Assessment methods
Various methods are used to assess a student against the set objectives for each subject.
External assessment
External assessment consists of exams that are marked by external examiners from within the IB system.
Externally marked exams consist of essays, short answer questions, structured problems and more. The types of assessment questions depend on the subject studied.
Although the majority of the external assessment is actual exams, some external assessment is completed in-class as assignments. These assignments, for example the extended essay and the theory of knowledge paper, are completed by students under teacher supervision and are then sent to external examiners to be marked.
Internal assessment
Teachers also assess students over the course of the two years of the program. Teacher assessment includes fieldwork in the sciences, oral work in languages, artistic performances, investigations and lab work in various other subjects.
The internal assessment is checked or moderated by external examiners, thus ensuring consistency and fairness.
Internal assessment usually makes up 20-30% of the final mark in a course.
Internally awarded grades
During each course, students’ work is graded by the teacher, using the IB grading scale. These grades are the basis of a student’s internal record. They appear on the transcripts issued to students three times a year and indicate the level of a student’s performance. The internally awarded grades also form the basis of the predicted grades for university applications.
Internal grades are awarded as follows:
- Course grades: Awarded throughout each term. Course grades are awarded on written and oral assignments and tests completed during the term.
- Term grades. Awarded at the end of each term and at the end of each school year. These grades represent the student’s performance and development throughout the year in tests, written assignments and oral presentations.