The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a two-year course of study that leads to examinations and external assessment which is held in November of the final year.

Students are assessed in each of the six subject groups. This may take the form of external written examinations or submissions which are outlined in the syllabus documents.

Students will sit external examinations for English, Biology, Design Technology, Languages, Mathematics and Music at the end of Year 12.

Submissions

The following submissions are required for external assessment for Film Studies, Languages, Music, Theatre Arts and Visual Arts.

• Film Studies : Short film and trailer; Independent Study, a short documentary production presented as a shooting script; a recorded oral presentation of a textual analysis of an extract from a prescribed film.
• Languages : A recorded oral examination.
• Music: Musical Investigation.
• Theatre Arts: Portfolio including Independent Project, Practical Play Analysis and a Research Commission.
• Visual Arts: Individual exhibition of studio work, including a 30-minute interview with the external examiner; Written Artist Statement; excerpts from research workbook.
• Business and Management : If selected as an anticipated subject, students will complete written external exams at the end of Year 11. Students also have the option of choosing Business and Management at Higher Level or Standard Level over two years.

   

Grading

External assessment is graded on a scale of 1-7. A minimum score of 24, plus satisfactory completion of the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course; the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) activities; and the Extended Essay (EE) are required for the awarding of the IB Diploma. Three of the subjects are taken at the standard level (SL) and three at the higher level (HL). All examinations are conducted in strict adherence to the International Baccalaureate Organisation's Handbook of Proceedures for the Diploma Program protocols.

Examination procedures

Oral and written examinations are prepared by the International Board of Examiners. The Examiners assess students on criterion-based standards which are the same worldwide. The aim of the assessment process is to ensure fair treatment for all students. To ensure consistency and accountability, senior Examiners convene after each assessment to award grades and monitor special consideration applications.

The Chief Examiners have international authority in their fields and utilise a moderation process of remarking a sample of every examiner's marked papers to achieve consistency. The grading system reflects the attainment of knowledge and skills relative to set standards that are applied equally to all schools, and consequently the highest grades are not awarded to a certain percentage of students. The examination system allows valid university entry credentials for students moving from one country to another.

To prepare students appropriately for the IB Diploma examinations, the Academy assessment practices will, at key junctures, model formal examination procedures.

REFERENCE
_{International Baccalaureate Organization 2002, Schools' Guide to the Diploma Programme, IBO, Cardiff.}