IB Diploma Subjects

IB stands for International Baccalaureate and is …

• a rigorous international education programme for students
• a degree recognized by most universities worldwide
•  organized and standardized by the IBO

LISA is one of only 10 schools in Austria and the only one in Upper Austria, offering the IB. LISA prepares students for the IB diploma  as well as for the Austrian “Reifeprüfung”. LISA is an approved “IB World School”.

To earn an IB diploma the following criteria must be fulfilled:

• “External Assessment”: final exams in 6 subjects (see below)
• “Extended Essay”: an depth study relying on independent research
• “CAS Programme”: Creativity, Action, Service programme. Each student must work 150 hours outside of school.
• “Internal Assessment”: a portfolio of work must be completed for each chosen subject
• “Theory of Knowledge”: An essay examining how knowledge and meaning is constructed

The examination for the Diploma requires candidates to take six subjects, each normally studied over a period of two years. At least three and not more than four must be taken at Higher Level (HL) and the others at Standard Level (SL). The six subjects must be chosen by selecting from each of the following subjects:

IB Subject Choice

IB subjects are choosen in year 6 (6. Klasse) for the upcoming two school years. The IB Diploma Programme will take place during the last two school years (years 7 and 8). In order for students to be able to choose a wide range of IB Diploma Subjects, preparation for the IB Diploma Programme (and the Austrian Matura) will start in year 5.

The IB Core

• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• Extended Essay
• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)

Group 1: Studies of Language and Literature

• German A HL, English A HL

Group 2: Language acquisition

• English B HL, French B SL/HL, Spanish B SL/HL, Italian B SL/HL, German B SL/HL
• German AbInitio SL, Spanish AbInitio SL

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

• Business and Management HL
• Economics SL
• Geography SL/HL
• Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) SL
• Information Technology in a Global Society (ITGS) HL
• History SL
• History HL
• Psychology SL

Group 4: Experimental Sciences

• Biology SL
• Biology HL
• Chemistry SL
• Chemistry HL
• Physics_SL
• Physics HL
• Computer Science SL

Group 5: Mathematics

• Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL/HL

Group 6: The Arts

• Theatre Arts SL
• Theatre Arts HL
• Visual Arts SL
• Visual Arts HL
• Music SL
• Music_HL

Examples:

• HL: German A1, English B, History – SL: Maths, Biology, Theatre Arts
• HL: German A1, English B, Maths  – SL: Physics, History, French B
• HL: German A1, English B, Geography – SL: Maths, Physics, Art/Design
• HL: English A1, German B, Biology – SL: Economics, Chemistry, Maths.
• more combinations are of course possible

Additional Requirements:

• Extended Essay: 4000 words; supervised by the teacher, assessed by an examiner.
• Theory of Knowledge: critical reflection on what the student claims to know and what is professed as knowledge by others. Assessed by the TOK teacher and an examiner.
• CAS – Programme: Creativity: e.g. arts, drama, musical instruments,…      Action: e.g. sports, outings, organising, … Service: e.g. social service, welfare, environment, …      Assessed by the CAS coordinator and monitored by the IB Regional Office.