Introduction
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is an academically challenging and rigorous two year pre-university course that is designed for motivated students aged 16 – 19.  Students are encouraged to ask challenging questions, learn how to learn, develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture, develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other countries and cultures and to become independent, self-motivated learners. Diploma students take six subjects – normally three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level – as well as completing a 4000 word extended essay (EE), a course in Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and a number of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) projects.  The diploma is well recognized by the world’s leading universities and LIS alumni are currently studying at undergraduate level across the world in countries including; Canada, USA, UK, Spain, South Africa and Hungary. In consultation with parents and the school, some students may elect to take individual certificates which will include at least five subjects as follows; two languages, maths and two others.  Certificate students do not write the EE, but they must attend TOK and complete the CAS requirements. Certificates are recognized around the world for university and college entrance purposes.

Diploma Review
LIS was authorized to offer the diploma some five years ago and is about to conduct a self-study questionnaire which will form the basis of an IBO evaluation report to be published once the self-study is submitted. (by April 15, 2010) All key stakeholders, not least students and parents, will be invited to take part in the self-study with details being announced through individual e mail and via the newsletter.

The Diploma Team
In order to ensure that LIS students maximize their academic and overall potential, the DP Co-ordinator works closely not only with all the subject teachers but also with the secondary principal and the year 12 and 13 home room teachers. In addition, and most importantly, the co-ordinator liaises with the CAS and TOK co-ordinators, as well as the university guidance counselor.

Communication
The diploma team operates and encourages a very open line of communication between the school and students and parents.  Assessment reports are written on a regular end of term basis and a number of official parent/teacher conferences are organized. However, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the co-ordinator at any time should they wish to discuss any issues related to the personal, social or academic well being of their son/daughter. Similarly, the coordinator will contact parents to discuss issues of concern with regard to their son/daughter. Appointments to see the coordinator can be arranged through the secondary secretary or by e mailing brancic@lisluanda.com

Admission
In order to enter the diploma programme students in Year 11 MYP at LIS need to achieve at least a level 4 in English, mathematics and other subjects they intend taking in the diploma on their Year 11 Term 3 reports.  An Academic Review Committee (including the Principal and DP Co-ordinator) will review all cases where students have not reached this standard.  This committee will determine whether the student should proceed to Year 12, repeat Year 11 or will recommend some other strategy that would be in the best interests of the student.  External applicants from MYP schools must meet the same academic requirements as stated above, whilst those from non-MYP schools must meet a similar level as determined by the Academic Review Committee.

The Diploma Curriculum
What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?
The curriculum contains six subject groupstogether with a core made up of three separate parts.

Subject Choices
In making their choices, students will be guided by their subject teachers and the DP Co-ordinator to ensure that they make choices that are relevant and appropriate for future university and career aspirations.  All students will study six subjects, three at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL). HL level courses are for a total of 240 hours, whereas SL courses are for a total of 150 hours.

All students will study their first or ‘best’ language at the A1 level. (group 1) This is a literature course that develops the skills of literary analysis across a wide range of texts, including world literature. It is also possible to study Language A1 in the self-taught mode, in which a student of a language not offered by the school liaises and works with An LIS recognized tutor, either on line or face to face.  In addition, students will study a second language at the ab initio (beginner ) or ‘B’ level. (group 2) Language ‘B’ is for students with some knowledge of the language.  It is also possible to take two languages from group 1 and therefore none from group 2. From group 3 students will choose at least one subject from Economics and History, and from group 4 at least one of the sciences, Physics, Biology, Chemistry. Group 5 includes three graded maths courses – Higher Level, Math Standard Level and Math Studies (Standard Level) – from which students are required to study one. In group 6 students choose from Theatre and Visual Arts, or either take two subjects in group 3, or two in group 4.

The Core Requirements
This refers to the components at the centre of the curriculum model. Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is an interdisciplinary course in which students explore the nature of knowledge across disciplines and encourages them to appreciate other cultural perspectives as well as their own.  The Extended Essay (EE), with a prescribed word limit of 4000 words, offers students the opportunity to investigate a topic of individual interest, and familiarizes them with the independent research and writing skills expected at university. Participation in the school’s Creativity and Action Programme (CAS) encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work. Most importantly, CAS highlights the importance of experiential learning and, at the same time, fosters students’ awareness and appreciation of life beyond the academic arena.

Diploma Assessment
Students are assessed both internally and externally in ways that measure individual performance against stated objectives for each subject. In most subjects at least some of the assessment is carried out internally by teachers, who mark individual pieces of work produced as part of a course of study. Examples include: oral exercises in language subjects, projects, student portfolios, class presentations, practical laboratory work, mathematical investigations and artistic performances.  Some assessment tasks are conducted and overseen by teachers without the restriction of examination conditions, but are then marked externally by examiners including, for example, world literature assignments for language A1, written assignments for language A2 and essays for TOK and EE.  Because of the greater degree of objectivity and reliability provided by the standard examination environment, externally marked examinations form the greatest share of the assessment for most subjects.

The grading system is criterion-based which means that the results are determined by performance against set standards, not by each student’s position in the overall rank order. Each subject is graded on a scale from one point (the lowest) to seven points (the highest) as shown in the table below:

Grading Scale Diploma Programme

Each diploma student takes six subjects and, in addition, there is a maximum of three points available for combined performance in TOK and the EE. Thus, the maximum possible score is 45 points. The minimum score needed to gain the diploma is 24 points, provided that certain conditions are met. These conditions, which relate to the distribution of points across the different subjects, are published in the IBO document: General Regulations; Diploma Programme, For students and their legal guardians.  This important document is given to all parents/legal guardians at the beginning of every academic year.

The Certificate Programme
As noted in the Introduction above, studying individual certificates is an alternative to the full diploma and requires students to take two languages, one maths course and two other subjects. Attending TOK and completing the CAS requirements are also necessary. Certificate students study the same courses as their diploma classmates, but with the flexibility of overall course design as noted above.

DP Subjects Offered at LIS for 2009/10: (students choose six subjects as indicated in Subject Choices above)

Group 1 (First Languages)
English A1, Portuguese A1, Spanish A1, Norwegian A1 (self-taught)
Group 2 (Second Languages)
English B, Spanish B, Portugese B, Spanish ab initio (for students who are beginners)
Group 3 (Individuals & Societies)
Economics
History
Group 4 (Experimental Sciences)
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Group 5 (Mathematics)
Mathematics High Level
Mathematics Standard Level
Mathematical Studies (Standard Level)
Group 6 (The Arts)
Theatre (Year 12 only), Visual Arts
Or a second language taken from Group 1 Or a second course taken from Group 3 Or a second science
taken from Group 4
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
All students take TOK.
In addition, support will be given with Information Technology and Library Research.

The LIS Diploma
As well as working towards either the IB Diploma or IB certificates, all students in years 12 and 13 work towards the LIS Diploma.  No student will be admitted into year 12 or 13 if it is felt that they would not, in due course, be able to meet the graduation requirements.

LIS Graduation Requirements
The requirements are based on students successfully completing either a range of diploma subjects or certificate subjects, and this assessment will be made by, at the latest, the start of the final exam session in May. More specifically, the following is required;

• Successful completion of at least 5 IB SL (i.e. some courses might be HL) certificate courses including the required attendance and full submission of all work
• A mean of level 3 must be achieved
• The above courses to include two languages and a maths course
• Formal completion of all CAS requirements
• Attendance and completion of the TOK course

University Recognition of the IB Diploma
The IBO works closely with universities in all regions of the world to gain recognition for the IB diploma, and LIS works closely with the IBO to ensure that the diploma and certificate results that become available in early July are forwarded to the universities to which LIS students are applying in a timely manner. During the course, students can access the IBO database containing contact details of universities around the world together with up to date information about their requirements for admission to assist them in making the appropriate choices.  Students applying to a particular university can access their grades directly from the IBO’s secure website.

Ms Carli Kyles is the school’s university guidance officer and she meets the new year 12 students on the first day of every academic year as part of diploma induction. She also meets year 13 students as a group in the first week of the year, and then arranges individual university guidance interviews with students across both years of the programme. Ongoing individual advice is complemented by the university admissions information evening which normally takes place in the first few weeks of the year. (Tues Sep 15 2009)

LIS IB Diploma and Certificate Results 2007 - 2009

DP (Years 12-13) Homework Practices
All students at the Diploma level are expected to be independent learners and to manage their time effectively. At this level the coursework is prescribed. The students and teachers work together to make sure students are assigned what they need to do in order to be better able to understand the courses and to be able to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to complete the Diploma Programme successfully. Students are expected to do at least 3 hours of homework per week in each of the six subjects they are studying as well as TOK.  In addition, there will be a significant amount of time invested in the EE (approximately 40 hours) and CAS. (150 hours).

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