The IB Diploma Programme is a two year program that requires students to study courses across all disciplines. Students have some flexibility to suit their curricular needs.  Regardless of course selection, all Diploma students explore the connections between the six major subject areas, will study each subject through an international perspective, will reflect critically on what it means to be a ‘knower’ (Theory of Knowledge), will pursue one subject in great detail through independent research (Extended Essay), and, will have an opportunity to apply their knowledge/skills and interests locally (Creativity, Activity, Service).  Only students enrolled in and attending an authorized IB World School may participate in an IB Diploma programme.

 

Assessment of student achievement happens in a variety of ways throughout the course of the two-year programme. It includes assessment of student work both by outside examiners, as well as the students’ own teachers. All assessment undergoes careful review or moderation to ensure that a common, international standard is applied equally to the work of students around the world. Each subject area is also in a five year cycle of renewal, guaranteeing the most relevant, contemporary high school curriculum anywhere in the world.  For these reasons, the IB Diploma Programme is a well respected program, preparing students to succeed at post-secondary institutions. 

 

No. The IBO is committed to making an IB education available to all students. Our Inclusion Policy speaks to this commitment. Today, in North America especially, 90 percent of schools offering the IB are public schools. Also, families can apply for financial assistance should the fee structure prove an impediment. 

 

Students with IB experience who now attend university report that their involvement with IB has given them the tools needed to make a fluid transition post-secondary education.  In particular, students comment on their sense of preparedness, their self-confidence, their research skills, their ability to manage their time, and their willingness to be actively engaged in their own learning and their community. This confidence will manifest itself with superior critical thinking, reading, writing, organizational, and collaborative abilities.  Most importantly, they have developed a sense of the world around them, their responsibility to it, and the skills with which to embrace the complexities of life.

 

Students can select individual IB courses. These IB students are called Course students. However, the strength of the IB Diploma Programme is in the Diploma itself.  At Bedford Road Collegiate, (BRC), our timetable often (not always) obliges Course students to take three or more IB courses.  

 

Yes.  A student’s application for a Bilingual IB Diploma will depend on a student’s level of French. The decision is made in consultation with the IB French teacher, the guidance counsellor and the IB coordinator.  Contact the IB coordinator for more information.

 

A Diploma student will sit for IB exams in most of their IB subjects, normally in May of the student’s grade 12 year.  A Diploma Course student will sit for as many exams as they have IB courses. Each subject varies by how many exams ("papers") are offered. 

 

No.  A significant part of a student’s final grade comes from work done in the classroom (or "field") and in collaboration with classroom peers.

 

Yes.  Students who succeed in receiving the IB Diploma will also receive a Saskatchewan High School Diploma. Students who successfully complete select IB courses will supplement their graduation requirements with outcomes from the Saskatchewan curriculum. 

 

Yes. BRC has an established policy for students with special assessment needs.  Contact the Diploma Coordinator for more information.  Schools are asked to notify the IBO of participating students whom they have identified as having special assessment needs. This is especially important at the time student-learning plans are being developed. The Resource department is consulted as well. 

 

Yes, but while the Diploma Programme itself is the same from school to school, the subject choices (and levels) available to students will vary. Timelines and deadlines for a programme’s central elements – Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (ToK), CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) – usually vary also. Keep your IB Coordinator(s) at both schools aware for assistance and a smooth transition. 

 

The Extended Essay is a 4,000 word paper, researched and written by each IB Diploma candidate. It is completed between the first term of grade 11 and the end of the first term of grade 12.   The student researches and writes on a topic of their choosing, and has an Extended Essay coordinator, as well as an Extended Essay supervisor (teacher) to provide support.  BRC IB students have borrowing privileges at the University Library at the University of Saskatchewan. 

 

Theory of Knowledge, or ToK, is a seminar-type course that explores the links between subject areas (courses). It is part existential, philosophical, psychological and metaphysical. BRC also offers ToK as a locally developed credit so our students receive a credit towards their Saskatchewan high school diploma. Any BRC student may  participate. 

 

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) honours the experiential portion of the IB Diploma Programme.  In order to successfully complete the IB Diploma Program, each student must have documented service, active and creative involvement in activities outside the classroom that are devoted to the school, the local, and the international communities.  The IB CAS Programme complements BRC’s mission to serve our local, school and global communities in ways that are both formal (curricular) and informal (extra-curricular). CAS offers balance in an IB student's existence. 

 

The IB curriculum represents the highest level of rigour of ANY high school program.  Most well respected universities recruit IB students and offer special scholarships, transfer credits and other incentives.  Note that most of the time, you must actively seek out and apply for the scholarships available.  You can visit any university website (including the University of Saskatchewan) for their IB Recognition policy. 

 

Admissions departments look such factors as the quality of the courses represented on a transcript, the balance of courses across all disciplines, the record of the student’s research abilities, and the details of school and community involvement – all requirements of the Diploma Programme.  

 

Yes, in many cases. One of the founding ideals of the Diploma Programme was to establish an internationally recognized system of curriculum and assessment that would be accepted by universities and ministries of education around the world. 

 

Students are awarded Diploma Course Certificates for the examinations successfully completed, as well as a Saskatchewan High School credit.

 

An IB student`s average is calculated separately using Saskatchewan’s Outcomes for each course and your IB score is calculated using each IB curriculum’s Outcomes. Historically, our IB students have enjoyed recognition as Schulich Award and Saskatoon Board of Education Award of Excellence  nominees/winners, Governor General Academic Medal winners, University of Saskatchewan Best and Brightest scholarship winners, etc. 

 

IB students enjoy a very rich extracurricular high school experience. IB students have successfully participated in many extracurricular sports, school clubs and community activities. Remember that CAS encourages a variety of non-academic pursuits.  In addition, many IB students enjoy a rather high percentage of leadership positions in the school and the community.  

 

It is true that in order to keep pace with the expectations and be successful, an IB student can expect to have homework. The challenge, however, is not always in the amount of homework assigned; rather it is in the quality of the assignments and the extent to which students engage those assignments.  IB students should develop good time management skills in order to be successful in the programme.

 

Starting in the spring of 2022, a fee structure will be applied. See letter for more information and details about the tuition and opportunities to apply for financial support.  

 

See the Admissions tab regarding pre-requisites.  Also, while not mandatory, we offer courses at the grade 9 and 10 level designed to assist students in developing a solid background in such subjects as languages and mathematics. The courses also help students develop their sense of the connections between subject areas.

 

Click here regarding admissions protocol or contact Student Services.