These are recommended courses sequences but keep in mind that each student is different and may not fall into the recommended course sequence. This does not mean the student can not get the IB Diploma. Questions should be directed to the IB Coordinator and to the student's School Counselor.

All IB courses are subject to change and are based on availability. Click to jump to each group:

• Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6

*Donates that the student will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning Exam at the end of the academic year
**Donates that the student will be taking the AP Exam at the end of the academic year.

GROUP 1 - LANGUAGE A1
YEAR	ENGLISH SL	ENGLISH HL
9	PreIB English 9	PreIB English 9
10	PreIB English 10	PreIB English 10
11	IB English SL I*	IB English HL I*
12	IB English SL II	IB English HL II

Students may take regular English 9 and regular English 10 (grades of "A" in both regular English 9 and regular English 10 are indicators of success in IB English SL I/SL II) and then proceed to IB English SL I. However, students may not be as prepared as those who completed the recommended course sequence. (top of page)

 

GROUP 2 - LANGUAGE A1						LANGUAGE A2
YEAR	FRENCH B SL	FRENCH B HL	SPANISH B SL	SPANISH B HL	ARABIC B SL	SPANISH A2
8	French 1	French 1	Spanish 1	Spanish 1
9	French 2	French 2	Spanish 2	Spanish 2	Arabic 1	Span. Fluent 1
10	French 3	French 3	Spanish 3	Spanish 3	Arabic 2	Span. Fluent 2
11	IB French SL I	IB French HL I	IB Spanish SL I	IB Spanish HL I	Arabic 3	IB Span. Fluent 1
12	IB French SL II	IB French HL II	IB Spanish SL II	IB Spanish HL II	IB Arabic SL	IB Span. Fluent 2

A student may start a language in their 9th grade year (as opposed to starting the language in their 8th grade year). The correct course sequence for this student would need to be discussed with the IB Coordinator and the student's School Counselor. (top of page)

 

GROUP 3 - INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY
YEAR	HISTORY	BUSINESS
9	PreIB World History*	N/A
10	AP Government**	N/A
11	IB History of Americas SL I*	IB Bus. & Mgmt SL I
12	IB World Topics HL II*	IB Bus. & Mgmt HL II

IB Geography SL I is a stand alone course offered to Seniors Only and can not be substituted for IB World Topics HL II. Students must have completed Algebra 2 before enrolling in IB Geography. The class utilizes graphing, being able to interpret and manipulate mathematical data, as well as performing statistical analysis.

IB Business and Management SL I is a stand alone course for Juniors and Seniors. It can be taken in Junior or Senior year.

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GROUP 4 - EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCE
YEAR	BIOLOGY	PHYSICS	ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND SOCIETY	CHEMISTRY
9	Chemistry Honors*	Biology Honors*	Chemistry Honors*	Biology Honors*
10	Physics Honors	Chemistry Honors*	Physics Honors	Chemistry Honors*
11	IB Biology I*	Physics Honors	IB Biology I*	IB Chemistry SL
12	IB Biology HL II	IB Physics SL	IB Envir. Sys. and Society SL	Physics Honors

The students must take three lab sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) in order to fulfill the Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools graduation requirements. The above recommended courses not only fulfill that requirement but also the IB Diploma requirements.

It is strongly recommended that Grade 9 students entering Chemistry Honors have received a "B" or higher in Algebra Honors in Grade 8 as well as received a score of 480 or higher on the Algebra 1 SOL exam.

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GROUP 5 - MATHEMATICS
YEAR	MATH STUDIES - Two Options		IB MATH SL	IB MATH HL - Two Options
7				Algebra Honors
8	Algebra Honors (or Algebra 1)		Algebra Honors	PreIB Geometry	Algebra Honors
9	PreIB-Geometry (or Geometry)	Algebra 1	PreIB Geometry	PreIB Algebra 2	PreIB Geometry
10	PreIB-Algebra 2 (or Algebra 2)	PreIB-Geometry (or Geometry)	PreIB Algebra 2	IB Math HL I	PreIB Algebra 2
11	PreCalculus	PreIB-Algebra 2 (or Algebra 2)	IB Math SL I	IB Math HL II	IB Math HL I
12	IB Math Studies SL	IB Math Studies SL	IB Math SL II	Multivariate Calculus/Matrix Algebra	IB Math HL II

 

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GROUP 6 - THE ARTS

IB VISUAL ARTS SL & HL

• Pre-requisites:
  • Students need to have completed a minimum of one (1) high school art course
    • If student has not completed a high school art course and want to take IB Visual Arts, they may present a portfolio of artwork to the IB Visual Arts teacher in order to waive the pre-requisite
  • Higher Level students are required to complete the IB Visual Arts Higher Level requirements within a two-year period
  • Standard Level students are encouraged to complete the IB Visual Arts Standard Level requirements within a two-year period, but may do so in a one year time period with permission and under supervision of the instructor.
• Course:
  • IB Visual Arts is a higher level art course for students wishing to challenge their art
  • Students will explore a wide range of media and techniques through research, journaling, and experimentation
  • Students will also explore art history, the art of other cultures, as well as contemporary art forms
  • Students are expected to be "working artists" focusing on themes and techniques to develop a body of work that reflects personal interest and concerns

IB THEATRE ARTS SL & HL

• Pre-requisites:
  • Teacher permission although some prior participation and exposure to theatre is highly recommended
  • Higher Level students are required to complete the IB Visual Arts Higher Level requirements within a two-year period
  • Standard Level students are encouraged to complete the IB Visual Arts Standard Level requirements within a two-year period, but may do so in a one year time period with permission and under supervision of the instructor.
• Course:
  • Students will engage in the in-depth study of the nature, theories, and processes of theatre and theatrical production through both practical and theoretical applications
  • Students will explore performance skills, world theatre studies, practical play analysis, and theatre production
  • Students will develop a portfolio derived from a journal; participate in play analysis which culminates in a 20-30minute oral examination; produce a research commission project in which they act as a dramaturge for a play from outside of their home culture.
  • Higher Level students will produce a slightly longer portfolio and research commission. They also will have to complete an additional Individual Study of a particular project they have conducted.

IB MUSIC SL

• Pre-requisites:
  • Students must possess a performance skill either an instrument or voice as 50% of the IB Exam is performance-based
  • IB Music SL is a one-year course and can be taken either in Grade 11 or Grade 12.
• Course:
  • Students will be expected to use the appropriate musical language and terminology to describe and reflect their critical understanding of music; development of perceptual skills in response to music; and knowledge and understanding of music in relation to time and place
  • Students will will study one specific work of music chosen by the IB Organization - each year is a different work
  • Students will study a broad range of musical examples from which to observe a variety of musical elements and the variety of contexts they exist in
  • Students will carry out an independent musical investigation into the relationship between two distinct genres
  • Students are assessed in these areas: (1) a written examination in May; (2) a musical investigation; (3) in one of the following either - Solo performance, group performance OR Composition

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