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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions in regards to the IB program.

What is IB?

What most people mean by "IB" is the set of courses, and their respective curriculums, established by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO).

It also refers to the exams written and externally assessed by the IBO. The IBO is a nonprofit educational foundation that has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and that began offering the Diploma Programme in 1968. It offers three different "programmes" of instruction to schools: the Primary Years Programme (for students aged 3 to 12), the Middle Years Programme (for ages 11 to 16) and the Diploma Programme (for high school juniors and seniors).

To learn more about the background of the IBO and its history as a non-profit organization committed to international education, consult its official web site: www.ibo.org

Is IB only for Talented and Gifted (TAG) students?

No. The IB Diploma, and the IB courses offered at Tualatin High School, are for highly motivated students who plan to attend a four-year college or university and who are willing to do the work that the program demands. Many TAG students at Tualatin register for IB courses, but not necessarily all of them. Many students, whether TAG-identified or not, take IB courses in areas that are their strengths, but not necessarily in all subjects. IB courses provide an excellent intellectual challenge and opportunity for intellectually-gifted learners, but they also provide that opportunity for any interested and highly-motivated student. If a student is planning to earn a college degree and wants to get a taste of the expectations at that level, IB courses are a good way to do so while still in high school.

What is "pre-IB"?

There is no official program known as "pre-IB." Rather, it is an unofficial term that used to designate courses that lay the foundation for junior and senior IB courses. The IBO does not establish the curriculum of "pre-IB" classes and there are no IB exams for "pre-IB" courses. These specific classes are recommended for students who intend to later take IB courses in the same subject area or academic discipline. For a list of "pre-IB" courses at Tualatin High School, click the heading titled "Pre-IB" on the menu near the top of this page.

What is the difference between the IB Diploma Program and Honors School?

Read the article titled "A Layered Approach: Honors School, Certificate and Diploma" that is located on the Home page of this web site. Click "Home" in the menu at the top of this page to go there.

What are the benefits of IB classes for non-Diploma students?

There are many: an academic challenge in an area of particular interest or ability; preparation for college-level expectations and work; possible college credit if a student takes the IB exam and meets the school's credit requirements (if they offer credit for IB exam scores). These are a few of the benefits.

What is the IB Code of Academic Honesty? What does IBO consider to be academic malpractice?

Each Diploma and Certificate candidate is asked to read and sign an Honor Code statement as part of their participation in the IB program. By reading and signing it, the student pledges a commitment to academic honesty and to avoid academic malpractice. The IBO identifies four major areas of possible malpractice:

  • Plagiarism ("the representation of the ideas of work of another person as the candidate's own");
  • Collusion ("supporting malpractice by another candidate");
  • Duplication of work ("the presentation of the same work for different assessment components and / or diploma requirements");
  • "Any other behavior that gains an unfair advantage for a candidate or affects the results of another candidate" (examples include exam misconduct of any kind, or using false information in records for one's CAS file).

The IBO places great emphasis upon proper citation of sources in extended essays and internal assessment papers or projects. One misconception they seek to correct in their recently published guide to academic honesty is the idea that students can take information from web sites without formal acknowledgment of these sources. Here is an excerpt taken directly from the document:

"It must be made very clear to candidates that:

  • using the words and ideas of another person to support one's arguments while following accepted practices is an integral part of any intellectual endeavour, and integrating these words and ideas with one's own in accepted ways is an important academic skill
  • all ideas and work of other persons, regardless of their source, must be acknowledged
  • CD-ROM, e-mail messages, web sites on the Internet and any other electronic media must be treated in the same way as books and journals
  • the sources of all photographs, maps, illustrations, computer programs, data, graphs, audio-visual and similar material must be acknowledged if they are not the candidate's own work
  • passages that are quoted verbatim must be enclosed within quotation marks and references provided."

(Source: International Baccalaureate Organization. "Academic Honesty: Guidance for Schools." Geneva: International Baccalaureate Organization, 2003).

How do I request my scores to be sent to additional universities?

Seniors may select one college or university that they would like to receive an official IBO record of their scores and Diploma status. If seniors turn in their request by the deadline (click on "Deadlines" in the menu at the top of this page and check the senior deadlines section) they receive this results service for no additional charge. If students wish to send an IB transcript to additional universities, there are additional fees involved (which typically vary depending upon the specific circumstance).

Students and parents may request a transcript by e-mail at this address: transcripts.ibna@ibo.org Please be sure to provide the following information: The student's candidate number (contact the IB Coordinator if you cannot locate this information), the month and year in which exams were last taken, their candidate category (Diploma, Anticipated, or Certificate), their current name, address, contact information (phone, e-mail) and the full address of the college or university to which the transcript should be sent. (The IBO typically does not send transcripts to students or parents).

If there is a charge for the service, IBNA officials should reply with the amount needed and specifics regarding payment. Payment will need to be received before the request can be sent.

Does Tualatin High School pay for exam fees?

No. Students and their parents pay for the cost of the actual exams and associated costs, such as global mailing charges. The list of IB fees for 2003-2004 can be accessed by clicking on "Exams" in the menu at the top of the page. If students think they may qualify for economic assistance for exams, the family is encouraged to contact the IB Coordinator for the documentation paperwork. There are some scholarship funds that can be accessed to offset some or all of IB and / or AP exam fees if the student's family qualifies.

What is the difference between Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL)?

The amount of time that students spend in course work on the subject. Standard Level courses are those that involve one year of academic study within the IB curriculum. Higher Level courses are those that involve two years of academic study. Examples of Higher Level subjects at Tualatin High School are English A1 (IB Jr. English PLUS IB Sr. English); History (IB European History PLUS IB Modern World History); and Science (either IB Physics I PLUS IB Physics II OR IB Biology I PLUS IB Anatomy / Physiology). If a subject is taken for one year within the IB curriculum (examples: Mathematics, Second Language, Psychology), students are eligible for the Standard Level exam only. Some colleges and universities only offer credit for Higher Level scores (policies vary; click "College Credit" on the menu at the top of the page to learn more).

How does the Diploma Program help me with colleges if they won't know whether or not I've received it when they decide on my application for entry?

It helps in a number of ways:

  • Diploma candidates may request official university application cover sheets produced by the IBO that explain the program to universities and help to verify that a student is indeed a Diploma candidate.
  • Being a Diploma candidate demonstrates an increased likelihood of balanced preparation for college. An increasing number of admissions officers are becoming aware of the value to colleges of students who are undertaking the extended essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Action, Service. IB Diploma candidates are forced to learn how to manage their time in order to succeed in their studies and handle projects outside of class. These are important skills at the next level. In addition, a CAS plan helps demonstrate a student's well-rounded nature. Admissions officers can be confident that a Diploma candidate is gaining experience writing a college-level research paper or project. Further, they are aware students are being challenged to explore philosophical issues in depth through Theory of Knowledge.
  • It demonstrates a commitment to excellence. Even if a student does not earn the Diploma in the end, colleges can learn a great deal about a student's motivation level and preparedness simply by considering his or her attempt to meet the IB Diploma standards.

Which courses does Tualatin offer at Higher Level?

A Higher Level exam includes questions that cover material from courses during both the junior and senior years. Typical Higher Level subjects at Tualatin are English A1 (IB Junior English AND IB Senior English); History (IB European History AND IB Modern World History); and Science (either IB Physics I AND II or IB Biology I AND IB Anatomy / Physiology). Some students, who complete two years of study in the subject and complete all Higher Level requirements, may qualify for Higher Level in Music (instrumental or vocal performance), Visual Arts or Theatre Arts. Students who wish to pursue such an option should indicate this at the time of application to the Diploma Program and need to specifically include it in their Diploma Plan. In the case of Music and Theatre Arts, there are not specific IB courses for Standard Level or Higher Level exams, so students must consult with the IB Coordinator and instructors in those subjects in order to design a plan of study that will meet IB requirements.

Can I write my Extended Essay on the same topic as one of the Internal Assessments I complete in my classes?

As a general rule, no. One of the areas of academic malpractice that the IBO has identified is that of "duplication of work." Students may not submit the same, or largely similar (i.e. an expanded version), work for two or more components of the Diploma requirements (such as for an internal assessment and the Extended Essay). See Mrs. Gorka with questions, or to explore possible exceptions.

How do I take possession of my actual Diploma or Certificate?

The actual diplomas and certificates from IBO typically arrive at Tualatin High School in August. They can be picked up from the time that the teaching staff returns to school (usually one and a half weeks before school is scheduled to begin) - or thereafter - by coming to the IB office (which is located in the main office)and signing for it. Graduates may pick them up at any time in the school year following graduation. Or they may call to arrange for a parent to pick it up. Graduates are always encouraged to come back to visit TuHS, and picking up your diploma is one way to do that.

How can students best prepare for the exams?

Students who are taking IB exams need to dedicate large amounts of time to studying prior to the exams in order to be successful. This is why students with exams receive Pre-Arranged Absence Forms to allow them time during the day to study during the testing period (which is in May). To state the obvious, the greater the number of tests to be taken, the greater the amount of study time that will be needed. In addition, due to the nature of the Higher Level courses, seniors will find themselves reviewing material they studied during their junior year. This is because Higher Level subjects are studied over a two-year sequence. Therefore, students may need to devote even greater time to reviewing junior year History, English and Science topics that will appear on the IB exam. Teachers in these subjects - and others (including Standard Levels) - often offer review sessions either after school or on the weekends during the weeks (in April and early May) leading up to the examination period. It can be immensely valuable to attend such sessions, and to review past lessons and readings, with care. Students are advised not to attempt to "wing it" on IB exams; the results are not pretty. But with proper review and study preparation, TuHS students have a good chance of continuing our tradition of quality performance on the exams.

How do I obtain my exam results?

Students who are registered for exams will receive a sheet of paper titled "Candidate PIN Number" during the spring semester (usually in late May or early June) that provides all the information needed to log on to IBNET on the Internet to receive exam results in early July. You must have the information on this sheet (candidate number, category, personal pin number, Web address) in order to access your individual results. Do not leave for summer vacation without it. The info sheet will also specify the time at which the results will be available. IBO is making the effort to stagger the release of results so that the system will not be as overloaded as it has sometimes been in the past. Nevertheless, it may be the case that the system may be flooded with "hits" if you try to access the results on the first day. If this happens, try again later. It is usually not overloaded anytime after the first day results are issued.

Because students need the Exam Results Access information sheet in order to get results on IBNET, it is crucial that students bring the information home when they receive it at school and store it in a safe location. If a student loses the information, they can pick it up again in the IB office up through the last work day for faculty (in June).

What if I lose my diploma and want to replace it?

You can order a replacement diploma from IBO directly, but you will need the following information: your full name, IB candidate number, and the examination session (the date should be May of the last year you took IB exams; e.g. May 2001 for a student who graduated at the end of the 2000-2001 school year). If you do not have records containing the required information (such as the IB candidate number), you can contact the IB Coordinator at 503-431-5628 to get it. The IBO charges a replacement diploma fee of $50 (which means you really don't want to lose your diploma). The request must be sent to the following address:

International Baccalaureate Organization, Curriculum and Assessment Centre, Peterson House, Malthouse Avenue, Cardiff Gate, Cardiff, Wales, GB CF23 8GL, UNITED KINGDOM

It is a good idea to write "Replacement diploma request" on the lower left hand side of the envelope.

The request will not be processed until payment is received.

Does the IBO offer refunds if I change my mind and decide not to take exams after I've registered for them?

Excellent question. The IBO does NOT offer refunds if you change your mind later. Please keep that in mind during the registration process.

How much does it cost to do "full IB"? When do I pay for the tests I know I'll be taking?

The deadline for exams occurs each fall toward the end of October (this year the due date for payment of fees is October 29). You may pay at any time prior to this due date as well.

The cost of taking all six exams for an IB Diploma candidate is usually spread out over two years. A student may take up to two exams as a junior; this would leave four exams to be taken during the senior year. Some students may qualify for only one exam during their junior year, so their senior year costs would include five exams. Some students choose to take all six exams their senior year (or they are forced to do so because that is the year they take IB Pre-Calculus, the fourth year of a second language, and their Area 6 elective). The specific fees for 2004-2005, as set by IBO, are available on the Examinations Page (click "Exams" on the menu at the top of the screen). Although fees increase slightly from year to year, a fair estimate of total expense in fees for an IB Diploma candidate - over two years combined - is around $770.

 

 

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Heidi Gorka

IB Coordinator
(503) 431-5628