IB COURSES AT DR J H GILLISGlossary of termsHL – Higher Level courses run over a 2 year periodSL – Standard Level courses most run over 2 years

with exception of BIO SL and FRE SLInternal Assessments – Assessments required by IB

which are marked by classroom teachers and external IB markers.

External Assessments - IB Examinations

ENGLISH A LITERATURE

This is a literature course12 works are studied over a two year period

Oral Internal Assessments

There are two oral assessments in EnglishIn grade 11 students work towards an Individual oral

presentation (IOP) 15%In grade 12 students complete an oral commentary

15%Both oral assignments are recorded, and marked by

both the teacher and IB officials

Written Internal Assessments There is one written internal assessment 25% which IS

marked by both the teacher and IB offficialsThe internal assessment is a reflective comparative

essay as set out by IB and the teacher/IB selected works in Part I of the syllabus

External Assessments Students write two exam papers

Paper 1 is aa guided literary analysis 20%

Paper 2 is an essay based on works studied in Part 3 25%

Language B FRENCH

French is offered as an Ab Initio, SL and HL courseSL and Ab Initio French are one year grade 12 courses

which is completed in grade 11HL French is a two year grade 12 course which is

completed in grades 11 and 12

Internal Assessment 30%

Individual Oral (8-10 minutes) 20%This oral is recorded, and marked by both the teacher

and IB officialsInteractive Oral Activity 10%These activities are based on the core and consist of 3

classroom activities assessed by the teacher

External Assessment

Students write two exam papersPaper one 25% and Paper two 25%These exams are sent to IB officials to be markedStudents write a written assignment 20% which is a

writing piece as outlined by IBOWritten assignments are marked by both teacher and

IB officials

IB Math RouteGrade 10 Math 10 + Adv Math 11Grade 11 IB MathGrade 12 IB Math

**Some students will opt for Cal 12 as they have free time in their grade 12 year, but it is not necessary as Calculus is covered in IB Math

Math SLMath SL is a two year course which is referred to as the

“Calculus” MathIt qualifies a student for any science or engineering

programStudents have a free period in their grade 12 year and

many choose to take Calculus 12 course as an extraMany rumors exist that IB Math does not qualify for the

sciences in University – these rumors likely surface because parents can be confused as to which IB Math a school chooses – some schools in NS have the choice of a lower math course called IB Math Studies, which does not qualify for the sciences

IB Math Assessment

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT 20% 1 math porfolio assignment which is set out by IB

and marked by the teacher and IB offficials

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT 80% consists of paper 1 and 2(exams)

IB HistoryIB History is a two year course which is offered as SL and

HL courseCurrently IB History covers 20th century world history –

communism in crisis 1976-89 to include:Causes, practices and effects of warsDemocratic states – challenges and responsesOrigins and development of authoritarian and single party

statesNationalist and independence movements in Africa and

Asia and post-1945 Central and Eastern European statesThe Cold War

ASSESSMENTInternal Assessment 20% HL 25% SLOne Historical Investigation Paper

External Assessment 80% HL 75% SLPaper 1 & 2 for all studentsPaper 3 for HL students

SCIENCES IB Chemistry, Biology and Physics are offered at both HL

and SLAll 3 science programs are practical programs which

require many laboratory hours. Some labs are actually designed by the student themselves

As well students complete a project based lab which integrates all 2 or 3 sciences

ASSESSMENTInternal Assessment 24%Students complete a number of lab components per

topic area which are marked by the teacher and IB officials

External Assessment 76% All students write Paper 1, 2 and 3

BIOLOGY

Biology can be completed in one year (SL) or over a two year period (HL)

Core topics for both SL and HL include: Statistical analysisCellsChemistry of lifeGeneticsEcology and evolutionHuman health and physiology

BIOLOGY SL OPTIONSSL Options include:Human nutrition and healthPhysiology of exerciseCells and energyEvolutionNeurobiology and behaviourMicrobes and biotechnologyEcology and conservation

BIOLOGY HL OPTIONSBiology HL Options include:EvolutionNeurobiology and behaviourMicrobes and biotechnologyEcology and conservationFurther human physiology

ChemistryChemistry is offered as either an SL or HL course and both

options require two years to complete.The core includes:Quantitative ChemistryAtomic structurePeriodicityBondingKineticsEquilibriumAcids and basesOxidation and reductionOrganic chemistryMeasurement and data processing

CHEMISTRY SL OPTIONS Modern analytical chemistryHuman biochemistryChemistry in industry and technologyMedicines and drugsEnvironmental chemistryFood chemistryFurther organic chemistry

CHEMISTRY HL OPTIONSOptions for HL are the same as SL but require students

to go into more depth and require more hours.

VISUAL ARTSVisual Arts is a two year course which can be taken at

the SL or HL levelThis is an academic course which requires a final art

show and completion of an investigative sketch/workbook

ASSESSMENT

Internal Assessment 40%

Students complete an extensive art work/sketchbook which must contain required elements as set out by IB. This workbook is marked by the teacher and by IB officials

External Assesssment 60%The external assessment is the student art show

which is marked by an Art Examiner which is supplied by IB

IB MUSICIB Music is offered as either HL or SLInternal assessment is worth 50% of the final mark

and include:Creating – 3 pieces of coursework with recordings and

written workSolo Performance – A recording selected from pieces

presented during one or more public performances

IB MUSIC EXTERNAL ASSESSMENTExternal assessment includes:A listening paper which examines musical perceptions A written media script of 2,000 words or less

investigating the musical links between two or more pieces from distinct musical cultures

Theory of KnowledgeThis is the “glue” of the IB program. It is a course

based in knowledge and aims to have students make connections between all subjects.

Real world examples are studied, but “How do we know???” is the context in which the issue is discussed

ASSESSMENTInternal AssessmentStudents prepare and present a classroom

presentation based on a topic they are interested in. The presentation is recorded and marked by the teacher

External AssessmentStudents complete a 1500 word essay on a topic

chosen from a list of 10-15 topics outlined by IB (topics change annually) The teacher marks the paper and it is also marked by IB officials

There is NO EXAM in TOK

CAS (Creativity, Action & ServiceThis segment of the IB program is meant to give

students the opportunity to experience new activities and engage in learning outside the classroom.

Students must participate in 50 hours in each area over the two year Diploma Programme

CREATIVITYHow can I be creative??? Do I have to be artistic???

The answer is NO!!! There are a wide range of creative activities that can be included in this section and the CAS coordinator can tailor it to your interests

ACTIONDo I have to be an athlete??? The answer is NO!!!!

Although many students are varsity athletes and have a surplus of active hours, they must try to improve as the emphasis is to be active and to improve and try new things

Any activity can qualify and it does not need to be a team sport!

The CAS coordinator will tailor this to suit you individually

SERVICE

In this section 50 hours must be accumulated over the two year period volunteering in any capacity.

At least one component must be a class project and should have an international focus

CAS BENEFITS Many or all scholarships require documentation of all

activities in the high school year. CAS requires you to do the same, so many students have the scholarship criteria completed, and documented within the CAS program .

By the end of the grade 11 year many students have all the hours and more, and continue to improve and document, making for strong scholarship applications in grade 12