IB: International Baccalaureate in USA for international students

International Baccalaureate provides the students with the unique opportunity to enroll in any prestigious university of the world. Special programs are designed for students aged from 3 to 19 years old, and include all stages of primary and secondary education. The IB diploma is useful not only for students who have decided to enroll in a foreign university. Studying at the international Baccalaureate forces students to discuss global world problems, study independently, think critically and creatively approach problem solving. Below the main stages of the IB program are provided:

• The program of primary school for students aged 5-11 years old
• The program of middle school for students aged 11-16 years old
• High school program for students aged 16-19 years old.

The program stipulates the studying of:

• 6 subjects for compulsory studying
• detailed essay (scientific thesis) up to 4000 words
• A compulsory subject for study is the Theory of Cognition (a combined course of various disciplines and skills for the practical application of theoretical knowledge in life).

Each student enrolled in the IB program is recommended to spend 150 hours developing creative skills, physical fitness and charitable activities (environmental protection, charitable assistance). Each subject is evaluated according to a seven-point system, where 7 is the highest score. An additional three points can be obtained for an excellent thesis and for a project on the Theory of Cognition. 45 points is the maximum possible result that a student can get while studying. To obtain an International Baccalaureate Diploma, a student must score at least 24 points.

Each student chooses for studying 6 subjects (one subject from each of the following groups 1-5), and additionally take sixth discipline from groups 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6. The student compulsory study minimum three subjects according to the in-depth program, other three disciplines are studied within the framework of the secondary school standard. You cannot study more than 5 subjects in an advanced program without the special permission of the IB coordinator of the school in the USA.

Subjects for advanced study require 240 hours of classes for each course. The subjects of the standard course are given 150 hours of lessons during the program.

• Group 1: Languages A1. Usually the student's native language (80 various languages for choice).
• Group 2: The second language. The foreign language in addition to the first language being studied from group A1 (in-depth or standard).
• Group 3: People and Society: Humanities subjects such as: philosophy, Economics, Business and Management, psychology, anthropology, law, peaceful conflict management, information technology, geography, history.
• Group 4: Experimental sciences: physics, chemistry, biology, ecology, environmental protection technologies.
• Group 5: Mathematics: standard mathematics, mathematics of medium complexity, mathematics of increased complexity, higher mathematics. Computer technology and programming can only be an additional sixth subject, but not part of the mathematics course.
• Group 6: Creativity and additional courses: painting, graphics, ceramics, music, choreography, drama. The offered subjects of this group can be replaced by a student with any other subject from Groups 2,3,4 or computer technology from Group 5.

The student must write a thesis, consisting of 4000 words on any subject he studies. The topic for the work can be any, but forcing the student to explore and study the subject of the topic. The thesis is written under the guidance of a teacher who simultaneously develops the same topic, gives written advice to the student.

CAS is an abbreviation of three words: Creativity, Action, Service. This block of the program is additional, inviting students to participate in socially significant events, sport competitions, engage in creativity. This section of the program is aimed at motivating students to go beyond the school academic program, to feel their importance in the world by sharing their skills with others. It is necessary for obtaining a diploma that the foreign student is engaged in creative, sport and social work at least 50 hours for each type of activity.

 Each student must successfully pass the course Theory of knowledge. At least 100 academic hours are allocated for this subject. The aim of this course is the development of critical thinking, logic and the ability to learn independently. The condition for the successful completion of this subject is the writing of an abstract of 1200-1600 words (4-5 pages of A4 printed text) on one of the offered topics of choice and its presentation.

Sam Jones

Recruitment Director for Partnership with INTO Universities (Europe and Central Asia)

What are the most popular specialties today?

In the USA, it is business and social science now. Medicine, psychology, biological sciences, engineering are still in demand. International students often choose STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics): they provide the opportunity to extend the visa after graduation to 3 years to work in the specialty.

Below the list of documents is provided for the international students:

• The copy of passport
• School annual grades for the last 2 academic years + quarter/trimester grades for the current academic year
• International language certificate
• Recommendation letters from teachers of mathematics and English
• Motivation letter
• Registration and school forms.

Additionally, the students are required to take internal school tests in mathematics and English to determine whether the children are sufficiently well prepared at the time of admission to a private school in the USA.

• The College Preparatory School
• Harvard-Westlake School
• Trinity School
• Phillips Exeter Academy
• Choate Rosemary Hall.