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Geography’s Place in the IBO Diploma Programme<br />Dr Simon Oakes<br /><ul><li>Chief Examiner for IB diploma Geography

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Principal Examiner for Edexcel AS Geography

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Bancroft’s School</li></li></ul><li>Introduction<br />Discussion outline<br />What is the IBO DP (Diploma Programme)?<br />‘Going global’ & ‘acting global’<br />A-level and DP comparisons<br />UK schools and university entrance requirements <br />DP Geography ethos and assessment <br />DP Geography learner profiles<br />

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Established in 1968<br />Modelled on international schools of Switzerland<br />Providing a universal university entrance credential for children of a geographically mobile international community<br />Holistic learning programme (not just qualifications)<br />Active learning, independent learning, international outlook<br />Non-profit making foundation (unlike UK awarding bodies)<br />IBO – the background<br />

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More than 2,300 schools in 128 nations deliver IBO programmes to more than 600,000 students<br />This now includes Middle Years (MYP) and Primary Years (PYP) programmes<br />Growing at 15-17% per year (USA, Canada, UK are the three highest-ranked nations)<br />Geography papers have an international outlook<br />Going global & acting global<br />

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Follow SIX subjects, three at higher level (HL) and three at standard level (SL)<br />4,000 word extended essay<br />Follow a theory of knowledge (TOK) course (essay / oral)<br />Engage in a programme of creativity, action and service (CAS) (150 hours)<br />24/45 points for Diploma<br />IBO diploma programme<br />

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IB geography is linear, not modular<br />45 IB points = 768 UCAS points ( 35 : 535 and 24 : 280 )<br />IB geography Grade 7 = GCE A* and Grade 4 = GCE E-grade <br />IB HL geography is equivalent to 70% of an A-level course; IB SL geography = 50% of A-level<br />IB HL geography and A-level geography both have four components and require synoptic / synthetic work<br />Big difference is coursework: IBO view is that there has been an ‘over-reaction’ to internal assessment concerns<br />www.ucas.com/candq/tariff/#ib<br />A-levels and IBO DP comparison<br />

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100 UK schools in 2008; now over 300. State schools (Broadgreen, Liverpool), International schools (Atlantic College), independent (Sevenoaks, Manchester GS)<br />IBO DP schools in UK belong to IBSCA www.ibsca.org.uk <br />Russell Group universities ask for grade 7(6) in the chosen subject and high-30s overall<br />No evidence that IBO DP candidates are either advantaged or disadvantaged in terms of university entry <br />UK schools and UCAS<br />

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Can I just enter my students for IB geography instead of A-level geography?<br />Is the IBO DP harder or easier than A-levels?<br />Won’t the DP limit my geography uptake?<br />Isn’t it expensive?<br />Is it true the exam marking is better?<br />If it ain’t broke, why fix it?<br />FAQ<br />

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Previous IBO DP geography course was broadly traditional (last entry 2010) – even included a regional geography option and wide range of physical options<br />New course is a radical updating – similar to approach taken by Edexcel and to a lesser extent WJEC in 2008<br />Position in Group 3 clearer than before – traditional geomorphology is present but significantly less than 50%; compulsory ‘global interactions’ paper for HL<br />Geography 2011<br />

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Core topics (for SL and HL) address key global issues and 21st Century Challenges – from Millennium Development Goals to Climate Change<br />Focus throughout on disparities in wealth, uneven patterns of consumption, sustainability;concern with equality and social responsibility: geographies of ethnicity and gender<br />Seeks to develop international understanding (of issues and solutions) and global perspectives on planning and management<br />Geography ethos<br />

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Part 1 Core (SL/HL) Studies of population, migration, development, resource consumption, sustainability<br />Part 2 Optional themes (SL/HL) Choose from: freshwater, ocean and their margins, extreme environments, hazards & disasters, leisure & tourism, food & health, urban environments<br />Part 3 Global interactions (HL)<br />IA fieldwork (SL/HL)<br />Geography content<br />

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Part 1 Core (SL/HL) 1 hour 30 minutes, short answers with data stimulus, one extended response, e-marked<br />Part 2 Optional themes (SL/HL) 2 hours, structured extended writing with some data stimulus <br />Part 3 Global interactions (HL) 1 hour, one two-part essay question, no data stimulus<br />IA fieldwork (SL/HL) 20 hours recommended, maximum 2,500 words<br />Geography assessment<br />

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Chief Examiner Simon Oakes (UK)<br />Deputy Chief Examiner Julie Harris (Hong Kong)<br />Deputy Chief Examiner Garrett Nagle (UK)<br />Principal Examiner Tony Burton (Canada)<br />Principal Examiner Ken Haughan (Austria)<br />Geography team 2011<br />

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Inquirers<br />Knowledgeable<br />Thinkers<br />Communicators<br />Principled<br />Open-minded<br />Caring<br />Risk-takers<br />Balanced<br />Reflective<br />Geography learner profiles<br />