year 10 parent and student information session 19 july 2021

Subject selection information for the IB Diploma Programme

Year 10 Parent and Student Information Session

19 July 2021

Key Aspects of the

IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)

Rebecca Skarshewski

Director of Senior Years

IBDP Curriculum Overview

IBDP Inner Core

• The Extended Essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.

• Theory of Knowledge is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).

• Creativity, Activity, Service requires that students actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.

Assessment in the IBDP

• Students take written examinations at the end of the programme which are marked by external IB examiners.

• Students also complete assessment tasks in school which are either initially marked by teachers and then moderated by external moderators or sent directly to external examiners.

• Further information can be found in the QASMT Assessment Policy and the QASMT IBDP Assessment Guidance Handbook. Both are available on our website.

https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/SupportAndResources/FormsAndDocuments/Documents/Policies/assessment-policy.pdf

https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/documents/interntional%20baccalaureate%20resources/ibdp-assessment-guidance-handbook_2021.pdf

IB Diploma Requirements

Criteria Passing condition

CAS completed

IB awarded score for 6 subjects, TOK & EE

Total IB score 24 points or more

TOK & EE (A to E) D (minimum)

Grade of 1 (HL or SL) 0

Grade of 2 (HL or SL)Less than 3

awarded

Grade of 3 (HL or SL)Less than 4

awarded

Sum of 3 x HLs = 12 points or more

Sum of 3 x SLs = 9 points or more

No evidence of academic misconduct

Importance of the Inner Core

Examination Results and Receiving the Diploma

• Examination results and Diploma attainment information are available mid-late December after the examination period (to be confirmed). Student results are released directly to some Australian tertiary admissions centres and students wishing to have their results released to other admissions centres or universities will need to contact the IBDP Coordinator (Miss Skarshewski).

• Students will receive their Diploma or Course Results (paper copy) in late March of the following year.

• Each student’s Diploma will indicate the grade the candidate has been awarded for each subject, including:

• the additional Diploma requirements of Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay,

• the successful completion of Creativity, Activity and Service and • the total number of points for the qualification award.

Credit for IB Subjects at University

• Many universities offer credits and exemptions for university subjects when students achieve certain grade requirements in a range of IB subjects.

• Details for can be found on the individual university websites. Links to the UQ and QUT requirements can be found in the Curriculum Handbook (also emailed with this presentation link).

https://qasmt.eq.edu.au/supportandresources/formsanddocuments/documents/curriculum%20handbooks/diploma-program-2021-curriculum-handbook.pdf

Subject Selection Process

Rebecca Skarshewski


IBDP Subject Selection Process

Occurs this term:

• IBDP Subject selection information letter

• Year 11 and 12 Curriculum Handbook IB Diploma

2021

• Information from HODs

• Subject recommendations letter – Week 5

• Online subject selection – Weeks 6 and 7

Curriculum Handbook

• The handbook contains an overview of the IBDP

curriculum and the subjects offered at QASMT.

• Listed are details for each subject, including

aims, syllabus outline and assessment

requirements. It also highlights the difference

between Standard Level and Higher Level.

• The handbook is very important reading.

Subject Selection Considerations

• Subject recommendations

• Areas of interest and enjoyment

• Career goals

• IB score

• Pre-requisites

Note: Students should be already studying their DP subjects through the Year 10 Diploma Preparation Program.

Proposed Subject Offerings

Standard Level (SL) vs Higher Level (HL)

• All students must study 3 subjects at Higher Level and 3 subjects at Standard Level.

• HL courses typically also include a range of additional elements designed to allow students to explore areas of interest within the subject in more depth. In this sense, SL courses are not watered down versions of their HL counterparts - they are assessed at the same rigorous IB standard.

• SL courses meet university pre-requisites for all subjects*. (Some exceptions at overseas institutions.)

Subject Recommendations

• It is an Academy expectation that students will be continuing with subjects studied in the Diploma Preparation Programme in Year 10.

• Students will receive an individualised letter with a recommendation of subjects for them to study in the IB Diploma Programme and the subjects they are recommended to study at Higher Level (HL) based on their achievement in the Diploma Preparation Programme so far.

• Letters will be sent out by Week 6.

Choosing Outside of Subject Recommendations

• Do not complete subject selection online.

• Schedule a short meeting with your House Dean to discuss your options.

• If you still wish to choose outside of subject recommendations this will need to be discussed with Deputy Principal, Ms Haggarty, and parents will need to attend. You will need to schedule an appointment through the main office or by emailing Michelle Van Der Ryken at [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]

Online Subject Selection

• To be completed through One School

• Detailed instructions will be provided to students and parents before Week 6

Subject Specific Information

Rebecca Skarshewski


Language and Literature (Group 1)Overview:

Know, understand and interpret a range of literary and non-literary works; analyse and evaluate the ways language creates meaning; communicate ideas.

Assessment (SL and HL):

Internal Assessment

• Individual Oral (SL: 30%, HL: 20%): 15 minute oral presentation

External Assessment

• Paper 1 35%: Textual analysis – same criteria between HL and SL, HL analyses two passages.

• Paper 2 (SL: 35%, HL: 25%): comparative essay – same criteria and requirements between HL and SL

Assessment HL only: Essay 20% (1200 – 1500 words)

SSST Literature Language A SL (Group 1)

• Students whose mother tongue is a language other than English have the option to study Literature in this language as an alternative to their compulsory Language Acquisition subject.

• This program is called Language A: Literature SSST (School Supported Self-Taught), where the students conduct self-taught studies, with support from the school around learning and assessment techniques, and the assistance of a self-organised tutor.

• Please be advised that fluency is required to be able to complete this subject as the studies are of literature and not language acquisition.

• Students will complete a similar style of study to their English A subject, however, conducted in their mother tongue.

Sciences (Group 4)

Overview:

• Biology - offered at both HL and SL; includes some mathematics (equivalent to Year 10).

• Sports, Exercise and Health Science - offered at HL only; includes some mathematics (equivalent to Year 10).

• Chemistry - offered at both HL and SL; good mathematical skills required.

• Physics - offered at both HL and SL; mathematically demanding.

All Standard Level science courses meet the equivalent pre-requisite requirementsat all Australian universities (equivalent to ATAR Senior subjects).

Assessment – Sciences

Assessment Component SL Weighting HL Weighting

Paper 1: Multiple choice questions 20%

45 mins

20%

1 hr

Paper 2: Data-based, short answer

and extended response questions

40%

1 hr 15 mins

36%

2 hrs 15 mins

Paper 3: Short answer and extended

response

20%

1 hr

24%

1 hr 15 mins

Internal Assessment 20%

10 hour investigation

6-12 page report

20%

10 hour investigation

6-12 page report

Mathematics: Analysis & Approaches (Group 5)

Overview:

• Mathematical thinking, real and abstract problem solving, algebraic methods.

• Leads to mathematics, physical sciences, engineering and some economics.



• A piece of written work that explores an area of maths

External Assessment 80%

• Paper 1 (SL: 40%, HL: 30%): Short and extended response (no technology)

• Paper 2 (SL: 40%, HL: 30%): Short and extended response (with technology)

• Paper 3 (HL only 20%): Extended response problem solving (with technology)

Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations (Group 5)Overview:

• Modelling and statistics, mathematical applications, problem solving using technology.

• Leads to social and natural sciences, medicine, business, psychology and design.



• A piece of written work that explores an area of maths


• Paper 1 (SL: 40%, HL: 30%): Short response (with technology)

• Paper 2 (SL: 40%, HL: 30%): Extended response (with technology)

• Paper 3 (HL only 20%): Extended response problem solving (with technology)

University Pre-Requisites

IB ATAR

Mathematics: applications and interpretations SL Maths Methods*

Mathematics: applications and interpretations HL Maths Methods

Mathematics: analysis and approaches SL Maths Methods

Mathematics: analysis and approaches HL Specialist Maths

*All of these subjects are pre-requisites for Maths Methods at UQ, QUT and Griffith.

• Language and Literature: Vicky Snell

• Language Acquisition: Kate Oxenford

• Technology and the Arts: Madeline Brookes

• Individuals and Society: Lyle Fredrickson

• Sciences: Esme Hatchell (Biology); Catherine De Freitas (Chemistry and Physics) and Yanah Floridis (SEHS)

• Mathematics: Jane Gorman

Q&A with Heads of Department

Language Acquisition (Group 2)Overview:

Develops receptive, productive and interactive communicative skills; communicate in the target language in familiar and unfamiliar contexts.

Assessment (SL only):


• Individual oral: Conversation with teacher based on visual stimuli


• Paper 1 25%: Productive skills – Writing (1 hour)

• Paper 2 50%: Receptive skills – Listening and Reading (1 hour 45min)

Individuals & Society (Group 3)

At QASMT, all Group 3 subjects are offered at HL ONLY.

Students should be in the subject that they wish to study as a Diploma course.

We offer:

• Business Management

• Economics

• Psychology

• Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS)

Business Management (Group 3)Overview:

Five units

• Introduction to Business Management, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing and Operations

Assessment (HL only):

Internal Assessment 25%, 2000 word research report

• Investigate a real business and provide recommendations to current issues

External Assessment 75% (both papers are 2 hr 15 min)

• Paper 1 35%: response to a seen case study stimulus

• Paper 2 40%: combination response of structured questions

Economics (Group 3)Overview:

Four units

• Introduction to Economics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Global Economy


Internal Assessment 20%, 3 x 800 word commentaries

• Based on different units of the syllabus. Each of the three commentaries should use a

different key concept as a lens through which to analyse the published news media extracts.


• Paper 1 20%: An extended response paper (1 hr 15 min)

• Paper 2 30%: A data response paper (1 hr 45 min)

• Paper 3 30%: A policy paper answering two compulsory questions (1 hr 45 min)

Psychology (Group 3)Overview:

Four units

• Biological, Cognitive and Sociocultural approach to understanding behaviour, Approaches to researching behaviour, Abnormal Psychology and Psychology of human relationships



• A report on an experimental study undertaken by the student


• Paper 1 40%: Short answer and essay response (2 hrs)

• Paper 2 20%: Two questions (2 hrs)

• Paper 3 20%: Three short answer questions on approaches to research (1 hr)

Information Technology in a Global Society (Group 3)Overview:

• Study and evaluation of the impacts of IT; exploration of advantages and disadvantages in local

and global context; making informed judgments and decisions about the use of IT.



• Develop an original IT product for a chosen client


• Paper 1 40%: Response to a selection of structured questions (2 hours 10 min)

• Paper 2 20%: Response to an unseen article (1 hr 15 min)

• Paper 3 25%: Response to a seen case study (1 hr 15mins)

Computer Science (Group 4)Overview:

Object orientated programming using Java; computer networks and control systems; how computers are organised and managing computer resources



• Solution for a chosen client to a problem or unanswered question.


• Paper 1 40%: Short answer and structured questions (2 hours 10 min)

• Paper 2 20%: Student respond to questions in selected option (1 hr 20 min)

• Paper 3 20%: Response to a case study (1 hr)

Visual Art (Group 6)

Overview:

• Create original artworks in response to culture and contexts; learn about and critique a variety of artwork; and develop artistic skills.



• Exhibition including a curate rational (700 words), 8-11 works and exhibition text for each work.


• Comparative study 20%: Analyse and compare artworks (13-20 screens total).

• Process portfolio 40%: Evidence of experimentation and refinement of art making activities (13-25 screens total).

Thank you for your

attention and

good evening!