The Curriculum
The DP curriculum is made up of six subject groups and the core, comprising the Extended Essay (EE), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course. Through the DP core, students complete independent research, undertake a project that often involves community service, and reflect on the nature of knowledge. The DP core aims to broaden students’ educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.
Subject GroupsStudents choose courses from the following six subject groups:
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Students take some subjects at higher level (HL) and some at standard level (SL). HL and SL courses differ in scope but are measured according to the same grade descriptors, with students expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills at higher level. Each student takes at least three (but not more than four) subjects at higher level, and the remaining at standard level. All DP courses, with the exception of Theory of Knowledge, are two years in length, spanning the entirety of Grade 11 and Grade 12. The TOK course is two semesters.
The Diploma Programme Core
The three elements at the core of the IB Diploma Programme provide opportunities for students to explore and express their individual voices in a variety of settings. They also provide a hub for interdisciplinary exploration and reflection on the ways that each element of the program interacts with and speaks to the others. The three elements at the core of the Diploma Programme are the Extended Essay (EE), the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) component, and the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course.
- The Extended Essay (EE) asks students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. It is a self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Activity seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical activity. Service with the community offers a vehicle for new learning with academic value. The three strands of CAS enhance students' personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable journeys of self discovery.
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK) develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.
