The International Baccalaureate (or IB) is an internationally recognized course of study which is offered in nearly 2000 schools and 124 countries around the world. Graduates of this school are qualified for matriculation at the majority of higher educational institutions in the world, along equal lines with such diplomas as British A levels, the French Baccalauréat and the German Abitur. There are now IB schools in several of the major cities in southern Norway. IB is directed by the International Baccalaureate Office (IBO). This is an international foundation with its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
One of the basic ideas behind the International Baccalaureate, which was founded in 1962, was to develop an educational institution for internationally mobile families. This idea was supported by UNESCO. The IB diploma programme is a two-year pre-university course which enables children of itinerant families to continue their upper secondary school studies without major changes in subjects or syllabuses. Another intention of the IB programme is to internationalise education in order to promote understanding and tolerance across borders. Moreover, as with the Norwegian upper secondary school, IB aims to promote personal growth and maturity. The syllabus and the studies as a whole require a high degree of independence and critical, reflective thinking and reasoning.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
IB is a two-year course for the age group 16-19 which builds upon the completed first year in the general studies programme qualifying for higher education in the Norwegian upper secondary school or a corresponding background. In order to attain the IB diploma you must pass exams in six subjects, your extended essay must be accepted, you must participate in aesthetic and social activities (CAS - for Creativity, Action, Service), and you must pass a course in Theory of Knowledge (TOK).
The six subjects are chosen from six different groups - one subject from each group. Three of the subjects must be taken at High Level (HL) and three at the lower Standard Level (SL). The high-level requirements are substantially higher than for corresponding subjects in the ordinary Norwegian upper secondary school, and subsidiary-level subjects are at least equal to corresponding subjects in upper secondary school.
The IB diploma gives full qualifications along equal lines as the certificate from the general studies and economic/administrative branch. IB students do well in the competition for admission to universities and colleges, both in Norway and abroad.
For more information about IB at Trondheim Katedralskole: read
The official IBO website: read