acquisition, studies in language and litera- ture, individuals and societies, mathemat- ics, the arts and sciences. Overall the qualification encourages a much broader range of knowledge areas but with greater academic rigour. Te difference with the IB Diploma is
that these subjects are just one part of a qualification, which teaches students how to develop an inquiring mind and critical thinking, and then to apply their knowl- edge to the world around them. Although an A-level and IB Diploma
exam question might look similar on paper, only a quarter of the IB student’s assess- ment will be on their knowledge, whereas with the A-level, it’s more likely to be around 80% of the exam. Te IB Diploma assessment also tests students on how
skilled they are in analysing and presenting information; evaluating and constructing arguments and solving problems creatively. As well as the core subject areas, students
also complete an independent research project known as the Extended Essay (4000 words, similar to the Extended Project Qualification), and undertake a course in the Teory of Knowledge, which teaches them how to learn effectively, re- gardless of the subject – a key skill for the future. Making up the final part of the IB
Diploma is Community Action Service (CAS), which involves volunteering within a combination of sport, art or community service-type projects. Students at ACS Egham, for example, have volunteered as part of “Project Nepal”, a long-standing
partnership with schools in the Kathmandu Valley. Te students independently organise
fundraising activities throughout the school year and have helped build addi- tional classrooms, provided equipment and partnered with Health and Nutrition in Developing Societies of Nepal (HANDS) to provide three full-time staff to teach local families about nutrition. Trough CAS, students develop essential life skills including teamwork, collabora- tion and appreciation of other cultures. Tis in turn makes the IB Diploma an
“all round” or holistic qualification well- suited to our multi-cultural, fast-paced, digital 21st century lives. A good IB school will also teach time management and study skills to help students complete
20 FOCUS The Magazine January/February 2019
www.focus-info.org
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