IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme Coordinator at Alytus St. Benedict Gymnasium: Loreta Mažeikienė, loreta.mazeikiene@benediktogimnazija.lt
The IB Diploma Programme (International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme) is an internationally recognized two-year educational programme designed for students aged 16–19. The programme develops academic depth, critical thinking, independence, and intercultural understanding, preparing students for successful studies at universities in Lithuania and abroad.
Subject Choices
In the Diploma Programme, students must study one subject from each subject group. Three subjects are studied at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL). Higher Level courses consist of 240 teaching hours, while Standard Level courses consist of 150 teaching hours over two academic years.
At Alytus St. Benedict Gymnasium, the following subjects are offered in IB classes. Students are required to study six subjects from the following groups:
Group 1: Lithuanian Language and Literature
Group 2: English Language
Group 3: History, Geography, Global Politics, Psychology
Group 4: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics
Group 5: Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches
Group 6: An elective subject chosen from Group 3 or Group 4
More information about the Diploma Programme can be found at www.ibo.org.
Core Components of the Diploma Programme
All Diploma Programme students are required to study Theory of Knowledge, write an Extended Essay, and participate in Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS).
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a 100-hour course that helps students understand the nature of knowledge, critically evaluate different ways of knowing, and explore areas of knowledge. During the course, students prepare an oral presentation (TOK exhibition) and write a 1,600-word essay.
Extended Essay (EE) is an independent research project of approximately 4,000 words, completed over one year. The research question is chosen from one of the student’s studied subjects.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) consists of activities carried out for approximately 2 hours per week. This component allows students to choose extracurricular activities based on their interests and abilities. Students are encouraged to take initiative, work collaboratively on community projects, and reflect on their achievements and personal development.
More information about the core components of the Diploma Programme can be found at: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/dp-core/
Language of subjects
All lessons, except Lithuanian language classes, are conducted in English. Teaching is based on textbooks specifically designed for this international programme.
Assessment
In accordance with the IB Diploma Programme, the gymnasium applies formative, summative, and formal assessment. Teachers follow clear and consistent IB assessment criteria. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 7, where 7 is the highest possible grade.
Is the Diploma Programme Free of Charge?
Studying in the Diploma Programme at Alytus St. Benedict Gymnasium is free of charge. The annual school membership fee is covered by the Alytus City Municipality. Examination fees (which change annually) and postal costs are covered by students’ parents in the autumn of the second year of the Diploma Programme.
IB Diploma Programme Examinations
IB Final Examinations
At the end of the second year (in May), students sit final examinations in all six subjects. Examination papers are prepared by the IB Assessment Centre. According to the IB schedule, examinations take place simultaneously in all IB schools in the Northern Hemisphere. Each subject examination consists of two or three components. Examination papers are assessed by external examiners. The assessments are moderated, and final grades are confirmed by the IB Assessment Centre in Cardiff, Wales.
The final subject grade is composed of grades from individual examination components as well as the Internal Assessment (independent coursework completed during the academic year and assessed by the subject teacher). Each component has a specific percentage weighting; therefore, the final grade is not a simple arithmetic average of the examination parts.
International Baccalaureate Diploma
The International Baccalaureate Diploma is awarded to students who successfully pass all six final examinations and receive positive evaluations for Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, and Service.
To be awarded the diploma, students must obtain at least 24 points. The maximum possible score is 45 points. Diploma points are calculated by summing the grades of the six subjects and adding up to three additional points awarded for the core components (Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay).
Graduates of the Diploma Programme receive a bilingual IB diploma, which grants the right to study in higher education institutions in both Lithuanian and English. In Lithuania, the IB Diploma is recognized as equivalent to the national secondary education certificate, and IB final examinations are equivalent to state graduation examinations. IB examination grades are converted into the 100-point grading system according to the regulations approved by the Lithuanian Ministry of Education, Science and Sport.
Information about admission to Lithuanian higher education institutions is available at:
Information about IB diploma recognition and admission to foreign universities is available at:
https://www.ibo.org/university-admission/
