The skills students develop through the 5 ATLs are reflected in the way they perform on DP Assessment tasks, which are written examinations at the end of the programme and marked by external IB examiners. These tasks also encourage an international outlook and intercultural skills, wherever appropriate.
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Internal Assessment: This component is initially assessed and marked by teachers and then externally moderated – oral work in language, fieldwork in geography, laboratory work in the sciences, investigations in mathematics, and artistic performances.
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External Assessment: This includes essays, structured problems, short-response questions, data-response questions, text-response questions, case-study questions, multiple-choice questions.
The marks awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). Students can also be awarded up to three additional points for their combined results on theory of knowledge and the extended essay. The diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance across the whole programme and to satisfactory participation in the creativity, action, service requirement. The highest total that a Diploma Programme student can be awarded is 45 points. Assessment is criterion-related, which means student performance is measured against pre-specified assessment criteria based on the aims and objectives of each subject curriculum, rather than the performance of other students taking the same examinations. The range of scores that students have attained remains statistically stable, and universities value the rigour and consistency of Diploma.