The Diploma Programme
The IBO's Diploma Programme (DP) was created in 1968. It is a demanding pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. It is designed for highly motivated secondary school students aged 16 to 19.
The programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB diploma holders access to the world's leading universities. The DP's grading system is criterion-referenced, which means that each student's performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement. These are consistent from one examination session to the next and are applied equally to all schools.
The IBO has shown, over the course of 30 years, that students are well prepared for university work. They are accepted by universities all over the world.
The programme is a comprehensive two-year international curriculum, available in English and Spanish.
It generally allows students to fulfill the requirements of their national or state education systems. The DP incorporates the best elements of national systems, without being based on any one.
Internationally mobile students are able to transfer from one DP school to another. Students who remain closer to home benefit from a highly respected international curriculum.
The programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university entry credential for students moving from one country to another. International educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an idealistic vision. They believed that students should share an academic experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding and exposure to a variety of points of view.