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Diploma Programme (Ages 16-19)

The Secondary School at KIS

Welcome to the Secondary School at KIS International School. The development of the “whole” person within an environment which encourages students to become independent lifelong learners is a key aim of the KIS Mission statement. Secondary School students have the unique opportunity to learn about themselves as individuals and their role in the greater world around them.

The IB Diploma Programme is an academically rigorous course that challenges students to drive for personal excellence and take responsibility for their learning.

What is the Diploma Programme (DP)

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At KIS, the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) balances subject breadth and depth in six areas. Critical understanding, philosophical reflection and international-mindedness are nurtured, starting with a foundation in each student’s own language and culture. They develop a positive attitude, self-reliance and become well adapted to learning that supports them towards university study. The IB Diploma has a reputation for its rigorous external assessment with published global standards. This is a qualification welcomed by universities worldwide.

The DP is a two year programme in which students choose six subjects from six group areas – Literature, Additional Language, Humanities, Science, Mathematics and the Arts. Three subjects are studied at Higher Level and three are studied at Standard Level. Students are assessed through a mixture of internal assessment (coursework) and external assessment (final exams).

DP Core:
The programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding.

The Extended Essay is a requirement for students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the subjects they are studying.

Theory of knowledge (TOK) is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) supports students to actively learn from the experience of doing real tasks beyond the classroom. Students can combine all three components or do activities related to each one of them separately.

Programme Specifics

Students taking the IB Diploma choose their courses as follows:

  • Students take 6 subjects, 1 subject from each group.
  • 3 Subjects will be at Higher Level (HL) & 3 at Standard Level (SL).
  • Students can take a second subject from Groups 3 or 4 rather than take a Group 6 subject.
  • Students can take 2 subjects from Group 1 (rather than a Group 2 subject), leading to f a Bilingual Diploma.

All Diploma Programme students take a Theory of Knowledge Course; Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) Programme, and write an Extended Essay in one of their subject areas.

Higher Education Progression

Our graduating classes have consistently been offered places at top universities around the world. In addition to that, they have been offered over $1,000,000 USD in scholarships on average over the past few years, with $2,000,000 USD offered in 2018! KIS has maintained a 7-year average Diploma score of 34 IB points, well above the world average of 30 points, with an average pass rate of 96%.. 

To ensure that students find the right school for them, our university counselors meet with students starting in Grade 9 to help prepare them to plan and set goals for their future after KIS. For more information about university counseling please visit our University Counseling page. 

Counseling is progressive throughout the school in all programmes. The idea of “best fit” for university applications begins long before the students begin the DP. The students will narrow down their searches by looking at what countries they want to study in, what field they want to study, if they need scholarships, etc

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