How far do you want to go?

If the idea of being an International Baccalaureate (IB) student is calling your attention, first you need to know what it is, what advantages it offers, how it works, among other very important points so that you can make your decision well informed and convinced.

As you know, Prepa Uni has been offering for seven years now, the possibility of taking the IB Diploma Program starting in the third semester, so you are just in time to start learning about this excellent option.

This article aims to introduce you, in a very digestible way, to the International Baccalaureate, emphasizing the competitive advantages you can achieve by being an IB student. If you are ready, let's get started!

Being an IB student will undoubtedly enhance your knowledge and skills, while becoming a high-achieving student and a conscientious and responsible global citizen.

WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB)?

The International Baccalaureate is an educational organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Baccalaureate Diploma program is a 2-year educational program that offers an internationally accepted certification for university entrance (higher education) and is recognized by universities globally. It is offered in more than 140 countries. To participate, students must attend an IB school and take and accredit one subject from each of the six areas, which are: Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals and Societies, Science, Mathematics, Arts, as well as three core components which are:

• Monograph(Extended Essay)
• Theory of Knowledge.
• Creativity Activity and Service (CAS)

At Prepa Uni, the subjects that are part of the Diploma program are: Language and Literature, English, Business Management, Biology, Mathematics and for the Arts subject you can choose between Theatre and Visual Arts. In addition, of course, there are the three core components that are the heart of the Diploma. These subjects are taken during the two years of the program.

It is important for you to know that the IB is useful for students who wish to continue their studies abroad, as well as for those who plan to do so in Mexico.

WHAT ADVANTAGES DO I HAVE AS A STUDENT OF THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAM?

Due to the scope of the IB Diploma Program, there are numerous advantages and opportunities for IB students among which I can list the following:

• High level of performance. As a graduate of the IB Diploma Programme you will arrive at university with knowledge and skills that will make you stand out from your peers.
• Improved performance in soft skills. As an IB student, you will not only excel in the corresponding academic areas, but you will also stand out for the development of your skills such as: critical thinking, leadership, independence and resilience.
• Professional development. Each year, more than 5,000 universities in over 100 different countries such as: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, the United States and more receive applications for admission and transcripts from IB students.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IB TEACHING AND A TRADITIONAL BACCALAUREATE?

The education provided in schools with the IB Diploma Program is student-centered, you are the protagonist of your learning, and during the program, you will have the opportunity to learn through different methods. The teaching is not limited to the classroom or books, but goes far beyond that.

As an IB Diploma student, you are invited to explore the outside world through interactive and dynamic experiences, such as field studies, presentations, case studies, direct contact with real-world issues, among others. It prepares you to face diverse situations, due to its global focus. In IB you are guided to help you develop your full potential, as well as your disciplinary and soft skills, for example: leadership, critical thinking, mathematical and linguistic ability, independence, oral and written communication, among many others. This is achieved by implementing new and effective teaching-learning methods. The educational philosophy of the IB Diploma Programme celebrates the many ways in which people work together to construct meaning and understand the world.

HOW DOES THE DIPLOMA PROGRAM CONCLUDE?

Upon completion of the IB Diploma Program, students receive two certificates: the first, endorsed by the Dirección General del Bachillerato (DGB) of the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) and the second, issued by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). 

WHAT WILL MY EVALUATIONS BE LIKE?

As I mentioned before, the IB Diploma Program offers an education characterized by its innovation and that, from my personal experience, is different from what I had previously seen and experienced during my school years. This is why it is quite normal to have doubts about how the IB evaluation method is or even what exams you will have to take if you decide to enroll in the Diploma Program, isn't it?

Well, now I'll clear your doubts.

You will have a continuous evaluation as you have been doing so far to report your grades to the SEP, but in addition, you will be evaluated by the IB in two ways: one external and one internal. The external evaluation consists of several exams for each subject, but those exams are not graded by your teachers, but by IB evaluators, which in short are teachers from other IB schools trained to do so. The exams are basically the same for all students in the world who are studying a certain subject and are given on the same day for everyone. These external evaluations take place in May of the last semester of high school.

Internal assessment is carried out by your IB teachers and includes research (in the case of Biology and Mathematics), oral work (in the case of Literature and English), artistic modes of expression, among others.

If at the end of the program, you fulfill a series of requirements, you obtain, in addition to the two certificates, the IB Diploma, which is something we all aspire to, as it represents the culmination of all our effort and work. It also opens many doors in case you plan to study abroad.

The International Baccalaureate ensures that, by the end of the Diploma Program, students like you will have developed in areas such as analysis and presentation of information, the ability to make sound and coherent arguments, critical thinking for creative problem solving and knowledge retention, all of which are competitive advantages that will make you stand out during your studies at university and show a particular difference among young people of your own age.

But above all, the IB will make you aware of the responsibility you have as a citizen of this planet, develop an international mindset, learn about and celebrate different ways of seeing the world, and give you what you need to continue learning throughout your life, as part of the IB's mission is to create a better world through education.

In conclusion, the IB is a great opportunity that gives you access to useful tools to strengthen your academic and life skills; it will propel you to reach your goals more efficiently. Take the first step into a sea of opportunities... the decision is up to you. Being IB is worth it! And only you can answer this question: how far do you want to go?

If you are interested in receiving more information about the IB Diploma Program at the University of Celaya or in answering any questions or concerns that you or your parents may have about this program, please feel free to contact the IB Diploma Program Coordinator at Uni de Celaya: Alejandra Núñez via email at: alenugo@udec.edu.mx.

You can also visit the official IB website: https://www.ibo.org/es/

References:

• IBO (n.d.) Advantages of IB. Retrieved from: https://www.ibo.org/es/benefits-of-the-ib/
• IBO (n.d.) Diploma Program. Retrieved from: https://www.ibo.org/es/programmes/diploma-programme/