• provide an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university and life beyond
• encourage international-mindedness in students starting with a foundation in their own language and culture
• educate the whole person emphasizing intellectual, physical, emotional, personal and ethical growth
• develop enquiry and thinking skills and the capacity to reflect upon and to evaluate actions critically

• desire and ability to cope with university studies after leaving M’KIS
• willingness to develop personal study habits, including self-discipline and time management
• capacity for thinking critically and creatively
• willingness to be both independent and cooperative learners 
• an international outlook and a genuine concern for others

IB Diploma candidates must choose one course from each group. It is possible to replace the group 6 course with a second course chosen from groups 1-5. 
IB courses are offered at either Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL). Diploma Program candidates choose 3 HL and 3 SL courses.

At M’KIS we offer the following IB courses:

Group 1: English Literature HL, English Literature SL, English Language and Literature HL, English Language and Literature SL

Group 2: French HL, French SL, Malay Ab Initio SL , Mandarin B HL, Mandarin B SL, Spanish B HL Spanish B SL, Spanish Ab Initio SL

Group 3: Business & Management HL, Business & Management SL, Economics HL, Economics SL, Geography HL, Geography SL, History HL, History SL

Group 4: Biology HL, Biology SL, Chemistry HL, Chemistry SL, Computer Science HL, Computer Science SL, Physics HL, Physics SL

Group 5: Mathematics HL, Mathematics SL, Math Studies SL

Group 6: Dance HL, Dance SL, Music HL, Music SL, Theatre Arts HL, Theatre Arts SL, Visual Arts HL, Visual Arts SL

In addition the Diploma Program has three core requirements that are included to broaden the student’s educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and understanding.

The Extended Essay (EE) is an in-depth study of a focused topic, normally from one of the student’s six chosen subjects for the IB Diploma. It is intended to promote high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity.
It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research on a topic of their choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing of 3500-4000 words.
Students commence work on their extended essay in October of their Grade 11 year and submit the final essay in November of their Grade 12 year.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a course designed to encourage each student to reflect on the nature of knowledge by critically examining different ways of knowing (perception, emotion, language and reason) and different kinds of knowledge (scientific, artistic, mathematical and historical).
TOK encourages students to share ideas with others and to listen to and learn from the views of others. In this process student’s thinking and their understanding of knowledge as a human construction are shaped, enriched and deepened. 
TOK occurs in the second semester of Grade 11 and the first semester of Grade 12

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) involves students in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma program. The three strands of CAS which are often interwoven with particular activities are characterized as follows:
Creativity: arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking
Action: physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle 
Service: an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. 
CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning. CAS should be both challenging and enjoyable, a personal journey of self-discovery. Each individual student has a different starting point, and therefore different goals and needs, but for many their CAS activities include experiences that are profound and life-changing

Overview of the IB Course Program

Students can choose to study for individual subjects if the full Diploma does not meet their individual needs or circumstances. For students not involved in the full Diploma there is no requirement to take EE, TOK or CAS.

Assessment

Students take final written examinations in May of their Grade 12 year. These are marked by external IB examiners. In class, students complete internal assessment tasks over the two years of the Program. These are marked by teachers and then moderated by, or sent directly to, external examiners.
The points awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest).
Diploma students will be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results in the EE and TOK. 
The Diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points (subject to minimum levels of performance) and satisfactorily participate in CAS. The highest point score that a Diploma Program student can be awarded is 45 points.

Minimum levels of performance for the IB Diploma

• the student must NOT have a grade of ‘E’ in both the EE and TOK
• 28 points overall is required to be eligible for the Diploma if a student attains a grade of ‘E’ in either the EE or TOK
• the student must NOT have a grade of 1 in any subject
• the student must NOT have a grade of 2 in any HL subject
• the student must NOT have more than one grade of 2 in any SL subject
• the student must NOT have more than three grades of 3 or lower
• the sum of the student’s three HL grades must be at least 12
• the sum of the student’s three SL grades must be at least 9
• these conditions are eased if the student scores a total of 28 or higher

Final IB result information is posted online in the July of the second year.

IB Transfer Students

M’KIS accepts IB transfer students who have started the IB Diploma Program at another school, provided their selected courses match our course offerings and timetable. This compatibility should be discussed prior to enrolment at M’KIS.

Nick Fletcher 
IB Coordinator