International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
International research shows, among other things, that IBDP pupils are better able than their peers to cope with demanding workloads, manage their time and meet the expectations placed on them.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is an assessed programme for pupils aged 16 – 19. This programme encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
IB Diploma Programme reflects a central desire to provide an education that enables students to make sense of the complexities of the world around them, as well as equipping them with the skills and dispositions needed for taking responsible action for the future. This course provides an education that crosses disciplinary, cultural, national and geographical boundaries, and that champions critical engagement, stimulating ideas and effective relationships.
What is the Diploma Programme Curriculum?
The IBDP is a 2-year course whereby Students study six subjects chosen from 6 different option groups. Three of these subjects must be studied at Higher Level and the remaining 3 at Standard Level. The 6 groups are as follows:
- Group 1 - Studies in Language & Literature
- Group 2 - Language Acquisition
- Group 3 - Individuals & Societies
- Group 4 - Experimental Sciences
- Group 5 - Mathematics
- Group 6 - The Arts or option subject
Alongside the 6 subjects, all students complete the IB Core. The Core consists of 3 strands.
- Extended Essay is a personal research project whereby students design a research question based on a subject of interest and write a 4000-word essay answering their question and describing the research undertaken
- Theory of Knowledge invites students to question the basis and limits of knowledge from their own perspective
- Creativity, Action & Service. Students must undertake and reflect on a variety of activities. These may include learning to play an instrument, improving sporting skills or being a reading mentor. The school has an extensive range of service activities in the local community in which pupils are actively encouraged to take part.
Each of the 6 subjects has a maximum of 7 points available and the IB Core contributes a maximum of 3 points. A maximum of 45 points can be awarded in total.
The IB learner profile
The IB learner profile places the student at the centre of an IB education.
The 10 attributes reflect the holistic nature of an IB education. They highlight the importance of nurturing dispositions such as curiosity and compassion as well as developing knowledge and skills. They also highlight that along with cognitive development, IB programmes are concerned with students’ social, emotional and physical well-being, and with ensuring that students learn to respect themselves, others, and the world around them.
| Attribute | Descriptor |
| Inquirers | We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life. |
| Knowledgeable | We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance. |
| Thinkers | We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions |
| Communicators | We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups |
| Principled | We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences |
| Open-minded | We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience. |
| Caring | We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us. |
| Risk takers | We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change. |
| Balanced | We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives— intellectual, physical, and emotional— to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live. |
| Reflective | We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development. |
What are the benefits of the IB Diploma Programme?
Interviews with IB graduates:
IB results: Haileybury Astana 2021
Success Story of IB Scholarship Pupil
What pupils say about International Baccalaureate (IBDP) at Haileybury Astana
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change subjects midway through the programme?
Students are granted permission to change their subject choices within the first half term of Year 12. After this, too much content has been covered and therefore it would be too much work for both students and teachers to catch up on.
How many points must a student earn in order to receive an IB Diploma?
The pass mark for the IBDP is 24 points in total and all subjects must achieve at least a pass rate. It must be made clear that in order to successfully pass the IBDP, all students must complete all 3 strands of the IB Core too.
What is the average IB score?
The average IB score is 37.5. the highest IB score is 43.
What benefits do IB DP students have in comparison to pupils, who do not take the course?
The IBDP course is an internationally known and highly regarded high school qualification. Due to the holistic nature of the course, all IBDP graduates leave school as truly globally minded citizens who have the essential skills for higher education and the world of work. The IB’s aim is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” This is achieved through both academic rigour and the completion of the IB Core whereby students are exposed to the positive impact of service and caring for the community and wider world.
What is the difference between IB and A-levels?
A-Level courses are discrete whereas the IB Diploma is holistic in nature. A level students study individual subjects that bear no relation to each other. The IB Diploma is broad, well rounded and seeks to develop the whole child. For example, throughout the IBDP, students develop skills in the following areas:
- Communication
- Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Caring
- Reflection
- Inquiry
- Risk-Taking
Do students need to go on a Foundation program after the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program?
The short answer is no. There are however some exceptions, like those students who wish to go on to study within the Visual Arts/Graphic Design field. Some courses at university level require students regardless of their high school qualification to complete a foundation course.
Why take IB examinations here in Haileybury Astana, and not other colleges abroad?
Here at Haileybury Astana IBDP students are fortunate enough to have the following.
- Small class sizes
- Qualified and experienced teachers
- Excellent resources
- Quality pastoral provision
- Personalised career guidance
- Access to a strong network within the Haileybury family
Does Haileybury Astana provide scholarships for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme?
Yes! Each year, we run a scheme to find the brightest young minds in Kazakhstan to come and study the IBDP for free. Please get in touch with our admissions team for further information.
News
27.09.2022
Register for English Olympiad
The English Department of Haileybury Astana would like to welcome 11-16 year old students to take part in the second English Olympiad.
26.09.2022
The Haileybury Astana Full and Partial Scholarship Competition is open
Starting from November 2022 to February 2023, Haileybury Astana will be holding a grant competition for 16-year-old students to study the two-year IB Diploma Programme for 2023. The candidates will take tests that include Mathematics and English subjects, and verbal and non-verbal logic.
23.09.2022
Over £2500 raised for the World of Equal Opportunities fund
On the 17th of September, we held a Haileybury Day Charity Event to support The World of Equal Opportunities fund which promotes sports games among children with disabilities in Kazakhstan.