Q. What languages can I study apart from a second A language?
A. There are two options: a language B or an ab initio language. An ab initio language is for beginners who have not had more than one year of exposure to the language. It is offered only at SL. Language B is a foreign language for students with more than one year of previous experience of learning the language. To start a B language at Standard Level, students should know the basic grammar and be able to write and converse simply, but correctly, on topics of everyday life. They should have studied the language for at least two years prior to commencing the course. HL students should have studied the language previously for at least three years. At TASIS, French, German, Italian, and Spanish are offered as ab initio and B languages.
In most university systems, the B Higher Level examination qualifies students for study at institutions where this language is the language of instruction. (For example, a student with a good command of French at B Higher Level should have the language skills needed to study in French at university.)
Now choose ONE Group 2 subject and level on the following table:
Second Language |
English B only HL Or an additional A language if it is not already selected in Group 1 above: |
HL or SL |
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
Q. What criteria should I use to select a Group 3 subject?
A. Your interest in a particular social science, previous study of the subject, and university entrance requirements are all important factors as too are your career ambitions are an important consideration. For example, potential business management students hoping to attend European universities would be recommended to choose Business Management and/or Economics*. Law students may be expected to have studied History at HL for these universities.
*It is necessary to check that this combination is allowed by universities. The University of St Gallen does not recognize it.
Now choose ONE Group 3 subject and level on the following table:
Individuals & Societies |
Art History SL (a 1-year course only offered at SL) |
HL or SL |
Group 4 – Experimental Sciences
Q. What criteria should I use to select a Group 4 subject?
A. Your interest in a particular science, previous study of the subject, mathematics and English levels, and university entrance requirements are all important factors. Your career ambitions are an important consideration, too. For example, potential engineering students hoping to attend European universities would be recommended to choose Physics at HL and Math Analysis SL or HL or Math Applications HL. For IB Biology, IB Chemistry and IB Physics it is expected that a student has already successfully completed a high school course in the subject.
Now choose ONE Group 4 subject and level on the following table:
Experimental Sciences |
Biology SL/HL |
HL or SL |
Group 5 – Mathematics
Q. How do I choose the correct mathematics course from among the two offered?
Mathematics: Analysis and approaches course is offered at both SL and HL. It is designed for students who enjoy developing their mathematics to become fluent in the construction of mathematical arguments and develop strong skills in mathematical thinking. They will explore real and abstract applications, sometimes with technology, and will enjoy the thrill of mathematical problem solving and generalization. Students should expect to develop insight into mathematical form and structure, and should be intellectually equipped to appreciate the links between concepts in different topic areas. In order to successfully attempt this course at the HL, students should have, at minimum, completed the TASIS Honors Precalculus course with a score of at least B+. Students can enter this course at the SL if they have completed, at minimum, TASIS Mathematics 2 extended with a score of at least B- or via Honors Precalculus with a score of at least C+.
Mathematics: Applications and interpretation course will be offered at both SL and HL for students who are interested in developing their mathematics for describing our world, modelling and solving practical problems using the power of technology. Students who take Mathematics: Applications and interpretation will be those who enjoy mathematics best when seen in a practical context. To give this understanding a firm base, this course includes topics that are traditionally part of a pre-university mathematics course such as calculus and statistics. Students are encouraged to solve real-world problems, construct and communicate this mathematically and interpret the conclusions or generalizations. In order to successfully attempt this course at the HL, students should have, at minimum, completed the TASIS Honors Precalculus with at least a B- or via Mathematics 2 Extended with at least a B+. Students can enter this course at the SL if they have completed, at minimum, TASIS Mathematics 2 extended with a minimum score of C+ or via Mathematics 2 Core with a minimum score of B.
Now choose ONE Group 5 subject on the following table:
Mathematics |
Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches |
HL or SL |
Group 6 – The Fine Arts and Electives
Diploma candidates may fulfill the Group 6 requirement by taking a second course in any of Groups 1-4 (i.e., a third language, a second social science such as Art History, Business Management, Economics or History, or a second experimental science) or by taking Visual Arts (SL or HL).
A student who wishes to study fine art at university would be best advised to take an art course. Medical students or engineers need to take a second science, while a student interested in economics or business may wish to choose Business Management or Economics. A linguist may wish to choose a third language. In the Visual Arts students engage in studio work, maintain a research workbook, and build an extensive portfolio which may be essential for entry to certain university courses.
Now choose ONE of the following Group 6 subject on the following table:
Arts & Electives |
Visual Arts SL/HL An additional Group 1 subject __________________ |
HL or SL |
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
All IB diploma students take this class which meets twice a week each year.
Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
All IB diploma students must master seven learning outcomes in each of the three areas of CAS over the two-year program.
IB Seminar
All IB diploma students attend a weekly class in which they are given instruction on all aspects of the IB program including CAS and are guided through the extended essay process.
Unfortunately, not all course combinations may be possible due to scheduling constraints. Sufficient enrollment in any course is required for it to be offered in the first year of the program.