DP Curriculum

The Diploma Programme (DP) is a two-year pre-university curriculum aimed at students aged 16-19. In these two years, learners complete six subjects groups together with the DP core subjects: Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS), the Extended Essay (EE) and the Theory of Knowledge (ToK).

The Diploma Programme is divided into two categories; Diploma Programme and Diploma Course. In the Diploma course, learners are not required to complete the core subjects (CAS, EE and ToK).

The DP Subjects offered at AIS

• Group 1 (Studies in Language and Literature)
  • Arabic A SL (Literature)
  • English A SL (Language and Literature)
• Group 2 (Language Acquisition)
  • Arabic B HL/SL
  • English B HL/SL
• Group 3 (Individuals and Societies)
  • Business Management HL/SL
  • Economics HL/SL
  • Information Technology in the Global Society (ITGS) HL/SL
  • Digital Society HL/SL
  • Psychology HL/SL
• Group 4 (Sciences)
  • Biology HL/SL
  • Physics HL/SL
  • Chemistry HL/SL
  • Design Technology HL/SL
• Group 5 (Mathematics)
  • Mathematics Analysis and Approaches SL / HL
  • Mathematical Application and Interpretation SL / HL

The DP Assessments

During Year 1 and Year 2, learners work on internal assessments (IA) and get prepared for the external assessments (IE) which they sit for in May of Year 2.

• Internal Assessment
  • Teacher supervises the work
  • Teacher marks the work
  • The work is moderated by IB examiners to ensure accurate marking
• External Assessment
  • Teacher supervises the TOK, EE 
  • Examinations (Papers 1, 2, 3) in May
  • Papers are marked by IB examiners and then they assign a grade
     

Award of the Diploma

In order for the DP category students to obtain the diploma, they must study six subjects plus the core subjects (three subjects at the higher level and three subjects at the standard level). They must also accumulate no fewer than 24 points from the assessment in the subjects. Each subject is graded from 1-7, with the 7 being the highest grade. The core subjects are graded A-E, with A being the highest grade for ToK and EE; these two grades are then combined in the diploma points matrix to contribute between 0-3 points to be added to the total. The CAS is not assessed but learners are to submit their CAS portfolios in order to pass the diploma. The overall maximum of the points from subject grades, ToK and EE are therefore 45: ((6x7)+3). Candidates must not obtain less than 3 in the higher level subjects and less than 2 in the standard level subjects to get the diploma.

Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS)

Learners are required to participate in student-initiated school arranged activity, provide an evidence and complete their profiles with reflections.

Extended Essay (EE)

Learners are asked to write an extended essay (4000 words) in any subject from the six groups starting the second semester of Year 1 which is considered an external assessment. According to the IB rules, schools are not required to allocate a specific amount of time during school hours for EE. However, the supervisor allocates no more than five hours to supervise and give feedback to the students.

Theory of Knowledge (ToK)

ToK is a course about critical thinking and inquiring into the process of knowing and tackles the idea of “how do we know what we know?” The assessment of ToK is divided into two; the internal assessment, which is the oral presentation and the external assessment, which is the 1,600 words essay addressing knowledge issues.

Meeting the Ministry of Education’s Requirements

The diploma must be equivalent to the Jordanian General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) in either the science stream or the arts stream.

• Science Stream
  •  two subjects at higher level from groups 4 (Sciences) and/or  5 (Math)
• Arts Stream
  • two literary or arts subjects at higher level

Percentage Tawjihi Equivalency

Calculate total Average

• Find average of 6 subjects
• Add the bonus points if the average is less than 100%.