DP - Diploma Programme
The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world’s leading universities (www.ibo.org).
Curriculum structure
- IB Diploma Programme Curriculum
- The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is built around a balanced curriculum that encourages students to become knowledgeable, inquisitive, and internationally minded learners. The programme is represented by a circle, with six academic subject groups surrounding the DP Core. Students study subjects from both the humanities and the sciences concurrently, ensuring both breadth and depth of learning.
- At Gimnazija Bežigrad, Diploma Programme students choose one subject from each of the six subject groups, or replace the Group 6 subject with an additional subject from Groups 2, 3, or 4 (subject combinations depend on student demand and scheduling).
- Students take:
- Three or four Higher Level (HL) subjects (240 teaching hours each)
- The remaining subjects at Standard Level (SL) (150 teaching hours each)
- This combination allows students to study some disciplines in greater depth while maintaining a broad academic foundation across multiple fields.
- Subject Groups
- Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature
- Language A (usually the student’s first language) – SL / HL
- Group 2 – Language Acquisition
- English – SL / HL
- German – SL / HL
- French – SL / HL
- Spanish – SL / HL
- Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
- Economics – SL / HL
- Geography – SL / HL
- History – SL / HL
- Philosophy – SL / HL
- Psychology – SL / HL
- Social and Cultural Anthropology – SL / HL
- Group 4 – Sciences
- Biology – SL / HL
- Chemistry – SL / HL
- Computer Science – SL / HL
- Physics – SL / HL
- Group 5 – Mathematics
- Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches – SL / HL
- Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation – SL / HL
- Group 6 – The Arts
- Visual Arts – SL / HL
- The availability of individual subjects depends on student enrolment and timetabling.
- The DP Core
- In addition to their six academic subjects, all Diploma Programme students complete the three elements of the DP Core, which are central to the IB educational philosophy.
- Extended Essay (EE)
- Students undertake an independent research project culminating in a 4,000-word academic essay on a topic of their choice. The Extended Essay develops the research, critical thinking, and academic writing skills that prepare students for university study.
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
- Theory of Knowledge is an interdisciplinary course that encourages students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know. Through discussion, analysis, and critical thinking, students examine different ways of knowing, evaluate evidence, recognise assumptions and biases, and develop well-reasoned arguments.
- Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
- CAS enables students to learn beyond the classroom by engaging in creative pursuits, physical activities, and meaningful service to the community. Through these experiences, students develop initiative, collaboration, resilience, and a strong sense of social responsibility, while achieving a healthy balance between academic study and personal growth.
Grading
DP assessment procedures measure the extent to which students have mastered advanced academic skills in fulfilling these goals, for example:
- analyzing and presenting information
- evaluating and constructing arguments
- solving problems creatively.
Basic skills are also assessed, including:
- retaining knowledge
- understanding key concepts
- applying standard methods.
In addition to academic skills, DP assessment encourages an international outlook and intercultural skills, wherever appropriate.
Student results are determined by performance against set standards, not by each student’s position in the overall rank order.
The grading system used by the IBO is criterion-referenced. This means that each student’s performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement consistent from one examination session to the next.
Each examined subject is graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum). The award of the Diploma requires students to meet defined standards and conditions including a minimum total of 24 points and the satisfactory completion of the extended essay, TOK and CAS activities. The maximum score of 45 points includes three bonus points for an exceptional essay and work in TOK.
Students who fail to satisfy all requirements or who elect to take fewer than six subjects are awarded a certificate for examinations completed.
University admissions
The International Baccalaureate provides a world-class preparation for university and life beyond. IB students consistently demonstrate the critical thinking and research skills needed to excel in their university studies—and they tend to get into the world’s best universities. Formal agreements exist between many ministries of education and private institutions to recognise the IB Diploma. In Slovenia, students are admitted into university on the basis of the points they achieve in completing their diploma.
