Diploma Programme developments

The Diploma Programme core as courses

The IB is pleased to announce that the core elements of the Diploma Programme - theory of knowledge (TOK), extended essay (EE), and creativity, action, service (CAS) - will be available as individually recognized stand-alone offerings for first

teaching in 2012 (applied to first examination session 2014).

Presently, students are able to take individual courses from the six groups of the Diploma Programme hexagon. Therefore, currently, it is only those students who take the entire diploma who benefit from and experience the unique elements at the core of the programme.

The decision to allow Diploma Programme (DP) course students to experience these core elements of the diploma supports the IB’s continued dedication to its access agenda and is fully supported by the

academic committees of the IB.

If you teach or are a coordinator at an IB World School, please talk to future students about their study options as of 2012. Schools who are presently limited to certain options due to national curricula will be able to tailor a wider group of Diploma Programme courses that fit their needs. For the ‘Diploma of the International Baccalaureate’ award, however, the same broad and balanced combination of courses will still apply.

The extended essay

The extended essay is an opportunity for DP course students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the

subjects they’re studying. The new world studies extended essay option is also available.

Theory of knowledge

The theory of knowledge course is 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, action, service

Creativity, action, 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 separately.

Diploma Programme terminology changes

As of September 2011 (and applied to first examinations in 2013), a number of important changes to terminology associated with the IB Diploma Programme will be made. The table below outlines the current terminology used alongside the changes that will come into effect.

At present	From September 2011
Students who study subjects, but choose not to take the entire diploma, are currently referred to as “certificate students”.	These subjects will be referred to as "Diploma Programme (DP) courses” and the students who study them will be referred to as “Diploma Programme (DP) course students”.
A student who successfully gains the full IB Diploma receives the “IB Diploma” together with a further accompanying document which lists their subjects and grades.	A student who successfully gains the full IB Diploma will be awarded “The Diploma of the International Baccalaureate” and their “Diploma Programme (DP) Results”. Diploma Programme courses students (as mentioned above) will receive “Diploma Programme (DP) Course Results”.
At present, a bilingual diploma can be awarded to a student who: • studies two group 1 literature A1 courses in two different languages • takes a group 3 or 4 subject in a different language • writes their extended essay in a different language.	A bilingual diploma will be defined as follows: • A combination of any two group 1 courses in different languages, of which there are three possible subject options, each passed with a grade of 3 or above • A group 3 or 4 subject taken in a language other than the candidate’s language A, passed with a grade of 3 or above The extended essay contribution to a bilingual diploma is no longer applicable.
Group 1 is for students’ best language and includes courses presently referred to as “language A1”.	These group 1 courses will be referred to collectively as “studies in language and literature”.
Group 2 is designed for students learning a language up to near native speaker level and includes courses presently called “second language”.	These courses will be referred to as “language acquisition” and will be seen as the student’s further language(s).
Subjects that cover requirements for more than one group are currently called “transdisciplinary subjects”.	These subjects will be referred to more appropriately as “interdisciplinary subjects”. This term refers to environmental systems and societies in groups 3 and 4 and literature and performance, which covers groups 1 and 6.