The IB Diploma Programme

David Platt
Teaching & Learning Coordinator – Diploma Pathways

The aim of all IB programs is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.~ The IB Learner Profile.

Encompassing the last two years of High School, the Diploma Programme is designed to fulfil the graduation requirements of various education systems. Lincoln Community School embraces the Diploma Programme because of the robust way it supports our mission to be a learning-focused, leading and connected school. You can learn about the IBDP on the International Baccalaureate’s website.

Learning Focussed

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), is among the most comprehensive and intellectually stimulating university preparatory programs in the world. The IB Learner Profile describes the IB graduate as an individual capable of exercising initiative in applying critical and creative thinking skills, of recognizing and approaching complex problems, and of making reasoned ethical decisions. IB educators explicitly teach students the skills they need to be successful in their studies; those “Approaches to Learning” are a key part of our LCS Learning Principles.

Diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of the six subject groups. Usually, three subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) and three others at Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses cover 240 teaching hours and Standard Level courses cover 150 teaching hours. Hence, over a two-year period, some subjects are studied in depth and some more broadly.

In addition to their six academic subjects, DP candidates also take a critical thinking and philosophy seminar called the Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and engage in an extensive project on a subject of their own choosing which culminates in a formal 4000-word research paper.

At the end of Grade 12, IB Diploma candidates undergo a three-week battery of externally prepared and graded oral and written examinations in all six of their Diploma subjects.

Leading

The IB DP has gained recognition by post-secondary institutions in nearly 150 countries, frequently leading to preferential admissions and advanced standing for DP students. LCS Diploma students have enjoyed strong results, above the worldwide average. Last year, 91% of our graduating class completed the full IB diploma, well above the worldwide average of 78.4%, and earned an average diploma score of 33 points (out of 45) against an average worldwide score of 29.9.

Our teachers are all experienced IB educators, many of whom are examiners for the IB, grading the annual external exams. LCS teachers are also frequent presenters at IB conferences, serving our goal to be a leading international school.

Connected

Throughout the course, the programme’s CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) component engages students — alongside their academic studies — in complementary activities in three key areas: creative arts, physical activity and unpaid voluntary service, and requires them to reflect on those CAS experiences. Many of those activities take our students outside of the walls of LCS, allowing our students to connect not only with other high school students but the local community in Accra and beyond.

All students are required to undertake a CAS Project. The project challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and to develop skills such as collaboration, problem-solving and decision making.

Course Offerings

IBDP Pathways

Students can choose from three graduation pathways:

• The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), which also gives the LCS high school diploma.
• A mix of the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) courses and LCS high school courses, which gives subject certificates from the IB and the LCS high school diploma.
• Only LCS high school courses, which gives the LCS high school diploma.

Regardless of the pathway, students choose six courses from the below categories; all categories are required except Group 6 (the Arts).

To earn the IB Diploma, three courses must be taken at the Higher Level (HL) and three at the Standard Level (SL).

Please note that some course combinations may not be available due to scheduling constraints and that IBDP online courses may not be available for the LCS pathway.

Questions regarding the IBDP Pathways should be directed to the IBDP Pathways Coordinator – David Platt ([email protected]).

COURSES AVAILABLE

IB Group 1: English Required for all students, unless taking SSST Literature.

• English Language & Literature: HL / SL / LCS
• School Supported Self Taught (SSST) Literature in the student’s home language: SL

IB Group 2: Language Acquisition One of the following courses. (*Note: ab initio courses are only for students with little or no background in the language.)

• French B: HL / SL / LCS
• French ab initio: SL (IB ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• Spanish B: HL / SL / LCS
• Spanisha ab initio: SL / LCS
• Mandarin ab initio: SL (IB ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• A non-IB course through an online course provider (additional fee required)
• School Supported Self Taught (SSST) Literature in student’s home language: SL (ONLY if also taking English Language and Literature

IB Group 3: Individuals and Society’s One or two of the following courses:

• Economics: HL / SL / LCS
• Global Politics: HL / SL / LCS
• Environmental Systems and Societies (can also count a science course): HL / SL / LCS 
• Business Management: HL / SL 
• Digital Society HL / SL (ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• Psychology: HL / SL 
• Philosophy: HL / SL (ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• A non-IB course through an online course provider (additional fee required)

IB Group 4: Science One (or two) of the following courses:

• Biology: HL / SL
• Chemistry: HL / SL
• Physics: HL / SL
• Environmental Systems and Societies: HL / SL / LCS (can also count as a Group 4 course)
• Computer Science: HL/SL (ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• A non-IB course through an online course provider (additional fee required)

IB Group 5: Math One of the following courses:

• Math Analysis & Approaches: HL / SL / LCS (appropriate for students preparing for university programs in science, engineering, or math; requires greater abstract thinking)
• Math Applications & Interpretations: SL (appropriate for students preparing for university programs in social science, law, medecine (biology), or business; includes more real-world connections)
• LCS Math: Data Science & Personal Finance Mathematics
• A non-IB course through an online course provider (additional fee required)

IB Group 6: Arts One of the following courses is optional:

• Visual Arts HL / SL / LCS
• Film SL (ONLINE only; additional fee required)
• A non-IB course through an online course provider (additional fee required)

**Approved non-IB online course providers include VHS learning, Arizona State University, and Language Bird.

© International Baccalaureate Organization 2018