Kennedy HS

International Baccalaureate Program

The International Baccalaureate Program is a small learning community that provides highly motivated students an opportunity to pursue a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum based on a global perspective. The academy offers an internationally recognized course of study that is designed to prepare students for the university experience. Students are encouraged to participate in the Pre-IB courses beginning in Grade 9. The IB Diploma Program begins in Grade 11.

DO NOT CONFUSE IB WITH AP!

• To register for an AP exam, CLICK HERE.
• To register for an IB exam, CLICK HERE.
• The fees are different.

IB Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two year course of study that gives students the opportunity to take college-level classes and earn college credits while still in high school. This rigorous program begins with two years of preparatory work in grades 9 and 10 to give students necessary critical thinking skills. Students in the IB Academy participate in enrichment programs both in and out of school that help to make them well-rounded, independent, and knowledgeable about the world around them.

Upon successful completion of the program students can earn a year’s worth of college credit.

Download additional information about:

• diploma programme
• research findings about the program
• information about diploma courses at Kennedy
• list of IB-friendly colleges
• registration form
• waiver and subsidy letter

• Please be mindful to report to all exams on time.
• Proper ID is required and cell phones will not be permitted.
• AP exams typically last 3.5 hours. Time frames for IB exams are indicated in parentheses.
• If you have multiple exams on the same day, please reschedule your AP exam with Ms. Davis by April 15th.

IB Pathway

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is a small learning community that prepares highly motivated students to be competitive at the university level. The IB curriculum features a global perspective which aims to encourage the skills of independent research and investigation, the use of initiative and creativity, and the application of skills and knowledge through both internally and externally moderated assessments.

In order to obtain an IB Diploma, students must successfully complete one course from each of 6 groups (Language A1[Literature], Other Language, Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics and Computer Science and The Arts), an extended essay, a course entitled Theory of Knowledge and a requisite number of Creativity, Action and Service hours. In order to complete the academy pathway, students need to complete at least 3 SL or HL courses.

GRADE 9

IB Course Sequences

Math Sequence Options:

Science Sequence Options:

Given that the graduation requirement for science is 3 credits, students can choose to take Chemistry or Physics at SL in either junior or senior year, or can choose to take Biology HL for both years.

Language Sequence Options:

Ideally, students have completed at least one year of a second language in middle school, and will reach level 5-7 by senior year, allowing them to choose whether they want to test for SL or HL.

For students with no previous experience with a second language, it is imperative that they begin in ninth grade. They do have the option of taking only four years of a language and testing SL for an ab initio exam (Latin for “from the beginning”), meaning that they started the language in sophomore or junior year of high school, and could only take three years. It is a less rigorous exam than the regular SL option, and is a last resort reserved primarily for transfer students.

Students must take language classes in sequence—please do not allow them to skip a year or a semester of a language.

English and History Sequence Options:

If students enter as freshmen and know that they would like to be in the program, the sequence listed on the pathway chart is the one they should follow. If they enter as sophomores or juniors, or change their minds about academies, please remember that the ninth and tenth grade pre-IB classes are meant as a support, not as a prerequisite to the program, and students can still choose to take these classes as juniors without having taken “pre-IB” classes.

Elective Sequence Options:

It is recommended that all students planning to do the IB Diploma program fulfill their physical education, health, and technology credits in freshman and sophomore year, to allow room in their schedules for IB Diploma-level classes in their junior and senior years.

As an alternative to arts credits, IB students who have fulfilled their MCPS arts credit for graduation may fulfill IB Diploma requirements with an additional course in another subject area, such as a third language, or a second science class. Please be aware that IB Film does not currently fulfill MCPS arts requirements.

College Credit for the IB Program

Policies regarding credit for IB and AP exams vary from school to school, so please check the website of schools that interest you for their policies. The document below summarizes the credit policies for some of the schools our students apply to most often: American University, The College of William and Mary, Virginia Tech, Towson University, Salisbury University, and the University of Maryland at College Park.

Local Schools and IB Credit

For more information...

• IB Website