| This article is part of a series on the International Baccalaureate |
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The Group 3 (or Individuals and societies) subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of nine courses offered at both the Standard level (SL) and Higher level (HL): Business and management, Economics, Geography, History, Information technology in a global society (ITGS), Islamic history, Philosophy, Psychology, and Social and cultural anthropology.[1] There is also a transdisciplinary course, Environmental systems and societies (SL only), that satisfies Diploma requirements for Groups 3 and 4,[2] and a pilot course for World religions (SL only) that is currently offered at schools participating in the pilot program.[3]
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The IB Diploma Programme History course generally focuses on the political history of the 20th century, but has since expanded to give the option of studying medieval and early modern history.[4] At Standard Level, this is the only historical topic taught. The course is divided into options , so the students may pick which they prefer; but in practice the topics to be studied are decided by the teacher.
Paper One of the examination focuses on the use of sources as historical evidence. Students will choose to answer questions in this paper relating to one of the following three 'Prescribed Subjects':
Paper Two of the examination is essay based. Students are presented with six topic areas, and in each of these they are presented with five possible essay questions. Students only have to answer two questions in total, but they cannot be from within the same topic area. The six topic areas are as follows:
Paper three of the examination is taken by students taking Higher level History. This paper is based on the history of a specific region (Regional Option) over a hundred years, the exam is also essay based with students selecting questions from a list on their region of choice. The region chosen is usually the one in which the school is located. The available regions are the following:
The syllabus of the Economics course is divided into five sections – introductory economics, microeconomics, macroeconomics, international economics, and development economics – all of which receive approximately equal weight. All sections must be studied by all candidates, and questions of all will be posed in examinations. The Diploma programme Economics course is noted for focusing more on development than any other economics course at a pre-university level, and this is all part of the IB programmes' international perspective.
The final exams consist of three papers for HL and two for SL. Paper 1 has consisted of multiple choice questions but has now been changed to an essay question chosen from six choices, Paper 2 of three short-answer questions from six choices (this paper does not exist for SL students), and Paper 3 (Paper 2 for SL) requires data response. Internal assessment includes five commentaries of current news items involving the use of economic concepts and terminology. The time allowed for each exam is a strict limit of one hour each for Paper 1 and Paper 2 (HL) and 2 hours for Paper 2 (SL) and Paper 3.
The IB syllabus in psychology contains four main parts. The first part is concerned with the perspectives, the second part with the options, the third part with research methodology and finally all students have to carry out their own experimental study. There are three main perspectives, the biological, the cognitive and the sociocultural. In addition to that higher level students also study the humanistic perspective. The options include comparative psychology, cultural psychology, psychology of dysfunctional behaviour, health psychology, lifespan psychology, psychodynamic psychology and social psychology. Students at higher level study two options whereas standard level students study only one.
Each of the perspectives should be explored using the following four compulsory topics:
The aims of the psychology course at HL and at SL are to:
First, students must choose an experiment to replicate. When conducting the experiment, the IB demands that certain ethical guidelines be followed.[5] After the experiment has been completed, a written report must be produced detailing the experiment. The external assessment, which is administered in May or November, is the second component of the IB Psychology SL exam. The test is divided into two parts, which are referred to as "papers". Using the internal and external assessment, the IB calculates a grade value of one through seven. A score of four is considered passing; a score of seven is considered outstanding.
The IB offers both a SL and a HL Information Technology in a Global Society(ITGS) course. One stated aim of this course is to “develop an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of new technologies as methods of expanding our knowledge of the world at the local and global level”. ITGS is not a classical computer course where students learn to use different application software or programming; rather, it is a course that attempts to integrate social and ethical issues related to an IT system with different areas of impact.
Requirements for SL (for first exams in 2007):
Requirements for HL (for first exams in 2007):
Practical computer work is conducted while researching for the project at Standard Level. As of exams starting in 2012 both HL and Sl students will take the Project. At the Higher Level students create a portfolio of analysed articles one of which is extended to include first hand research of the topic.
IB Geography involves the investigation of human relationships with the environment. The common core unit comprises: population, resources and development.
Topics include: population distribution, fertility, mortality, the geography of disease, population structure and change, migration, the relationship between population and resources, population policies, resource production and consumption, the geography of food, food production and consumption, food trade, food aid, measuring development, issues in 'developed' and 'developing' countries, sustainable development.
Both Standard level and Higher level students follow the core unit plus a number of options. Standard level students choose any two from the following units.
Higher level students must choose four options with at least one from section A and one from section B.
Section A
Section B
Section C
Internal assessment is in the form of a 1500 word research assignment or fieldwork project for standard level students or a 2500 word fieldwork project for higher level students.
External assessment is made up of two exam papers. Paper 1 covers topics from the core unit and is 1 hour 30 minutes long. Paper two examines the option units. Standard level students sit a paper 1 hour 30 minutes in length in which they should answer two questions. Higher level students must answer four questions in 2 hours 30 minutes.
In some cases, Standard level subjects can be studied in one year, as opposed to the two years for Higher level subjects. This gives students more study time in their final year of school, as well as the option to spend more hours on their higher level subjects. All anticipated subjects are studied at standard level.
Business and Management SL, Economics SL, Economics HL, ITGS SL, ITGS HL, Psychology SL and Philosophy SL are offered online to students enrolled in the IB Diploma Programme.[6][7]