IB Course Offerings

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We offer six two-year IB courses, which are offered at Standard Level (SL), higher-level (HL), or both.

IB Diploma

Awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization, the IB Diploma requires students to complete six two-year IB courses and the three elements of the IB core, outlined below. A student’s final diploma result score is made up of the combined scores for each subject. The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance including successful completion of the three essential elements of the DP core. IB Diploma recipients are sought after by university admissions officers around the world.

Requirements
  • Coursework
    • Six two-year IB classes taken over junior and senior year
    • A minimum of 3 and maximum of 4 courses must be taken at the Higher Level
  • The IB Core:
    • Theory of Knowledge: The only element of the IB core that is delivered as a class, TOK invites

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      students to ask, “How do we know what we know?” To explore this and other knowledge questions (see inset), students draw on both personal experience and content from their IB classes. The course is run as a socratic seminar, which encourages students to engage in dialogue and be curious about alternate perspectives.

    • Community, Activity, and Service: CAS provides students with opportunities outside of the classroom for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. In this way, it ensures that IB Diploma candidates are well-rounded students, engaged with a range of experiences beyond the scope of individual classes and academic endeavors. Every IB World School has a unique way of implementing CAS; you can learn more about how we do CAS at the Castle by perusing the Purcell Marian CAS Handbook.
    • Extended Essay: The extended essay is a unique opportunity for students to explore a topic and academic area in which they have a personal interest, ultimately producing an independently written research paper of 4000 words. The EE is completed in consultation with a faculty supervisor, with much of the research and writing taking place during the summer between junior and senior year. Learn more about how the EE process is structured for students in our Purcell Marian Extended Essay Handbook,

The process of pursuing the IB Diploma