IB Assessment, Exams

& The Award of the Diploma or Career–Related Certificate

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) assesses student work as direct evidence of achievement against
the stated goals of the Programme courses. IB assessment procedures measure the extent to which
students have mastered advanced academic skills in fulfilling these goals, for example:
 analyzing and presenting information
 evaluating and constructing arguments
 solving problems creatively

Basic skills are also assessed, including:

 retaining knowledge, understanding key concepts, applying standard methods

In addition to academic skills, IB assessment encourages an international outlook and intercultural skills,
wherever appropriate. Student results are determined by performance against set standards, not by
each student's position in the overall rank order.

The IB uses both external (graded by the IB) and internal assessment (graded by teacher, moderated
by IB) in the DP and CP.
Depending, on a student’s IB Schedule, students typically take paper exams (External Assessments) in all
6 subjects plus have to complete an internal assessment during the course of their senior year.

External assessment (EA) – tested in May of Senior Year

Examinations form the basis of the assessment for most courses. This is because of their high levels of
objectivity and reliability. They include:
 essays, structured problems, short-response questions, data-response questions, text-
response questions, case-study questions, and multiple-choice questions (though these are
rarely used).

Internal assessment (IA) – assessed by March of senior year

Teacher assessment is also used for most courses. This includes:
 oral work in languages, laboratory work in the sciences, investigations in mathematics and
history, artistic performances

Each of the six subjects are graded on a 7 point scale. For full diploma candidates three additional
points are available from the results of the extended essay and TOK courses which are graded on a scale
of A to E. CAS is not graded, and students either pass or fail based on if they have achieved the specific
learning outcomes.

The combination of grades for the extended essay and TOK courses is listed in the table below:
Award of the IB Full Diploma

There are a number of criteria that a student must meet to be awarded the IB Diploma. The
following conditions mean a student will NOT qualify for the award of the full IB diploma.
1. CAS requirements have not been met.
2. Candidate’s total points are fewer than 24.
3. An “N” has been given for TOK, extended essay, or for a contributing subject.
4. A grade of E has been awarded for one or both of TOK and the EE.
5. There is a grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.
6. A grade of 2 has been awarded 3 or more times.
7. A grade of 3 has been awarded 4 or more times.
8. Candidate has fewer than 12 points for HL subjects combined.
9. Candidate has fewer than 9 points for SL subjects combined.

Receiving the Bilingual IB Diploma or Career – Related Bilingual Certificate

Students who complete all the requirements of the Diploma or Career Programme are eligible for the
Biligual diploma or certificate if they meet the following requirements:

 Complete and receive a grade 3 or higher in two languages from Group 1.

 Receive a grade of 3 or higher a Group 1 subject in addition to a grade of 3 or higher in a
Group 3 or Group 4 subject completed in a different language will receive the bilingual
diploma.
Award of the IB Career – Related Certificate

For career students each of their courses are graded on a 7 point scale. The reflective project is graded
on a scale of A to E. CAS or service learning and the language portfolio are not graded, and students
either pass or fail based on if they have achieved the specific learning outcomes.

To be awarded the Career Programme Certificate, students must:

• complete all components of the CP core (PPS, reflective project, language portfolio, service learning or
CAS) to a satisfactory level

• earn a minimum score of 3 in at least two IB Diploma Programme (DP) courses attempted (between 2
and 4 Standard Level or Higher Level DP courses)

• complete a career-related study to the school’s satisfaction – At WHHS this means taking and passing
3 courses that make up a CTAE pathway in addition to successfully passing the End of Pathway exam.

IB Assessments at a Glance