Assessment
Internal and External Assessments
The IB uses several ways to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of subjects. Each subject is tested through a number of different components. IB exams are taken at the end of the program in May of senior year and are graded by IB examiners. In addition to the exams, students must complete other required IB assessment tasks. These are either internally assessed, that is, they are graded by teachers and then moderated by examiners, or externally assessed, meaning they are sent directly to IB examiners world-wide.
Examples of components that are externally assessed (external assessments or EAs) include:
end-of-course IB examinations, extended essays, written assignments, theory of knowledge essays
Examples of components that are internally assessed (internal assessments or IAs) include:
oral work, fieldwork, investigations, presentations, portfolios, projects
Internal and external assessments for each IBDP course vary. Subject briefs, which can be found on the curriculum page of this website, describe in more detail the assessment requirements for each IBDP course offered at Kaiser High School.
Examples of components that are externally assessed (external assessments or EAs) include:
end-of-course IB examinations, extended essays, written assignments, theory of knowledge essays
Examples of components that are internally assessed (internal assessments or IAs) include:
oral work, fieldwork, investigations, presentations, portfolios, projects
Internal and external assessments for each IBDP course vary. Subject briefs, which can be found on the curriculum page of this website, describe in more detail the assessment requirements for each IBDP course offered at Kaiser High School.
IB Grades
Assessments in each subject comprise the student's final IB grade and are required to be eligible to earn the IB Diploma. Performance in each subject is graded on a scale of 7 points (maximum) down to 1 point (minimum). Performance in theory of knowledge and the extended essay are each graded on a scale of A (maximum) to E (minimum). The CAS requirement is not assessed however must be satisfactorily completed according to all guidelines. For the IB Diploma, a maximum of 3 points is awarded for combined performance in theory of knowledge and the extended essay. The maximum total points score is 45.
Hawaii DOE Grades
Students receive a traditional DOE report card each term reflecting the letter grade (A-F) they earn in each class according to the teacher's grading scale and student performance on regular class tests, quizzes, assignments, projects, etc. Students earn a high school diploma based on completing all DOE graduation requirements, and a traditional high school transcript also serves as a record of student performance. Both years of all IBDP courses are currently weighted on a 5.0 GPA scale with the exception of Mathematical Studies SL, Mathematics SL Year 1, and Theory of Knowledge.
Award of the IB Diploma
All assessment components for each of the six subjects and the additional Diploma requirements must be completed in order to qualify for the award of the IB Diploma.
The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate provided all the following requirements have been met.
The IB Diploma will be awarded to a candidate provided all the following requirements have been met.
- CAS requirements have been met.
- The candidate’s total points are 24 or more.
- There is no “N” awarded for theory of knowledge, the extended essay or for a contributing subject.
- There is no grade E awarded for theory of knowledge and/or the extended essay.
- There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.
- There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (HL or SL).
- There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (HL or SL).
- The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
- The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).
- The candidate has not received a penalty for academic misconduct from the Final Award Committee.
Form of the Results
IB Diploma Candidates who successfully complete all requirements will receive the “International Baccalaureate Diploma” and an official “IB Diploma Programme Certificate of Course Results” that lists the total IB Diploma points scored, the subject grades, confirmation of the completion of all CAS requirements and any points awarded and individual grades for the combination of theory of knowledge and the extended essay.
An IB Diploma Candidate who fails to satisfy the requirements for the award of an IB Diploma will receive an official “Diploma Programme Certificate of Course Results” that indicates the grades obtained in individual subjects, together with results in theory of knowledge and the extended essay, and confirmation of the completion of all CAS requirements, as appropriate.
An IB Diploma Candidate who fails to satisfy the requirements for the award of an IB Diploma will receive an official “Diploma Programme Certificate of Course Results” that indicates the grades obtained in individual subjects, together with results in theory of knowledge and the extended essay, and confirmation of the completion of all CAS requirements, as appropriate.