Grade 10 Course Selection Information
What you need to know…
It is a stressful time but a following few simple guidelines will help…1. Follow your passions2. Think about yourself – awareness of
strengths3. Think about your future – what do you
need?4. What options do I have?
Don’t Worry…
Don’t forget… you have already created a 4-year plan… this is meant to guide the decision!
Refer to the plan on Family Connection
Talk & Discuss Parents!!!!... Teachers Guidance Students
4 year plan
What options do I have?
Full
IB Diplo
ma
•6 Subjects•3HL + 3SL•ToK / EE•Study hall
Partial IB Diplo
ma
•Up to 4HL or SL•No constraints by group•Freedom to add ISM Courses•Study Hall
ISM High School Di
ploma
•Freedom to add ISM courses•No External Examination pressures•High School Diploma
The IB Diploma
Six Subjects3 Higher level - HL3 Standard level – SL
Compulsory:One from each group 1-5+One from group 6 or an extra subject from another group
Exception:Environmental Systems & Societies (can be group 3, or 4 or both!)
Plus:Theory of Knowledge & Extended Essay
IB Video
Self Taught… Other native language
speakers Literature based Scheduled study slots Led by Ms Arndt Tutor Discipline!
Develop proficiency… stick with it!
Ab initio is not an easy option!
Group1 – 1st language (A) English, Korean (HL only),
Japanese (HL only)
Group 2 – Language Acquisition (B) English, Mandarin,
Japanese, Spanish, French… or Second First language inc. Filipino or Self Taught native language
IB Course Options - Languages
Language & Literature Vs Literature Consider personal
strengths Interests No. of texts University / college
targets
Talk to your English Teacher!
Which English?
Consider personal strengths & Enjoyment
Grade 9 & 10 courses 4-Year Plan Interests Needs University / college
targets – research!
Talk to Your Teachers !
Sports, Exercise & Health Science Not recommended to
replace the ‘big 3’ Not IB Phys Ed !
Computer Science Group 4 but not
recommended to replace the ‘big 3’
Which Science?
English
Natural Flows 1
Math
Natural Flows 2
Languages
Natural Flows 3
Natural Flows 4
Sciences
How does it fit together? - IB Diploma Examples…
Example
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Standard – one subject from each group
English A Literature HL
Spanish Ab Initio SL
Geography HL
Biology SL
Math SL Film HL
Language heavy – Korean first language
Korean A Literature SL
English B HL
Economics HL
Env. Systems & Societies SL
Math HL French B SL
Two Arts option
English A Lang & Lit HL
Mandarin B SL
Env. Systems & Societies SL
Visual Arts HL
Math Studies SL
Theatre HL
Business Option
English A Literature SL
French B SL
Economics HL
Physics HL
Math HL Business & Management SL
Each subject is scored on a scale 1-7 (7 is best!)
Students study 6 subjects Max subject score = 6x7 = 42 ToK + EE = 0-3 points = 42+3 = 45! Perfect Score
2011 Results 104,998 diploma global candidates – 96 scored 45 – 193 scored 44 (0.002%) Average 29.5 pts…ISM 34.5!
How is the IB Assessed?
IB Grades at ISM
IB Compulsory Elements 1Theory of Knowledge
Philosophical Investigation based around 2 key questions…
What do I Know? How do I know it?
Assessment 1 essay from a selection
prescribed by IB 1 presentation – subject
chosen by student
IB Compulsory Elements 2Extended Essay
4000 word investigation into a student chosen academic subject
Must follow strict academic investigation in line with university expectations
Guided by supervisor
Externally assessed
Chance to develop an interest / academic depth
IB Compulsory Elements 3Creativity, Action & Service - CAS
IB Diploma Requirement… you must complete the CAS requirements in order to obtain a diploma – 150 hours
As the IB States… “the CAS program fosters student awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena”
It encourages you to develop skills and experiences beyond your current context
It enables you to develop skills beyond the academic
It makes you a ‘better person’
‘It is better to take 4HL subjects’ ‘I have to do AP subjects as well’ ‘Math HL has low grades’ ‘I don’t need the diploma for US
Colleges’ ‘Ab Initio’ is an easy language option ToK & EE don’t matter ‘… but everyone does the IB’
IB Mythbusting…
The College Perspective
“The IB is well known to us for excellent preparations. Success in an IB program correlates well with success at Harvard. We are always pleased to see the credentials of the IB Diploma Program on the transcript.”—Marilyn McGrath Lewis, Director of Undergraduate Admission Harvard University“Send us prepared students a la IB...It
is the “best” high school prep curriculum an American school can offer.” —Marilee Jones, Former Director of Undergraduate Admission, Massachusetts Institute of Technology“One of the advantages of an IB
curriculum is its structure and quality. It is a coordinated program, well established, well known and well respected. We know the quality of IB courses, and we think the IB curriculumis terrific.” — Christoph Guttentag, Director of Undergraduate Admission, Duke University
Disadvantages of the IB Diploma
• Cost
• Time
• Organization
• Stress
• Academic pressure
• Not the easy option!
• Realistic Expectations• Overload – caution• Extra Curricular
Management • Organization
You Take Some IB courses… Freedom of choice Not governed by group restrictions No ToK / EE Schedule slots for more elective options Still possible college credits Approx 25% ISM students each year Still awarded ISM Diploma
Option 2: Partial Diploma
Complete freedom of choice within graduation requirements
No external examinations Reduced workload Reduced academic challenge Opportunity to follow co-curricular
passions Respected diploma but not externally
validated
Option 3: ISM High School Diploma
Course Selections
Course Offerings 2012-13Online access
www.ismanila.orgAt ISMHigh SchoolHS Course Offerings SY12-13
All selection via the online tool on the portal
20-24th February
How to select
Click here
But don’t worry…everyone makes bad decisions sometimes!
These people for example made a decision to get up and chase a cheese…Cheese
And sometimes even good decisions don’t work out even for the ‘best’ people…Fail
Q & A Post-It Board
Questions… now is the time to ask!