Frequently Asked Questions International
Baccalaureate Diploma Programme |
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| When was the
IB Diploma introduced in Bulgaria? |
Zlatarski School introduced the International
Baccalaureate Programme in Bulgaria in 2003.
After years of rigorous preparation, planning,
curriculum revision, teacher training and
school authorization visits, Zlatarski School
offered the programme to both Bulgarian and
international students. |
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| What is the International
Baccalaureate Organization? |
The International Baccalaureate Organization
(IBO) is an independent nonprofit educational
foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded
in the 1960's, the International Baccalaureate
Organization grew out of a necessity to create
a common curriculum and university entry credentials
for the children of internationally mobile
families. The organization employs educators
around the world to revise curricula, evaluate
student achievement, and provide teacher training
and other educational services to member schools.
Please visit the IBO web site at www.ibo.org
for more extensive information about the organization
and its programmes. |
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| How many schools
offer IB programmes? |
As of April 2005, 1,485 schools in 119
countries offer one or more of the academic
programmes of the International Baccalaureate
Organization (IBO) to roughly 200,000 students.
Annually, nearly 1,000 schools register candidates
for the IB Diploma Programme and roughly 50,000
students are assessed. |
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| Can I take individual
IB courses, or do I have to study the whole
Diploma? |
Yes, you can take individual IB courses;
however, the strength of the IB Diploma Programme
is in the Diploma itself. Students who enrol
in individual courses will receive an IB
certificate noting the courses they
took and the marks they earned. |
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| What does obtaining
the IB Diploma mean? |
A student pursuing the full IB Diploma
will take six core courses, 3 at Higher Level
and 3 at Standard Level, over two years. In
addition, students participate in the Theory
of Knowledge (TOK) course, complete 150 hours
of CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) and
write an Extended Essay research paper. For
each course students must complete an internal
assessment and sit for externally marked exams.
These exams are marked by the International
Baccalaureate Organization against set standards
which are consistent for all students around
the world. |
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| How is the Diploma
Programme different from other high school
programmes? |
The Diploma Programme is a comprehensive
and balanced two-year curriculum and assessment
system that requires students to study courses
across all disciplines. Within this structured
framework, the Diploma Programme provides
a great deal of flexibility, accommodating
students’ interest and abilities.
Through careful subject selection, students
may tailor their course of studies to meet
their needs. |
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| Is a lot of extra
homework involved in the Diploma Programme? |
IB courses are typically more challenging
than regular high school courses, and so students
may be asked to do more homework. The challenge
is not always in the amount of homework assigned.
Rather it is in the quality of the assignments
and the extent to which students are engaged
in those assignments. Students take greater
responsibility for their own learning while
they learn the valuable skills of time
management and organization. Diploma
students remain involved in sports, student
government, clubs, theater, music, community
events, and other extra-curricular activities.
Such activities are incorporated into the
Diploma Programme through the CAS (Creativity,
Action and Service) requirement. |
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| How are IB students
assessed? |
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. Marking follows standard
markschemes created for both course content
and skills. For these reasons, the IB Diploma
is recognized by colleges and universities
around the world as a university entry credential.
Among North American colleges and universities,
the IB Diploma is recognized as a superior
education, preparing students to succeed at
post-secondary institutions. |
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| Can I take an
IB exam without taking the IB course in that
subject? |
No. Part of the student's final IB grade
comes from work done in the classroom, so
it is impossible to take an IB exam without
having participated in the IB course in that
subject. |
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| Does the IB Diploma
Programme satisfy UK university entrance requirements? |
The IB Diploma Programme is growing in
the UK and among British International Schools
and is totally compatible with UK university
entrance requirements. The UCAS
university admission process is IB friendly
and has the IB directly reporting scores to
them. |
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| Can I transfer
from another IB School and graduate at Zlatarski
School Sofia? |
Yes, provided your subject choices are
available at Zlatarski School. For this reason
families are encouraged to contact our IB
Coordinator in advance in order to make the
necessary arrangements. |
