What We Do

IB Course Offerings

We offer six two-year IB courses, which are offered at Standard Level (SL), higher-level (HL), or both.

• English Language + Literature (SL & HL)
  • Instructor: Dr. Emily Erken, Annie Welter, and Marnie Penkalski
  • IB Subject Brief: Language and Literature
• Spanish (SL)
  • Instructor: Ms. Andrea Heile
  • Prerequisite: 2 years of Spanish
  • IB Subject Brief: SL Spanish
• Mathematics: analysis and approaches (SL & HL)
  • Instructor: Stephen Sabanbia (Year 1) and Mr. Kyle Nobbe (Year 2)
  • Prerequisite: Algebra II
  • IB Subject Brief: SL/HL Mathematics
• Environmental Systems and Societies (SL)
  • Instructor: Mr. Wade Barbour
  • IB Subject Brief: SL ESS
• Individuals and Societies: History of the Americas (SL & HL)
  • Instructors: Mr. Lyle Greer and Mr. Charlie Bernas
  • IB Subject Brief: SL History
  • IB Subject Brief: HL History
• Visual Art (HL)
  • Instructor: Mr. Joey Versoza
  • IB Subject Brief: HL Visual Art

  • Prerequisite: Experiments in Materials and Techniques

IB Diploma

Awarded by the International Baccalaureate Organization, the IB Diploma requires students to complete six two-year IB courses and the three elements of the IB core, outlined below. A student’s final diploma result score is made up of the combined scores for each subject. The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance including successful completion of the three essential elements of the DP core. IB Diploma recipients are sought after by university admissions officers around the world.

Requirements

• Coursework
  • Six two-year IB classes taken over junior and senior year
  • A minimum of 3 and maximum of 4 courses must be taken at the Higher Level
• The IB Core:
  • Theory of Knowledge: The only element of the IB core that is delivered as a class, TOK invites
    

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    students to ask, “How do we know what we know?” To explore this and other knowledge questions (see inset), students draw on both personal experience and content from their IB classes. The course is run as a socratic seminar, which encourages students to engage in dialogue and be curious about alternate perspectives.

    • IB Subject Brief: Theory of Knowledge
  • Community, Activity, and Service: CAS provides students with opportunities outside of the classroom for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment. In this way, it ensures that IB Diploma candidates are well-rounded students, engaged with a range of experiences beyond the scope of individual classes and academic endeavors. Every IB World School has a unique way of implementing CAS; you can learn more about how we do CAS at the Castle by perusing the Purcell Marian CAS Handbook.
    • IB Subject Brief: Community Activity, & Service
  • Extended Essay: The extended essay is a unique opportunity for students to explore a topic and academic area in which they have a personal interest, ultimately producing an independently written research paper of 4000 words. The EE is completed in consultation with a faculty supervisor, with much of the research and writing taking place during the summer between junior and senior year. Learn more about how the EE process is structured for students in our Purcell Marian Extended Essay Handbook,
    • IB Subject Brief: Extended Essay

Earning the IB Diploma

• The IB diploma is awarded based on performance across all parts of the DP.

• Students can earn up to seven points for each of the six subjects, for a total of 42 possible points from subject areas.

• TOK and the EE are graded A–E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined using the TOK/EE matrix (below) to contribute between 0 and 3 points to the total.

• CAS is not assessed but must be completed in order to earn the diploma.

• The minimum threshold for the award of the diploma is 24 points. If a candidate scores less than 24 points, the diploma is not awarded.

Additional Requirements

• There is no “N” awarded for TOK, the EE or for a contributing subject.

• There is no grade E awarded for TOK and/or the EE.

• There is no grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

• There are no more than two grade 2s awarded (SL or HL).

• There are no more than three grade 3s or below awarded (SL or HL).

• The candidate has gained 12 points or more on HL subjects. (For candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count.)

• The candidate has gained 9 points or more on SL subjects. (Candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL.)

Example Pathways to the IB Diploma

There is no singular way to earn the Diploma. Below are three examples of possible pathways.

IB Hub for current students