A Cheat Sheet of IB Diploma Programme Terms and Acronyms

June 7, 2024

This week I thought I’d provide you with a quick run-down of the forty-five IB Terms and Acronyms that I wish I had on a cheat sheet when I started teaching in the IB Diploma Programme.

There’s like this IB code speak that’s hard to break into.  

You gotta ask what seems like really stupid questions to know what on earth is being discussed in a faculty meeting.  

At least I did.

Like every educational program, the IB has a litany of unique terms that describe the requirements and demands of the program.  The IB is no different.

I grew up last century in the United States so I wasn’t an IB student either.

All that left me dreaming of a cheat sheet of IB code speak I could pull out and educate myself.

Well, here it is….many, many years later.  

If you are new to the IB, I hope this helps you feel empowered.  

If you’re not new, I’m sure you’ll still find it helpful too.

  • IB (International Baccalaureate) - The organization that oversees the Diploma Programme.

 

  • DP (Diploma Programme) - The two-year educational program for students aged 16 to 19.

 

  • CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) - One of the core components involving students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies.

 

  • EE (Extended Essay) - A 4,000-word independent, self-directed research paper.

 

  • TOK (Theory of Knowledge) - A course designed to encourage critical thinking about knowledge itself.

 

  • HL (Higher Level) - Courses that are studied in greater depth and require more teaching hours.

 

  • SL (Standard Level) - Courses that involve less teaching time compared to HL courses.

 

  • IA (Internal Assessment) - Assessments that are conducted and marked by teachers at the school.

 

  • MYP (Middle Years Programme) - A programme for students aged 11-16, which prepares students for the DP.

 

  • PYP (Primary Years Programme) - A curriculum framework for young students aged 3 to 12.

 

  • Subject Groups - The six groups of subjects offered in the DP.

 

  • IB Core Components - The three essential parts of the DP curriculum: EE, TOK, and CAS.

 

  • IBDP Coordinator - IB Diploma Programme Coordinator: The person in charge of administering the IB Diploma Programme at an IB School.

 

  • Extended Essay Supervisor - A teacher who guides and supervises students throughout the Extended Essay process.

 

  • Learning Outcomes - Specific goals that students should achieve in each aspect of CAS.

 

  • External Assessment - Evaluations, such as exams or projects, that are marked by external IB examiners.

 

  • Syllabus - The academic content and learning objectives for each subject.

 

  • Subject Guide - Official documents that outline the syllabus and assessment criteria for each subject offered within the Diploma Programme. 

 

  • RPPF - Reflections on Planning and Progress Form: Used within the Extended Essay to document the student’s reflections and progress through the research process.

 

  • TOK Essay - Theory of Knowledge Essay: An essay that is part of the TOK assessment, where students analyze knowledge questions.

 

  • The Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibition -  A component of TOK where students create a display of three objects that connect to a prescribed TOK prompt, demonstrating the application of TOK concepts to real-world contexts.

 

  • Predicted Grades (PGs) - Grades estimated by teachers, submitted to the IB for university admissions.

 

  • Mark Schemes - Tools used to articulate the expectations for an assignment by listing the criteria and describing levels of quality.

 

  • Viva Voce - A concluding interview with the student after the completion of the Extended Essay or other significant projects.

 

  • Moderation - A process where the IB checks the marking of IAs to ensure consistent standards.

 

  • E-Coursework - Electronic Coursework: Digital submission of certain IB assessments, such as the Extended Essay and TOK

 

  • IBO - International Baccalaureate Organization: The official name of the governing body responsible for the IB programmes.

 

  • IA Moderator – Internal Assessment Moderator:  A person appointed by the IB to ensure consistency and fairness in the marking of Internal Assessments across different schools.

 

  • Assessment Criteria - Guidelines used to evaluate student work and performance.

 

  • Examination Session - The periods in May and November when final assessments are conducted.

 

  • Group 4 Project - A collaborative and interdisciplinary project involving all sciences students.

 

  • IB Learner Profile - A set of attributes aimed at developing students who are knowledgeable, inquirers, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.

 

  • Diploma Points Matrix - A chart used to determine the additional points awarded for the EE and TOK components.

 

  • Bilingual Diploma - Awarded to students who demonstrate a strong proficiency in two languages.

 

  • Diploma Requirements - The specific criteria and conditions students must meet to be awarded the IB Diploma.

 

  • Research Question - A question that guides the research process in the Extended Essay and other investigative work.

 

  • Approaches to Teaching and Learning (ATL) - A framework aimed at developing effective teaching and learning strategies.

 

  • Grade Descriptors - Statements providing a broad indication of the levels of performance at each grade.

 

  • Examiner Reports - Documents published after examination sessions that provide feedback on student performance.

 

  • Subject-Specific Session - Professional development or training sessions focusing on specific subjects.

 

  • World Studies EE (WSEE) - An interdisciplinary Extended Essay that addresses an issue of global significance.

 

  • Inquiry-Based Learning - A student-centered, active learning approach focusing on questioning, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

 

  • Assessment Objectives - The specific goals and outcomes that assessments are designed to evaluate.

 

  • Academic Policy - A school’s or the IB’s policy regarding academic practices and expectations.

 

  • Exemplars - Samples of student work that serve as models of high-quality responses or performances.

 

I hope that was helpful!

Here’s a downloadable version that you can have handy whenever you need it.

I hope you have a great weekend.

See you next Friday.

 

Brad

 


Whenever you are ready, here are 4 ways I can help:  

IB Core Workshops - Join my colleague Kurt Supplee and me for three different IB Core Workshops designed for IB Coordinators, EE Coordinators, TOK Teachers, and Extended Essay Supervisors.  Our upcoming workshops include The Cohort Model for the Extended Essay, Strategically Managing the IB Core, and our most popular workshop, Effectively Supervising Any Extended Essay.

Custom IB Faculty Training - Reach out and let me know how we can help work together to build a more robust and well-structured IB Programme at your school. We’ve worked with teachers and coordinators from hundreds of schools around the world. 

IB Economics Teacher Workshops - Join me for both my live and on-demand teacher workshops which cover all aspects of the IB Economics curriculum including the Internal Assessment, Extended Essay, Understanding IB Assessments, and content-based courses on Teaching Macroeconomics, Market Power, and The Global Economy. 

IB Economics New Teacher Workshop - New to teaching Economics in the IB Diploma Programme?  Together we will study the essential components of the International Baccalaureate Program, every section of the IB Economics syllabus, every IB assessment, every mark scheme, and discuss practical teaching strategies that will allow you to excel in the classroom.