International Baccalaureate

The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive and balanced two-year course of study that combines six subject areas with core requirements meant to build character, community, global mindedness, and critical thinking skills. Students complete internally and externally assessed evaluations. 

The academic program at BCS is student-centred and encourages students to become knowledgeable, principled, and balanced inquirers, communicators, and risk-takers. In addition, the IB’s international curriculum complements the well-established co-curricular programs at BCS such as Round Square and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Program.

At BCS the focus on community is a central core value. BCS already has a significant international community of students, parents, and alumni. Being an IB World School expands this international community to include IB World Schools around the globe. This expanded community provides more opportunities for collaboration, sharing,
and exchange.

BCS is committed to providing excellence in all its programs. The IB provides an international curriculum and assessments that have gained the respect of universities worldwide. University admissions in Canada, the US, and around the world consider IB graduates very well-prepared to take on new challenges and engage fully in university studies.

IB Diploma Programme students study six courses, three at Standard Level (150 hours) and three at Higher Level (240 hours), over the course of two years. IB Diploma Programme students must also successfully complete CAS, EE, and TOK.

For each course in the Diploma Programme, there is a core curriculum that is common to both SL and HL. This core curriculum prepares students well for university study in a specific subject area.

At HL, students explore a subject in greater depth. For some subjects, there is an additional assessment task at HL. Students are encouraged to discuss specific IB HL & SL requirements for university entrance with the University Advising Department. 

In order to obtain an IB Diploma, students must fulfill the requirements listed above over a two-year course of study. IB course certificates may be earned on a subject-by-subject basis. Students register for IB exams in November of their Form VII/Grade 12 year.

All students who successfully complete all the Form V/Grades 10 and Form VI/Grade 11 requirements receive the Quebec High School Diploma.

By successfully completing Form VII/Grade 12, students are awarded a full, provincially accredited BCS Diploma. BCS is committed to offering students various educational pathways that allow them to make informed choices about their future studies.

•  A student must earn a minimum of 24 out of 45 points.
• A student has taken three HL and three SL courses, one from each of the six subject groups.
• Each of the six subjects is scored out of 7 points.
• Three additional points are awarded for the successful completion of the core requirements, CAS, EE, and TOK.

(Please note that further rules may apply.)

The decision to be enrolled in the IB Diploma or to take individual IB certificates is a personal choice but guided by individual requirements. The Director of Academics, the Senior School and IB DP Coordinator, and the University Advising Department will meet with students on a regular basis, both individually and collectively, to
help them make an informed decision and guide them through the enrolment process.

An IB course is assessed formatively throughout the two-year course summatively. IB courses include internal assessment (tasks and projects that are marked by the teacher and moderated by an IB examiner) as well as an external assessment (examinations and EE that are marked by IB examiners).

All IB course assignments and examinations are marked according to assessment criteria that can be found in each subject guide. In June, the mark for each assessment component is converted to an IB grade, from 1 to 7, with 7 being the highest possible score. IB grades are reported separately from the BCS transcript. IB grades
are made available to students and families on July 6 following the completion of the Form VII/Grade 12 year.

Read more about IB assessment and exams 

Yes. All students in the International Baccalaureate Programme will receive a BCS Diploma upon successful completion of their Form VII/Grade 12 year. Students must successfully complete all required courses and will be guided through that process as part of the course selection.

In Form VI/Grade 11 all courses offered at BCS will give students the choice to pursue a two-year IB course certificate while meeting the requirements for the Quebec Diploma in Form VI/Grade 11 and the BCS (New Brunswick-accredited) High School Diploma in Form VII/Grade 12.

In Form VII/Grade 12 some one-year, non-IB courses will be available to students. These courses provide full credit towards a BCS provincially-accredited Form VII/Grade 12 Diploma but do not lead to IB course certificates or an IB Diploma.

Discover our Curriculum Pathways

Students will be better prepared for university studies globally as a result of the breadth and depth of IB courses. This, combined with the valuable critical thinking skills taught in all IB courses and a focus on internationalism and holistic education, makes IB an ideal program for BCS students. 

Universities around the world are very familiar with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and actively seek to recruit IB students. Students who graduate with an IB Diploma or with IB course certificates are viewed favourably by universities worldwide. IB graduates are considered well-rounded young people who are eager to take on new challenges. An IB education is highly-regarded as an excellent preparation for further studies. In fact, research has shown that IB graduates are more likely to persevere with their university education compared to non-IB graduates. Additionally, Canadian universities receive the greatest number of applicants with an IB background. Some universities offer scholarships intended for IB graduates.

Students completing the full IB Diploma can be granted one year’s advanced standing in many Canadian universities. Those students with one or more IB course certificates can receive advanced standing in particular subjects in universities around the world.

Discover how the IB prepares students for high education