CURRICULUM

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) was created in 1968. It is a demanding pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. It is designed for highly motivated secondary school students in their last two years of high school.

The programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities. The DP's grading system is criterion-referenced, which means that each student's performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement. These are consistent from one examination session to the next and are applied equally to all schools.

The DP incorporates the best elements of national systems, without being based on any one. It allows internationally mobile students to transfer from one DP school to another.

Qatar Academy was authorized to offer the two-year curriculum of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) in April 2002, and in August of that year enrolled the first cohort of DP students. These students sat their exams in May 2004. Each year

Click here to view the Diploma Regulations: Diploma Programme for students and their legal guardians

Introduction to the IB Diploma Programme

Click here to view the IB Diploma Course Selections: Exam 2010

For clarification contact :-
Ronald Smith
Assistant Head and IB Diploma Coordinator Senior School
QatarAcademy
Tel:+974 4826828
Fax:+974 4809566
Email: rsmith@qf.org.qa

Click here to view the IB Diploma Programme Handbook

The programme has four components:

• The strengths of a traditional and broad curriculum with the study of six subjects: three studied at Higher Level and three at Standard Level (see below). These are externally assessed both through examinations and internal assessment assignments marked at school level, but moderated externally.
• An Extended Essay of approximately 4,000 words intended to introduce students to the kind of independent research and writing skills expected by universities. This is assessed externally.
• Theory of Knowledge: an interdisciplinary course taken by all students. It is intended to stimulate critical reflection on the knowledge in its many forms. It is assessed externally through an essay and the internal component moderated externally.
• Participation in the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) programme aims to develop in students a greater awareness of themselves, concern for others, and the ability to work cooperatively with other people.

Course offerings at Qatar Academy for the DP:
Higher Level courses represent a minimum of 240 teaching hours over the two years; Standard Level courses represent a minimum of 150 hours.
In addition, each student takes two Physical Education classes each week as part of the QA High School graduation requirement.

For more information on the IB Diploma Programme, please visit the IB's website, www.ibo.org, or contact the IBDP Coordinator. Email: rsmith@qf.org.qa