IB
Courses
It is essential that a student considering an IB
Diploma work with the IB Coodinator and the counselor to plan a
4-year sequence that matches his or her interests, abilities and
goals while meeting the requirements for graduation, the IB Diploma
and college admission.The purpose of this page is to give an overview
of the classes that students can take. Below are the available courses
listed according to the categories of the IB
hexagon.
IB Program of Studies for 2009-2010
|
Group
|
Class
|
Description
of the Group
|
|
Group 1 – Language A
|
English
|
The student’s first language or the language of the
school – see below for course sequence
|
|
Group 2 – Language B or A2
|
French, Spanish, Latin
|
The student’s second or classroom-learned language
– see below for course sequence
|
|
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
|
History of the Americas and Geography
|
Social Studies classes – see below for course sequence
|
|
Group 4 – Experimental Sciences
|
Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Systems, Physics
and Design Technology
|
Science classes – see below for course sequence
|
|
Group 5 – Mathematics
|
HL Math, SL Math, Math Studies
|
Math classes – see below for course sequence
|
|
Group 6 – Electives
|
Visual Arts, Theater Arts, Music, Computer Science,
Film, or another course from groups 2-4
|
Student chooses the course among a selection of electives
or student can take a second course in from group2, 3 or
4– see below for course sequence
|
Sample
Course Sequences for IB Diploma Candidates
Below
are lists of possible course sequences. An important thing to remember
is the difference between Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL)
classes. HL classes are more challenging than SL courses and require
two years to complete. Most SL courses also require two years to
complete, but there are some one year SL courses. Students are required
to take the IB exam at the end of the course. In planning for the
IB Diploma, students should choose HL classes in the subjects that
they are most interested in and are best at. Also, students should
remember that in order to recieve an IB Diploma,
they must take THREE Higher Level classes and THREE Standard Level
classes.
Group
1: Language A1
|
9th
Grade
|
10th
Grade
|
11th
Grade
|
12th
Grade
|
IB
Exam
|
|
English
9 or Honors English
|
English
10 or Honors English
|
IB
English 1
|
IB
English 2
|
IB
English A1 HL or SL
|
Group
2: Language B or A2*
|
8th
Grade
|
9th
Grade
|
10th
Grade
|
11th
Grade
|
12th
Grade
|
IB
Exam
|
|
French
1
|
French
2
|
French
3
|
IB
French 1
|
IB
French 2
|
IB
French B HL or SL
|
|
Latin
1
|
Latin
2
|
Latin
3
|
IB
Latin 1
|
IB
Latin 2
|
IB
Latin B SL
|
| |
Latin
1 |
Latin
2 |
IB
Latin 1 |
IB
Latin 2 |
IB
Latin SL |
|
Spanish
1
|
Spanish
2
|
Spanish
3
|
IB
Spanish 1
|
IB
Spanish 2
|
IB
Spanish B HL or SL
|
| Imersion
or Native Speaker |
Spanish
Fluent Speakers 2 |
Spanish
Fluent Speakers 3 |
IB
Spanish 1 |
IB
Spanish 2 |
IB
Spanish A2 SL |
| Imersion
or Native Speaker |
French
Fluent Speakers 2 |
French
Fluent Speakers 3 |
IB
French 1 |
IB
French 2 |
IB
French A2 SL |
*Students
who are fluent in a language may take level A2 (fluent speakers)
Group
3: Individuals and Societies
|
9th
Grade
|
10th
Grade
|
11th
Grade
|
12th
Grade
|
IB
Exam
|
|
Pre-IB
World History
|
Pre-IB
Comparative Government
|
IB
History of the Americas
|
IB
Topics in 20th Century History
OR
IB
Geography
|
IB
History of the Americas HL
OR
IB
Geography SL
|
|
World
History 1 Honors
|
World
History 2 Honors
|
IB
History of the Americas and U.S. & Virginia Government
(Students
may take US/VA Gov't online or in summer school
|
IB
Topics in 20th Century History
|
IB
History of the Americas HL
|
|
World
History and Geography 1
|
World
History and Geography2
|
U.S.
& Virginia History
|
IB
Geography and
U.S. & Virginia Government
|
IB
Geography SL
|
Group
4: Experimental Sciences
|
9th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
11th
Grade |
12th
Grade |
IB
Exam |
|
Biology
or
Biology
Honors |
Chemistry
1
or
Honors Chemistry |
IB
Physics 1 |
IB
Physics 2 |
IB
Physics SL |
|
Biology
or
Biology Honors |
Honors Chemistry |
IB
Chemistry 2 |
Physics
1 |
IB
Chemistry SL |
|
Biology
or
Biology
Honors |
Chemistry
1
or
Honors Chemistry |
Physics
1 |
IB
Biology 1 |
IB
Biology SL |
|
Biology
or Biology Honors |
Physics
1 or Honors Physics |
IB
Chemistry 1 |
IB
Chemistry 2 |
IB
Chemistry HL or SL |
|
Chemistry
|
Physics
1
|
IB
Biology 1 |
IB
Biology 2 |
IB
Biology HL |
| Biology
or Biology Honors |
Chemistry
1 or Honors Chemistry |
Physics
1 |
IB
Environmental Systems |
IB
Environmental Systems SL* |
Group
5: Mathematics
|
7th
Grade
|
8th
Grade
|
9th
Grade
|
10th
Grade
|
11th
Grade
|
12th
Grade
|
IB
Exam
|
|
Algebra
1
|
Geometry
or Honors Geometry
|
Algebra2/Trig
Honors
|
AP Statistics
or
SL Math 1
|
IB
HL Math 1
|
IB
HL Math 2
|
IB
HL Math
|
|
Algebra
1
|
Geometry
|
Algebra2
|
Pre-Calculus
|
IB
SL Math 1
|
IB
SL Math 2
|
IB
SL Math
|
|
|
Algebra
1
|
Honors
Geometry
|
Algebra2/Trig
Honors
|
IB
HL Math 1 or IB SL Math 1
|
IB
HL Math 2 or SL Math 2
|
IB
HL Math or SL Math
|
|
|
Algebra
1
|
Geometry
|
Algebra
2
|
IB Math Studies 1
|
IB
Math Studies SL 2
|
IB
Math Studies SL
|
|
|
|
Algebra
1
|
Algebra
2*
|
IB Math Studies 1
|
IB
Math Studies 2
|
IB
Math Studies SL
|
*Geometry
taken during the summer between 9th and 10th grade
Group
6: Fine Arts
|
9th
Grade
|
10th
Grade
|
11th
Grade
|
12th
Grade
|
Exam
|
|
----- Choice of Art Electives -----
Must take Art 1
|
IB
Visual Arts 1
|
IB
Visual Arts 2
|
IB
Art HL or SL Option A*
|
|
-----Choice of Art Electives -----
Must take Art 1
|
IB
Visual Arts 1
|
IB
Art SL Option B**
|
|
-----Choice of Electives -----
Must take Computer Science 1
|
IB
Computer Science |
IB
Computer Science SL |
|
----- Performance Class -----
|
IB
Music
|
IB
Music SL
|
| Theater
1
|
Theater
2 |
IB
Theater Arts 1 |
IB
Theater Arts 2 |
IB
Theater ArtsSL or HL |
|
-----Choice of Electives -----
|
IB
Film 1 |
IB
Film 2 |
IB
Film HL or SL |
*Option A is a studio based class**Visual Arts Option B is a
focus on cultural and hisorical research. This is not a studio
class and is recommended
for those who want to study art but do not wish to focus on producing
art.
What
next?
The
next step for prospective IB students is to fill out a Planning
Worksheet. For advice, consult Mrs. Albright in the Main Office
or look at one of the Sample
Sequences.
