An introduction to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students and families 2027 – 2028
‘IB at Ivanhoe helped me reach my ultimate dream of studying medicine.’
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme can challenge, discipline and motivate you. It provides you with the tools to be best prepared for tertiary studies anywhere in the world.
The International Baccalaureate Organisation
Introduction
Alumni Advice and Reflection: From Ivanhoe Grammar School IB alumni to prospective IB Diploma students IB Diploma Subjects offered at Ivanhoe Grammar School for 2027-2028 How is work assessed?
University options and pathways
The fine-grained ATAR calculation
The proposed fine-grained ATAR
The International Baccalaureate Organisation
THE IB AND INTERNATIONAL-MINDEDNESS
Introduction
IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME SUBJECT GROUPS:
SHOULD YOU UNDERTAKE THE IB DIPLOMA AT IVANHOE GRAMMAR SCHOOL?
Figure 1: IB Diploma Model
Successful completion:
Successful completion:
Successful completion:
Alumni Advice and Reflection
From Ivanhoe Grammar School IB alumni to prospective IB Diploma students:
Aleah Kink (Class of 2017)
Jack Brenton (Class of 2017)
Definitely give IB a go because it really helps your organisational and academic skills in the long run The EE experience taught me how to effectively conduct research and how to write a university-style academic essay Knowing how to properly find and reference sources has been a vital skill after Year 12
Kabeer Paracha (Class of 2024)
The extended essay provided a robust introduction to university-style academic research and writing, along with the chance to pursue an individual passion project in a school context I had the opportunity to write a literary analysis of Kendrick Lamar’s rap album ‘DAMN ’ , an incredible experience I wouldn’t have had otherwise Overall, the EE was a challenging, rewarding, and, above all, enjoyable experience as part of the IB Diploma
Matthias Lillis (Class of 2023)
For my major CAS project, I created and published a cookbook with my family’s traditional recipes I found this to be an incredibly rewarding experience Not only did I learn how to cook delicious traditional Greek food, but I was able to spend time with my grandparents and learn more about our culture The cookbook turned out amazing It is a beautiful artifact, and the book is something my family will pass on to future generations
THOUGHTS ON SUBJECT SELECTIONS
Georgia McLaughlin (Class of 2018)
I chose to do the IB program with Higher level Physics, Biology and Psychology, and Standard Level Literature, French and Maths I knew from the very beginning that the IB was going to allow me to do all the subjects I love, whilst still catering to the well-rounded side of my learning that I’ve always valued so much The promised challenge of the program made it even more desirable and the past two years have certainly been nothing but challenging and definitely fun and exciting
Luke Gullone (Class of 2021)
I chose the subjects, English Literature SL, French B SL, Psychology SL, Physics HL, Chemistry HL and Maths AA HL Being someone who really enjoys all things STEM, these Higher Level subjects enabled me to delve deeper into subjects that I am genuinely interested in and to study at a level that only the IB could provide The broad-based nature of the IB Diploma also allowed me to discover a passion for certain subjects that I did not expect to find interesting, but quickly became very enjoyable
Chelsea Huynh (Class of 2018)
I did the following IB subjects: Literature, Maths Studies, History, Psychology, Indonesian, and Sports, Exercise & Health Science The reason why I picked History, Psychology and Sports Science was because I had a genuine interest in them, especially from the content which I had learnt in Year 10 and 11. I felt that it was important to pick subjects that I would genuinely enjoy to make the two years of IB not so difficult Initially I had picked Biology; however I did not find the content was for me When I made the switch to Sports, Exercise & Health Science, I found the classes much more enjoyable and I had a genuine interest in the subject
IB Diploma Subjects
Offered at Ivanhoe Grammar School for 2027-2028
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6
Jess Hooker (Class of 2023)
The time I spent completing the IB is truly a contender for the best years of my life It was challenging, definitely, but also a shared adventure full of experiences which bound our unassuming cohort of less than 30 into a wonderful and supportive community of passionate, mature and hardworking young people As a student who has always enjoyed learning for its diversity and scope, I loved that the IB celebrated the study of a range of subjects, allowing me to engage with my interest in science, my fascination with maths, my love of Chinese and my passion for history and literature all simultaneously Within each of these subjects, I had the privilege of being able to work on internal assessments and an extended essay, projects I was able to spend months and months planning, researching, drafting, redrafting and editing Surprisingly, this opportunity was really a gift in disguise, as behind the late nights and the writers blocks and the many bouts of frustration was the freedom to do something that felt significant, pieces of work that I care about and that are important to me even still It is these core elements of the IB and the experiences, more so than the knowledge, that I gained from it that shaped, quite honestly, the best years of my life
How is work assessed?
Figure 2: The IB Diploma Points Matrix for the Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay
THE FOLLOWING FAILING CONDITIONS APPLY TO IB DIPLOMA STUDENTS:
University options and pathways The fine-grained ATAR calculation
WHY DO UNIVERSITIES VALUE IB STUDENTS?
Will Smith (Class of 2017)
The IB is a great programme that prepares you for university in a way that VCE can’t You have to be willing to put in the work, but the rewards are more than worth it
Figure 3 Source:
B C B C
Figure 3: Proposed fine-grained ATAR.
Class of 2025 IB Results
IB DIPLOMA MEDIAN ATAR IB HIGH ACHIEVERS
Class of 2025 IB Duces
Alumni Profiles
JESS DEL BROCCO
The IB ensured that I studied a wide range of subjects, which allowed me to explore my passions and provided me with a broad outlook and global perspective The IB cohort fosters a very tight-knit student community where intellectual debates and conversations are encouraged by all in a supportive and collaborative environment This in turn generates a large supportive network to overcome the challenges and maintain motivation during the toughest years of high school
Subject Scores:
Subject Scores:
Theory of Knowledge Exhibition and Essay:
Theory of Knowledge oral presentation:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Where to next?
How did the IB prepare you for University?
The IB curriculum is academically challenging and without a doubt requires good time management skills It also develops your critical thinking and collaboration skills in the fostering of a social learning environment which are integral to thrive at university Through the development of these skills in the IBDP over the past two years the transition from Year 12 into university was seamless I feel well equipped to take the next challenges and exciting steps in my education and learning journey and am very grateful for the opportunity to have undertaken the IBDP
Where to next?
How did the IB prepare you for University?
Through the diverse range of subjects studied in the IB, one from each discipline, I feel the IB has provided me with the foundational skills needed to tackle any future studies and career paths The rigour of the IB program and self-directed nature has also prepared me for the intensity of independent university study, both organisationally and mentally
Alumni Profiles
Subject Scores:
ISABELLA LESSENE MATTHIAS LILLIS
Over the course of the program, I learnt how to prioritise and best manage my time, keeping a balance between academics and other commitments The IB program gave me the opportunity to explore topics I was interested in whilst going out of my comfort zone in other areas and assessments
Subject Scores:
Theory of Knowledge oral presentation:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Where to next?
How did the IB prepare you for University?
Most importantly, the IB has taught me to learn independently and manage my time as effectively as possible I’ve also noticed that the program has put me ahead in terms of academic skills, such as essay writing, referencing, and scholarly research So far into my biomedicine course, I’ve found lots of cross-over in my core content with my IB subjects, so the transition to university learning was made much smoother
Theory of Knowledge Essay Question: Theory of Knowledge Exhibition Prompt:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Where to next?
How did the IB prepare you for University?
Studying in the IB program requires students to take responsibility for their own learning and this allowed me to learn the importance of organisation whilst building my independent studying skills, something that is important for university Additionally, the nature of the Individual Assessments in the IB taught me how to go through the academic writing process, from research through to a completed report, which has provided me valuable skills that will be essential for university
ISABEL SMITH CLASS OF 2023
I believe that the IB has taught me how to think critically, stay organised, and actively engage in my own learning While the course can be challenging, requiring independent work and for students to be curious and flexible in their thinking, I believe its rigorous nature helped push me to explore the areas of study that interest me most and to become invested in my own learning The IB allows students the autonomy to focus on their preferred subjects whilst also providing exposure to diverse areas of study and a global perspective I believe it creates worldly, well-rounded and curious learners, and has helped me to grow both in and out of the classroom
Subject Scores:
Subject Scores:
CLASS OF 2022
Theory of Knowledge oral presentation:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Theory of Knowledge Exhibition:
Extended Essay subject and question:
Where to next?
How did the IB prepare you for University?
The IB requires independence and self-discipline from the very beginning of year 11, and those who excel in the program are generally those who can manage their time and stay organized even during periods with heavy workloads The course is almost completely self-driven, and in this way acts as excellent preparation for university life The Extended Essay also acts as a valuable introduction into planning, essay-writing and referencing skills
Where to next?
TOM MILETO
Parent Perspectives
Frequently Asked Questions
WILL STUDYING THE IB BE AN ADVANTAGE TO ME AT UNIVERSITY?
WHEN DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE MY HIGHER LEVEL SUBJECTS?
CAN YOU FAIL THE IB DIPLOMA?
ARE SOME SUBJECTS SCALED UP OR DOWN LIKE IN THE VCE?
CAN I GET INTO UNIVERSITY IF I FAIL TO GET THE IB DIPLOMA?
A ‘life learner’ is forever exploring, growing and improving.
