The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is a highly regarded two year pre-university course that is offered to students throughout the world.  The IB Diploma not only provides students with an enhanced academic focus but also provides a curriculum with an international perspective. The Diploma suits highly motivated senior students and is designed to equip candidates with the skills and attitudes necessary for success in higher education and employment.

In 2005, Mountain Creek State High School commenced the IB Diploma as an alternate senior/pre-tertiary curriculum for Year 11 12 students. 

The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO)

The International Baccalaureate Organisation’s (IBO) goal is to provide students with the values and opportunities that will enable them to develop sound judgement, make wise choices, and respect others in the global community.  For further information about the IBO you can visit:

• International Baccalaureate Organisation
• IB General Regulations

The International Baccalaureate Organisation aims to develop enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through inter-cultural understanding and respect.  To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organisations to develop challenging programs of international education.

IBO Mission Statement

Through comprehensive and balanced curricula coupled with challenging assessments, the International Baccalaureate Organization aims to assist schools in their endeavours to develop the individual talents of young people and teach them to relate the experience of the classroom to the realities of the world outside.  Beyond intellectual rigour and high academic standards, strong emphasis is placed on the ideals of international understanding and responsible citizenship, to the end that IB students may become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners and informed participants in local and world affairs, conscious of the shared humanity that binds all people while respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that makes for the richness of life.

IB Learner Profile

Course Structure

Students choose one subject from each of the 6 subject groups as displayed in the hexagon below.  A second subject from groups 3 or 4 may be studied as an alternative to a group 6 subject.

At least three but not more than four subjects must be studied at a higher level with the others being taken at a standard level.

The IB Diploma Hexagon outlining the structure and core components of the IB Diploma Programme.

Core Components

Students must also complete 3 additional course requirements:

• Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• An Extended Essay (EE)

Creativity, Action, Service

Creativity Action Service helps students become responsible, compassionate citizens of the world.  The course involves 150 hours of non-class time made up of:

Creativity – participation in arts activities as well as the creativity shown in designing and implementing service projects.
Action – participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions, local and international projects.
Service – community and social service.

Possible CAS Activities

Theory of Knowledge

Theory of Knowledge is central to the philosophy of the IB Diploma.  This course of study is designed to:

• stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience
• encourage students to examine the grounds for moral, political and aesthetic judgements
• challenge students to question the bases of knowledge
• challenge students to be aware of subjective and ideological biases
• develop in students the ability to analyse evidence

The Extended Essay

The extended essay acquaints candidates with the kind of research, analysis and essay writing skills expected by universities.  The extended essay is comprised of 4000 words or less on a topic decided upon by the students.  The extended essay provides opportunities for students to broaden their understanding through study of a subject in more depth. 

What Makes the IB Diploma Different?

• The IB Diploma is a comprehensive two year international curriculum
• The international standard by which the Diploma is assessed is applied equally to all schools
• The Diploma is characterised by a program of rigorous assessment including external examinations
• The Diploma offers students both breadth and depth of study
• The IBDP encourages community service because there is more to learning than academic studies alone
• The IBO maintains high standards by actively training and supporting teachers and by authorizing and evaluating IB World Schools

What Advantages do IB Diploma Holders Have?

IB Diploma holders:

• have access to the world’s leading universities
• are well prepared for university work
• positive attitudes to learning because  students ask challenging questions, learn to critically reflect, develop research skills, and learn how to learn.

International Relevance of the IB at MCSHS

Not only do our students work with an international curriculum but they are encouraged through thought and action to develop a global perspective and wider cultural understandings.  At MCSHS we offer and would encourage all of our IB students to participate in an overseas experience at some time during the three year programme.  Some of the trips that have been offered include:

• Educational trips to Vietnam
• Battlefields trip to Europe
• Language and Cultural trip to Japan

Our programme by its very nature attracts enrolments from overseas students and at present we have students from China, Russia, Germany, Switzerland, Korea, India, New Caledonia and France.

In 2007, 2008 & 2009 our school hosted a group of IB students from Mexico.  Their presence added to our students’ Spanish language development and cultural understanding enhancing the literature studied in English A1 and language competency for Spanish Ab Initio.

Course Fees

Under the current legislation, all schools offering the IB Diploma Programme are required to charge a regulated fee.  Payment for the IB Diploma Course at this school has been spread over 3 years, including a Preparatory Year 10 Course.  The regulated fee includes textbooks and learning resources (similar benefits to the Resource Management Scheme), the cost of IB internal assessment and examination fees.

Students wishing to enrol in the IB Diploma Course can expect to pay approximately $3,000 over the 3 year period (indexed to CPI), plus User Pays Fees.  The cost for each year of the course is outlined on individual Subject Selection Forms.