You need to choose a programme that you will find interesting and rewarding to study over two years. You need recognized qualifications that give you flexibility and choice for the next stage of your life.
Rather than meeting all the requirements for the IB Diploma, students may elect to study a number of IB Diploma subjects at Higher or Standard Level to gain individual IB course credits. They do the full coursework and examinations in these subjects but are exempted from Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Many Course students excel because the workload and subject areas are tailored to their interests and capabilities. Good course student scores will gain you entry into many universities. Competitive European universities will usually require the IB Diploma for entrance, but many higher education courses will also be available in Europe to candidates holding good Course results.

Course programmes must be designed to meet graduation requirements at a minimum.

Students selected by National Committees are required to follow the Diploma Programme.

DP Subject choices

Diploma courses are all 2-year courses, so it is important that you think through your choices. You can talk to teachers, current students, your parents and the Diploma Programme Coordinator, but remember the final decision must be yours. Ideally, your Higher-level subjects should be those for which you have a high level of competence and interest; your current teacher will make recommendations regarding academic competence. You should review the course descriptions in this handbook carefully, watch the videos on the website and consult the timetable categories to determine which courses may conflict with one another. Since universities often have specific course requirements for certain majors, you should consider your future goals as you plan your programme. Finally, this may be your last opportunity to take courses in certain subject areas, like the arts, and we encourage you to branch out and explore all the academic courses on offer.

Subject Guides identify goals, objectives and assessment criteria for each subject. Ongoing assessment tasks, such as written exams and oral presentations, are designed to support and encourage optimum teaching and learning. At the end of the second year of the DP, students sit written exams in most subject areas. There are no written exams in Visual Arts, Music or Theatre. To help prepare students for these written exams, teachers use a variety of tools such as ensuring students practise on questions from previous years’ exams.

Assessment tasks in the DP measure skills such as analysing and presenting information, evaluating and constructing arguments and solving problems creatively. Basic skills are also assessed, including the retention of knowledge and the understanding of key concepts. It is important to emphasise that in promoting academic skills, DP assessment promotes intercultural skills and an international outlook.

Internal versus External Assessment

DP assessment is not only exam-based, each subject has a coursework component referred to as the Internal Assessment. The Internal Assessment is graded or marked by the class teacher and then a sample is submitted to an external IB-appointed examiner. If necessary, the marks will be adjusted to reflect the international marking standard. This process is known as moderation. Internal Assessment can account for 20-60% of the final DP mark, depending on the subject.

External Assessment includes the May examinations along with coursework in a few subjects. The IB appoints external examiners who mark these. Their marking is also subjected to moderation and this is part of the reason why IB results carry worldwide recognition.

Diploma Results

Diploma courses are graded using the IB scale of 1-7, with 7 being the highest. Diploma candidates take six classes, with the potential to earn 42 points. In addition, three points may be awarded based on the combined assessment of the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge, giving an overall maximum of 45 points.

A Diploma is normally awarded if a student satisfies the Core requirements and earns 24 points. They must earn a minimum of 12 points in their combined higher-level subjects, with no mark falling below a 2. There are no more than two grade 2s awarded and there are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded. Students must also gain a minimum of 9 points in the standard level courses. Please see the publication “Diploma Programme Regulations” on the IB website for the complete details regarding the award of the Diploma.

Results are published annually on 6 July and are available to candidates on-line via an individualised access code. Universities require that the official results be sent directly to them from the IB offices in Geneva. The original hard copies of IB Diplomas and Certificates are mailed to UWCEA in early September where they are available for collection or can be sent to students if required.

Timetable categories on Arusha Campus

Notes:

1. Courses in the same timetable category (A – F) will be taught at the same time and therefore cannot be taken together as part of a Diploma programme.
2. Online courses are listed and although they are not timetabled, they are part of the curriculum. Students work during tuition hours on the on-line course individually. Each week online students will study during tuition hours for not less than four and a half hours and this equates to the number of hours of lessons for other DP subject courses.
3. Dutch courses are financed by additional parental contributions and subject to availability.

Courses on Arusha Campus

*As an inter-disciplinary course, Environmental Systems & Societies SL can fulfil the requirements of either a Group 3 or Group 4 course.

Core Requirements (Both campuses)

• Creativity, Activity and Service
• Theory of Knowledge
• Extended Essay

Additional Features

• Life Skills
• Diploma Success Skills

Notes:

1. All Group 1-6 courses listed above are two years in length.
2. In determining which courses to take at standard and which at higher, we strongly recommend that students have achieved a grade of 5 or above in the MYP precursor to their HL subjects.
3. Successful completion of CAS and Life Skills are required for graduation and must be undertaken by all students.
4. Any ab initio (beginner) course is solely for beginners in this language and students are not eligible if they have studied the language 3 or more years out of the last 5 years or within the last two years.
5. Dutch language courses are financed by supplementary parental payments.
6. Pamoja online courses are available, but the Pamoja fees are additional to the tuition fees.

Humanities Emphasis

Science Emphasis

All IB Diploma students participate in a two-year Life Skills course. The course is a continuation of the Life Skills curriculum that runs throughout the Middle Years Programme. At IB Diploma level, lessons aim to cover social, personal skills, and topics that relate particularly to young adults in preparation for life after UWCEA. Preparation for college/university and career exploration are also a component of your coursework. In addition, there is a focus on interpersonal skills, group dynamics and the practical skills that UWCEA students will need to use on leaving school – for example basic cookery, budgeting of personal finances, CV/resume writing, interviewing, debating and discussion skills. Some of the issues students face when studying in a new country such as loneliness, homesickness and racism are also examined. There is also an element of this course that addresses current events and issues as they arise to meet the needs of the students.

Diploma Success Skills

Students will be guided on how to approach research and develop academic writing skills by practising tools for developing questions, methodologies, referencing, academic integrity and academic language for essay writing in all subjects across the Diploma Programme.

The IB Diploma is an academically demanding and balanced programme of education that helps students get ready for success at university and life beyond. The above model provides a visual depiction of the DP’s various components which make it such an exceptional holistic programme and these include:

1. At the centre is the IB Learner Profile which are the attributes the IB expects to see grow and develop in the life of the student
2. Approaches to teaching and learning are included in the second circle demonstrating the DP’s commitment to particular pedagogical approaches to teaching and to developing particular skills for learning.
3. The IB Diploma is a holistic programme and this is reflected in the third circle. All Diploma students complete three core requirements: Creativity, Activity & Service, Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.
4. As the diagram’s fourth and widest circle shows, DP students study six subjects — one from each subject group. To attain a Diploma at the conclusion of the 2-year programme of study, three courses must be taken at Higher Level and three at Standard Level. These distribution requirements ensure that the science-oriented student is challenged to learn a foreign language and that the natural linguist becomes familiar with laboratory procedures. While overall balance is maintained, flexibility in selecting an extra subject from one subject group allows the students to pursue areas of personal interest and to meet special requirements for university entrance.
5. With “international-mindedness”, the outer circle gives the required emphasis to how all DP teaching and learning should take place within a spirit of tolerance and healthy openness as students grow as global citizens.