The IBDP curriculum is a 2-year programme designed as a coherent and comprehensive curriculum framework that provides academic challenges and develops research, thinking, and life skills in students from 17 to 18 years old. During the DP years at Ambassador International Academy, we strive to provide opportunities for students’ intellectual and social development along with providing local and global awareness in each subject area which helps in developing International Mindedness in our students.
The curriculum encourages students to make practical connections across the areas of knowledge and to the real world. The DP curriculum helps in developing the 21st century skills and dispositions along with a breadth and depth of knowledge which prepares students for success in university and life.
The Diploma Programme offers subjects in 6 different subject groups and at 2 different levels- Standard level (SL) and Higher level (HL). HL and SL subjects differ in scope but are measured according to the same grade descriptors, with students expected to demonstrate a greater body of knowledge, understanding and skills if they pursue a subject at a higher level. Standard level subjects take up 150 teaching hours whereas the higher level subjects comprise 240 teaching hours.
Subject Selection Criteria
- Students need to select 6 subjects from the aforementioned six subject groups. The following combinations are allowed for subject selection at AIA.
- Students can choose 1 from each of the 6 different subject groups.
- Students who do not wish to pursue Arts in the 6th subject group can choose a second Group 3 or 4 subject as the 6th Subject.
- Students who wish to pursue 3 sciences (due to their admission requirement in future university courses), can choose 3 science subjects from Group 4 and 1 subject from Groups 1, 2 and 5 respectively.
- Students need to select 3 subjects at the Higher Level (HL) and 3 subjects at a Standard Level (SL)
- The Core of the Diploma Programme includes 3 components (detailed below) which makes the curriculum highly balanced and experiential. All DP students must do all THREE Diploma Programme Core components.
The Diploma Programme Core
Extended Essay (EE)
.jpg)
A student-driven independent research project in which the student pursues research in a subject of their choice and puts together a 4000-word externally assessed essay. Research and writing skills start building in PYP during the PYP exhibition and are further developed during the personal project in MYP. The EE prepares students well for higher academic research and education in universities.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
.jpg)
This is a metacognitive course which is unique to the Diploma Programme, especially at the high school level. Through this core component, students learn how to learn, question what they learn and learn the different approaches of exploring a subject group. This course is highly interdisciplinary and results in two assessments:
- The TOK exhibition & commentary: A physical exhibition curated based on a prompt selected by the students. It also involves a written commentary on the exhibit. This component is internally assesses and externally moderated.
- The TOK essay: Commentary written by students in response to title which are released annually by IB. This is an externally assessed component.
Creativity Activity Service (CAS)
-1.jpg)
Creativity activity service is that core DP component which helps in balancing an otherwise academically heavy curriculum. Through CAS, students explore their creativity, engage in physical well-being and provide service to the community both within school hours and beyond. Additionally, to meet the requirements for CAS all students must engage in at least one CAS project. CAS also has a continuum across PYP (Action) and MYP (Service Action) which culminates into CAS in the DP. Although CAS is not an assessed part of the curriculum, the completion of CAS is mandatory and truly it is the heart of the curriculum.