Organisation

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year pre-university course, leading up to the IB-diploma, which is the only secondary-school diploma to provide a worldwide university admission. The DP course at the International School is supervised by Joke Jansma (Deputy Head - Diploma Programme).

Curriculum

DP students choose six subjects in which they will sit their examinations. They have options from the following six groups:

1. Language A1
   • English
   • Dutch
2. Language B
   • English
   • French
   • Dutch
   Language A2
   • English
3. Individuals & Society
   • History
   • Economics
4. Experimental Sciences
   • Biology
   • Chemistry
   • Physics
5. Mathematics
   • Maths.
   • Mathematical Studies
6. The Arts
   • Visual Arts

Students select one subject from groups I to V and their sixth subject from groups I, II, II, IV or VI. Three of the subjects are taken at Higher Level, the other three at Standard level. Certain combinations of subjects are sometimes impossible owing to timetable restrictions. Dutch A1, French B and Visual Arts are only offered at Standard Level.

If a student's native language is not offered in our school, there is still the opportunity to take this subject (at standard level only) as a self-taught subject, in which case the parents pay for the extra tuition. The school will mediate in finding private tutors. Dutch passport holders are obliged to take Dutch as a subject.

In addition to the six selected academic subjects students must also:

• attend a two-year course in Theory of Knowledge
• submit an Extended Essay of 4000 words
• participate in 150 to 200 hours of CAS activities.

Location

All DP1 and DP2 students have their lessons in a separate wing in the Dutch department of Maartenscollege. For Science and Visual Arts they make use of the excellent facilities in other parts of this building.

Admission

If students wish to enter the DP after the MYP programme or an equivalent course, they will need a minimum number of points in the subjects they wish. Where a student has covered the final two years of the MYP programme the MYP certificate is also required.

For students already in the school a decision regarding admission to the DP is made based on recommendations from teaching staff in March of the final MYP year.

Where there is any doubt expressed this decision will be postponed until the release of MYP final grades in July. In this case the following standards will apply:

• A minimum of 6 points is required for subjects to be taken at Higher level and a minimum of 5 points is required for subjects to be taken at Standard level.
• Entry to the programme will also be reconsidered for students who receive one point less than the minimum but in these cases a further positive recommendation from teaching staff will also be required.

Students from other schools will be required to provide teacher references, full school reports and they will also need to take entrance tests. For students from the MYP programme in other schools the standards shown above are also applicable.

Guidance and Assessment

Students take tests for all their subjects at regular intervals during the two-year DP-course. Progress checks for both DP1 and DP2 are held six weeks after the start of the school year. Their aim is to establish the students' progress and development. Reports, including grades and comments from subject teachers and the mentor, are issued three times in DP1 and twice in DP2. At the end of DP1 there is a test week. The final report in the DP-1 year decides whether students are promoted to DP2. For this promotion the grading system of the DP examination is roughly followed. At the end of DP1 students also have to meet deadlines for most subjects, to show that they have satisfactorily completed the DP-1 course. If not, they will not be allowed into DP2.

The school has a Careers Counsellor who advises the students as to their career possibilities and provides information regarding higher education. In DP2 Mock Exams are held in the Spring Term to prepare the students for the final examinations and to revise the examination material for each subject.

Examination

The DP examination largely consists of a written part, to be taken in the second year of the programme during the first three weeks of May. This written examination forms the main component of the final grade for each subject. For all subjects the students also do internally assessed work. Depending on the subject, this will take the form of essays, laboratory reports, project reports or oral assessment. Internally assessed work contributes a minimum of 20% to the final grade.

Grades are given on a scale from 1 to 7, 4 being the lowest passing grade. In order to pass, the student therefore requires 24 points.

All examinations and external assessment are corrected and moderated by external examiners selected and approved by the IBO.