Education for a better world

When will first teaching of the new MYP curriculum start?

How will the IB inform me about the new requirements?

What does subject group flexibility mean?

What is an eAssessment?

What is the timetable for the last subject moderation and the introduction of eAssessment?

What subjects will be covered by the new assessment offering?

First teaching is on track to start in September 2014 or January 2015, depending on the start of your school’s academic year.

The IB provides a phased approach for schools to implement the new requirements. Transition documents provide timelines for meeting requirements for schools in the authorization or programme evaluation process. The latest transition document was posted on the Online Curriculum Centre (OCC) in December 2013.

Subject group flexibility supports schools in meeting local requirements and can offer students opportunities to create individual pathways for further learning.

Whenever possible, schools should continue to provide all students with opportunities to engage in the study of eight subject groups in all years of the programme. If students are better served in years 4 and 5 by studying fewer than eight subject groups, schools may offer subject group flexibility. In that case, students must be able to choose subjects from at least six subject groups (with certain conditions) that are taught independently and concurrently. A document about subject group flexibility (MYP moderation, certification and eAssessment) can be found on the MYP pages of the OCC under the heading “MYP: the next chapter - implementation”.

Along with the introduction of mandatory moderation of the personal project, 2016 sees a change in the optional assessment for the MYP. The new optional MYP eAssessment provides external evaluation for students in year 5 (15–16 years old) that leads to the internationally recognized IB MYP certificate.

MYP eAssessment represents a balanced, appropriately-challenging model that comprises examinations and coursework.

Two-hour onscreen examinations in four groups subjects (language and literature, sciences, mathematics, individuals and societies) and interdisciplinary learning are externally marked by IB examiners, as is a portfolio of student work for courses in language acquisition. Students also submit an ePortfolio of coursework for a performance-oriented subject group (physical and health education, arts, and design), which is moderated to international standards.

These innovative assessments focus on conceptual understanding and the ability to apply knowledge in complex, unfamiliar situations. They offer robust and reliable assessment of student achievement in the MYP

Subject moderation and the resulting MYP certificate will continue until the end of the 2015 moderation sessions.

Mandatory moderation of the personal project will start in 2016, providing global consistency across all MYP schools.

A limited series of external assessments (eAssessments) will be available in 2015.

The full assessment model, including a range of eAssessments, will be the sole route to the IB MYP certificate from 2016.

The full list of assessments for the MYP is in the August 2013 MYP development report on the OCC.

The Middle Years Programme:

Q&A for IB World Schools

How much will assessment cost?

When will the professional development opportunities available from the IB reflect the new MYP curriculum?

What is the planned publication date for new MYP subject guides and MYP: From principles into practice?

What will happen to my school’s five-year evaluation, due next year? Why has the MYP name been changed in French?

The IB announced its pricing framework for the MYP in August 2013 to give schools plenty of time to plan budgets for 2015 and 2016. A summary is available on the OCC.

The pricing policy will offer greater value for the annual fee (which includes moderation of the personal project) and a range of options for the eAssessments, focused on the full MYP certificate requirements.

MYP fees are confirmed in the annual message sent to all IB World Schools in January of each year.

The IB started the briefing and training of workshop leaders based on the new MYP curriculum in January 2013.

From January 2014, both face-to-face and online category 1 and 2 workshops will reflect the MYP changes outlined in the pre-publication guides released in December 2013.

From February 2014 onwards – MYP subject-specific seminars include:

• arts From May 2014, new and updated category 3 workshops include:

• teaching and learning in global contexts • managing assessment • inquiry in the MYP • action in the MYP • evaluating your MYP.

• design • individuals and societies • language acquisition • language and literature • mathematics • MYP projects • physical and health education • sciences.

From September 2014, all workshops (including online and blended workshops) will reflect final publications of subject group guides and MYP: From principles into practice.

Further information on new MYP professional development opportunities is available at www.ibo.org/programmes/pd, including the http://ecatalogue.ibo.org/t/35963. If you have any further questions, please contact your regional professional development manager

The subject guides were pre-published in December 2013, with final publication in May 2014.

The new MYP: From principles into practice will be pre-published in March 2014, with final publication in July 2014.

Schools currently starting or going through programme evaluation must use the current guidelines.

Schools starting the programme evaluation process from March 2014 will be guided in accordance with the transition document published on the OCC in December 2013.

The Middle Years Programme is currently “le Programme de premier cycle secondaire de l’IB” (PPCS), but going forward will be known as “le Programme d’éducation intermédiaire de l’IB” (PEI).

The name change is a result of research undertaken in 2013, which showed that the name in French is not clearly understood by stakeholders working in this language and does not accurately describe the pathways undertaken by MYP students.

For further information please visit the IB website: www.ibo.org/myp

Interested in learning more about the MYP? Watch a video, brochures and read more online!

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2014 001/MYP/ENG/2014/GLOBAL