The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is an internationally recognized qualification for entry into higher education. Usually, 16-to-19-year-olds take it during the last two years of high school. High-achieving high school students who want an international perspective in a variety of subjects should consider this program.
The IB Program includes three required courses. The first, Theory of Knowledge, discusses where knowledge comes from and how to analyze information. The second required course, Extended Essay, involves researching a subject of the student’s choice and writing a 4,000-word essay on it. The third requirement, called Creativity, Activity, Service, requires 50 hours of work outside of class in each of the three areas. Creativity includes theater, music and art. Activity refers to sports, and service means volunteering.
The program includes classes in six other subject areas as well: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics and the arts. Students are expected to take one class from each subject area. However, they can choose an additional course from one of the other areas as a substitution for the arts requirement.
The IB Program introduces students to a wide range of courses. This can give students a leg up in university applications because it shows they can learn about many different subjects. On the other hand, the variety of subjects means that students can only take one or two classes in any one area. Therefore, students who want to specialize in fields such as medicine or engineering may as well take more classes in a single subject area. IB may not be a good fit for these students.
The IB Program is time-consuming and intellectually challenging. Not all students will desire or feel equipped to put in the work. For those who pursue it, however, the IB Program offers a wide-ranging education focused on developing skills students will need in life.
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